Santa Maria delle Nevi is a small

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...

style

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 or oratory located on Via Banchi di Sopra in the Terzo di Camollia of the city of Siena, region of

Tuscany Tuscany ( ; it, Toscana ) is a Regions of Italy, region in central Italy with an area of about and a population of about 3.8 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence (''Firenze''). Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, art ...

, Italy.

History

Construction of the church was commissioned in 1471 by the Bishop of Pienza, Giovanni Cinughi de' Pazzi. The Cinughi were a prominent Sienese family. The design is attributed to either

Francesco di Giorgio Martini Francesco di Giorgio Martini (1439–1501) was an Italian architect, engineer, painter, sculptor, and writer. As a painter, he belonged to the Sienese School. He was considered a visionary architectural theorist—in Nikolaus Pevsner's terms: ...

Antonio Federighi Antonio Federighi (circa 1420 – 1490) was an Italian architect and sculptor of the Renaissance period. He was born and active mainly in Siena, Italy. He began as a sculptor for the Duomo of Siena, and worked there alongside Jacopo della Quercia ...

. It has a classic simplicity to the facade. Two pilasters with Corinthian capitals flank the facade with a tympanum with a circular window featuring two flanking marble heraldic shields of the Cinughi family. The interior is notable for the main altarpiece depicting an ''Enthroned Madonna and Child with Saints Peter, Lawrence, Catherine of Sienna and John the Evangelist'' (1477) by

Matteo di Giovanni Matteo di Giovanni (c. 1430 – 1495) was an Italian Renaissance artist from the Sienese School. Biography Matteo di Giovanni di Bartolo was born in Borgo Sansepolcro around 1430. His family relocated to Siena and he is firmly associated with ...

. The Virgin is surrounded by angels with chalices of snow, recalling the miracle that led to the veneration at the church of

Santa Maria Maggiore The Basilica of Saint Mary Major ( it, Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, ; la, Basilica Sanctae Mariae Maioris), or church of Santa Maria Maggiore, is a Major papal basilica as well as one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome and the larges ...

in Rome.Beni Culturali of Siena
by Felicia Rotundo.

References

Maria delle Nevi Roman Catholic churches completed in 1471 Renaissance architecture in Siena Maria delle Nevi {{Italy-RC-church-stub