The Church of Pietà dei Turchini is a religious building in

Naples Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adminis ...

, Italy. A smaller church, located on Rua Catalana, was built originally in 1592–1595 by the Confraternity of the Incoronatella. This church was nearly destroyed by an explosion in the

Castel Nuovo Castel Nuovo (; "New Castle"), often called Maschio Angioino (; "Angevin Keep"), is a medieval castle located in front of Piazza Municipio and the city hall ( Palazzo San Giacomo) in central Naples, Campania, Italy. Its scenic location and impo ...

in 1638. It was rebuilt in 1638–1639, and retitled ''Santa Maria Incoronatella della Pietà dei Turchini'' when it acquired a dome. The facade was completed in 1769–70 by Bartolomeo Vecchione.

Description

The interior hosts two paintings, including the ''Discovery of the True Cross by St Helena'', by

Luca Giordano Luca Giordano (18 October 1634 – 3 January 1705) was an Italian late-Baroque painter and printmaker in etching. Fluent and decorative, he worked successfully in Naples and Rome, Florence, and Venice, before spending a decade in Spain. Ear ...

in the third chapel to right, including a ''Deposition''; a ''Holy Family'' (1617) by

Battistello Caracciolo Giovanni Battista Caracciolo (also called Battistello) (1578–1635) was an Italian artist and important Neapolitan follower of Caravaggio. He was a member of the murderous Cabal of Naples, with Belisario Corenzio and Giambattista Caracciolo, w ...

. The large chapel of the right transept has altarpieces by

Giacomo Farelli Giacomo Farelli (1629 in Naples – 26 June 1706) was an Italian painter active in Naples. Biography He trained under Andrea Vaccaro, whose style he at first followed, but he afterwards imitated with more success that of Guido Reni and Luca Gio ...

, depicting the ''Birth'' and ''Death of the Virgin''. It houses a ''Exposition of Dead Christ by Angels'' by Crescenzo Gamba. The ceiling canvases, painted by Marulli and Annella di Massimo, were removed in the past centuries.Luigi Catalani, ''La chiese di Napoli'' Volume 2, 1845, page 143 The confraternity, also known as the Congregation of ‘’Bianchi dell'Oratorio’’ referring to the white robes worn by members, was involved in the welfare of orphan children abandoned in the nearby church of Incoronatella in ''Rua Catalana''. In time, needing more space they moved here to via Medina, founding an orphanage, this church, and the annexed conservatory ( Conservatorio della Pietà dei Turchini). The name derives from the ''turquoise'' tunic worn by the orphans, who were ''conserved'' here. The orphanage instructed the children in art, specially music and singing, and the Conservatory produced or was associated with masters of Italian music. Among its pupils were Scarlatti,

Giovanni Paisiello Giovanni Paisiello (or Paesiello; 9 May 1740 – 5 June 1816) was an Italian composer of the Classical era, and was the most popular opera composer of the late 1700s. His operatic style influenced Mozart and Rossini. Life Paisiello was born in T ...

, and

Giovan Battista Pergolesi Giovanni Battista Draghi (; 4 January 1710 – 16 or 17 March 1736), often referred to as Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (), was an Italian Baroque composer, violinist, and organist. His best-known works include his Stabat Mater and the opera ' ...

. While the orphanage no longer remains, the building is used for concerts, including by the foundation of Centro di Musica Antica Pietà de' Turchini, which specializes in performing classical Neapolitan music, including works associated historically with the conservatory associated with this church and orphanage complex.

Gallery

Image:TransettoTurchini.jpg, One of the two lateral altars. Image:Altaremagg turchini.JPG, Main altar

References

Bibliography

*Vincenzo Regina, ''Le chiese di Napoli. Viaggio indimenticabile attraverso la storia artistica, architettonica, letteraria, civile e spirituale della Napoli sacra'', Newton e Compton editore, Napoli 2004.

Related Entries

* Music conservatories of Naples, includes a section for the Conservatorio della Pietà dei Turchini.

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pieta dei Turchini Pieta Turchini Orphanages in Italy Roman Catholic churches completed in 1595 Roman Catholic churches completed in 1639 17th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy Baroque architecture in Naples 1639 establishments in Italy 16th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy