San Giorgio is a

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

church located on the Piazza of the same name, just outside Porta Bruciata, in

Brescia Brescia (, locally ; lmo, link=no, label= Lombard, Brèsa ; lat, Brixia; vec, Bressa) is a city and ''comune'' in the region of Lombardy, Northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, a few kilometers from the lakes Garda and Iseo. ...

, region of

Lombardy Lombardy ( it, Lombardia, Lombard language, Lombard: ''Lombardia'' or ''Lumbardia' '') is an administrative regions of Italy, region of Italy that covers ; it is located in the northern-central part of the country and has a population of about 10 ...

, Italy.

History

A church at the site is documented since 775. In 1218, Franciscan friars erected a nearby monastery and were in possession of the church. But by 1254, they had moved to the convent and church of San Francesco. By 1429, this parish church was in a dilapidated state, and a major restoration, including present facade occurred in 1639. An inventory of works in 1826 noted to right of nave an oil painting depicting a Nativity, by Giovita Bresciano, a pupil of

Lattanzio Gambara Lattanzio Gambara (c. 1530 – 18 March 1574) was an Italian painter, active in Renaissance and Mannerist styles. It is likely that Gambara is the same 16th century painter referred to as ''Lattanzio Cremonese'' or ''Lattanzio da Cremona''. Biog ...

. The main altarpiece depicted was by a young Gandini and two side-panels depicting ''St George and the Dragon'' and a ''Martyrdom of St George'' by

Pompeo Ghitti Pompeo Ghitti (1631–1703 or 1704) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active mainly in and in towns surrounding Brescia. Biography He was born in the village of Marone on the shores of Lake Iseo, near Brescia. He was a pupil of t ...

. In addition, in the chapels on the left of the nave, there was a ''Virgin with Saints Francis of Paola and Leonard'', by

Giovanni Battista Pittoni Giambattista Pittoni or Giovanni Battista Pittoni (6 June 1687 – 6 November 1767) was a Venetian painter of the late Baroque or Rococo period. He was among the founders of the Academy of Fine Arts of Venice, of which in 1758 he became the ...

. A canvas depicting ''Virgin with Francis of Sales and St Catherine'' was attributed to

Domenico Carretti Domenico Carretti (c. 1650-c. 1719) was an Italian painter, born in Bologna, and active mainly at Brescia. He painted a ''Virgin with the Infant Jesus and St. Theresa'' for the church of San Pietro in Oliveto San Pietro in Oliveto is a Roman Cath ...

. A ''Sacred Heart of Jesus'' was attributed to

Antonio Dusi Antonio Dusi was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, mainly active in Brescia Brescia (, locally ; lmo, link=no, label= Lombard, Brèsa ; lat, Brixia; vec, Bressa) is a city and '' comune'' in the region of Lombardy, Northern Italy. I ...

. A ''Dead Christ with St Charles'' is attributed to Savani. In the sacristy are some frescoes from the original romanesque church.Nova guida per la citta di Brescia
by Paolo Brognoli, Presso Federico Nicoli-Cristiani, 1826, pages 190-191. '' Saint George and the Princess'' by Cicognara also originated in the church. The church also contains 13th century frescoes including a ''Christ Pantocrater''. The nave ceiling was decorated by Pietro Sorisene and

with architectural decoration by Agostino Avanzo. The apse ceiling has a depiction of the ''Seven Angels of the Apocalypse'' by

Ottavio Amigoni Ottavio Amigoni (16 October 1606 – 28 October 1661) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active in Brescia. He was trained by Antonio Gandini. Among his masterpieces is a large fresco about the life of Sant'Alberto (c. 1640) in th ...

. The exterior of the apse still betrays the Romanesque architecture of the original church.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Giorgio Brescia Roman Catholic churches in Brescia Baroque architecture in Brescia Romanesque architecture in Brescia 16th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy