Santa Maria Delle Grazie, Crema
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The sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie (
Cremish dialect Cremish or Cremasque, (Cremish Lombard: ) is an Eastern Lombard dialect spoken in the Cremasque Territory of the Province of Cremona, where Cremonese is spoken in the rest of the land except for Soresina and the aforementioned land. The dialect ...
: ''santüare dale Grasie'') is a place of Marian worship located in Crema.


Location

The sanctuary is located in the historic center, at the southern limits of the fortified city near the Venetian walls. The open space in front of the church, which was later extended with the opening of the walls into a street, was called ''Via dello Spitale'' in ancient times and the name was changed in 1931 to the current Via delle Grazie..


Origins

The origins of the cult are not based on a
Marian apparition A Marian apparition is a reported supernatural appearance of Mary, the mother of Jesus. While sometimes described as a type of vision, apparitions are generally regarded as external manifestations, whereas visions are more often understood as ...
but on devotion to a votive image.. Near the present church, inside the ''Torrione del Miliato'' (from the convent of the
Humiliati The Humiliati (Italian ) were an Italian religious order of men formed probably in the 12th century. It was suppressed by a papal bull in 1571 though an associated order of women continued into the 20th century. Origin The origin of the order of ...
), an image depicting a
Madonna and Child In Christian art, a Madonna () is a religious depiction of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a singular form or sometimes accompanied by the Child Jesus. These images are central icons for both the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. The word ...
had been painted by a certain Giovanni da Caravaggio during the 15th century. The image was later protected by a canopy with an altar and, later, a
portico A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls. This idea was widely used in ancient Greece and has influenced many cu ...
with a gate.. Only later, in 1537, were miracles reported: in the same year the school of the Santissimo Sacramento of the church of the Santissima Trinità placed itself under the protection of the fresco, taking care of the place.. The acts of the Castelli visit of 1579 call it ''Santa Maria del Toresino'', those of the visitor Regazzoni of 1583 ''Santa Mariae de Turione in Civitatis''. The location, however, was not very appropriate: the risk of war forced the civil authorities to continuously maintain the city's defensive apparatus with reinforcements and modernizations, a task that endangered the existence of the votive icon. Military experts repeatedly warned the ecclesiastical authorities that they might have to demolish the portico to change the place where the sacred image stood.. At the end of the 16th century the ancient church of Saints
Philip Philip, also Phillip, is a male name derived from the Macedonian Old Koine language, Greek (''Philippos'', lit. "horse-loving" or "fond of horses"), from a compound of (''philos'', "dear", "loved", "loving") and (''hippos'', "horse"). Prominen ...
and
James James may refer to: People * James (given name) * James (surname) * James (musician), aka Faruq Mahfuz Anam James, (born 1964), Bollywood musician * James, brother of Jesus * King James (disambiguation), various kings named James * Prince Ja ...
, annexed to the former convent of the Humiliati (the order had been suppressed by
Pope Pius V Pope Pius V, OP (; 17 January 1504 – 1 May 1572), born Antonio Ghislieri (and from 1518 called Michele Ghislieri), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 7 January 1566 to his death, in May 1572. He was an ...
in 1567), had been demolished. The area was purchased for 4,000 Lire by the Santissimo Sacramento consortium with the specific aim of building a church and transferring the votive image there and, thanks also to numerous donations, the construction of a new building could begin in 1601.. The church was completed in 1609. and in 1613 the
fresco Fresco ( or frescoes) is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaster, the painting become ...
on the tower was detached and transferred to the new building.


Historical and architectural events

The laying of the foundation stone is dated June 1, 1601 and the construction of the church lasted for nine years due to various factors, including a famine and the allocation of funds to the construction of the church and the convent of the Poor Converted. In 1606 the
bell tower A bell tower is a tower that contains one or more bells, or that is designed to hold bells even if it has none. Such a tower commonly serves as part of a Christian church, and will contain church bells, but there are also many secular bell to ...
was completed and in 1609 the church was consecrated; in 1613 the sacred image was transferred there in the presence of religious authorities (led by the Bishop of Crema, Monsignor Gian Giacomo Diedo), civil authorities (the
Podestà (), also potestate or podesta in English, was the name given to the holder of the highest civil office in the government of the cities of central and northern Italy during the Late Middle Ages. Sometimes, it meant the chief magistrate of a c ...
and Captain Pietro Capello and the Superintendent Pietro Bondemier), the Superintendents and the faithful.. The sources that have come down to us are uncertain as to the date on which the image was moved: January 18, July 25 or August 25.. After 1620 the church was provided with a crucifix, a gate separating the nave from the presbytery, a choir and an organ above the main entrance in 1628. In 1641
Gian Giacomo Barbelli Giovanni Giacomo Barbelli (17 April 1604 – 12 July 1656) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active in Lombardy. He was a canvas and fresco painter known for his religious and mythological scenes that decorated many churches and r ...
was given the task of frescoing the entire interior of the church: a job he completed in two years. There are no reports of significant events in the sanctuary until the 19th century: the church, being a subsidiary of the parish church of the Holy Trinity, avoided demolition during the
Napoleonic era The Napoleonic era is a period in the history of France and history of Europe, Europe. It is generally classified as including the fourth and final stage of the French Revolution, the first being the National Assembly (French Revoluti ...
; however, at the beginning of the 19th century, the consortium of the Holy Sacrament was suppressed and the church was administered by a special committee.. Furthermore, in 1804, a new set of bells cast by the Crespi company was installed. In 1824 the gate was dismantled and a new altar was built, with the consequent removal of the ancient and venerated image and the installation of two marble statues. Between 1834 and 1835 a new organ was installed by the Serassi company of
Bergamo Bergamo ( , ; ) is a city in the Alps, alpine Lombardy region of northern Italy, approximately northeast of Milan, and about from the alpine lakes Lake Como, Como and Lake Iseo, Iseo and 70 km (43 mi) from Lake Garda, Garda and Lake ...
(the year the old instrument was installed is not known) and the new choir loft by Giovanni Annessa.. On October 26, 1891, at the request of the bishop of Crema, Monsignor Francesco Sabbia, the Vatican Chapter granted the coronation of the image of the
Madonna and Child In Christian art, a Madonna () is a religious depiction of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a singular form or sometimes accompanied by the Child Jesus. These images are central icons for both the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. The word ...
: restoration work was carried out and the paintings were restored by the painter
Angelo Bacchetta Angelo Bacchetta (1841–1920) was an Italian painter. Biography He studied at the Brera Academy, where he made friends with Filippo Carcano, under the tutelage of Francesco Hayez. After leaving the academy prematurely, he moved to Florence ( ...
. The official ceremony took place on September 8, 1892, in the presence of Monsignor de Neckere of the Vatican Chapter and Monsignor
Geremia Bonomelli Geremia Bonomelli (1831–1914) was the bishop of the diocese of Cremona in the late years of the 19th century and first years of the 20th century. Bonomelli is still remembered for his work in support of Italian emigrants. Life Born in Corte F ...
,
bishop of Cremona The Diocese of Cremona () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in northern Italy. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Milan. The bishop of Cremon ...
. Two days later, on September 11, the
bishop of Mantua The Diocese of Mantua () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Italy. The diocese existed at the beginning of the 8th century, though the earliest attested bishop is Laiulfus (827). It has been a suffrag ...
, Monsignor Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, the future
Pope Pius X Pope Pius X (; born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto; 2 June 1835 – 20 August 1914) was head of the Catholic Church from 4 August 1903 to his death in August 1914. Pius X is known for vigorously opposing Modernism in the Catholic Church, modern ...
, celebrated a solemn
pontifical mass A Pontifical High Mass, also called Solemn Pontifical Mass, is a Solemn or High Mass celebrated by a bishop using certain prescribed ceremonies. Although in modern English the word ''pontifical'' is almost exclusively associated with the pope, a ...
there... In 1894 the church was detached from the parish of the Holy Trinity and placed under the direct jurisdiction of the bishop, as it still is today, except for the period between 1941 and 1977 when the church was run by the Comboni Missionaries..


The former convent

As mentioned above, the church stands on the site where another place of worship dedicated to Saints Philip and James and run by the
Humiliati The Humiliati (Italian ) were an Italian religious order of men formed probably in the 12th century. It was suppressed by a papal bull in 1571 though an associated order of women continued into the 20th century. Origin The origin of the order of ...
friars once stood, and was demolished in 1583. On the side, in the former convent, in 1616 Monsignor Pietro Emo decided to transfer the seminary there, while his successor Monsignor Faustino Griffoni had it demolished, acquired some adjacent buildings using family assets and had it rebuilt. Bishops Lodovico Calini and Marcantonio Lombardi also ordered extensions. The
Cisalpine Republic The Cisalpine Republic (; ) was a sister republic or a client state of France in Northern Italy that existed from 1797 to 1799, with a second version until 1802. Creation After the Battle of Lodi in May 1796, Napoleon Bonaparte organized two ...
requisitioned it in 1797 and the seminarians found refuge in the bishop's palace; they returned a few years later under the episcopate of Monsignor Tommaso Ronna, remaining there until 1937 when Monsignor Francesco Maria Franco inaugurated a new seminary. The building was then sold to the Comboni Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, who lived there and also officiated in the sanctuary until 1977, when it was sold to the
province of Cremona The province of Cremona (; Cremunés dialect, Cremunés: ; ; Emilian dialects, Casalasco-Viadanese: ) is a Provinces of Italy, province in the Lombardy region of Italy. Its capital city is Cremona. The province occupies the central section of Pa ...
to be used as a school.


The church


Exterior

The
façade A façade or facade (; ) is generally the front part or exterior of a building. It is a loanword from the French language, French (), which means "frontage" or "face". In architecture, the façade of a building is often the most important asp ...
has two orders: the lower one is divided by slightly projecting pilasters that divide the order into three parts; in the center is the entrance surmounted by a mosaic from 1955. An
architrave In classical architecture, an architrave (; , also called an epistyle; ) is the lintel or beam, typically made of wood or stone, that rests on the capitals of columns. The term can also apply to all sides, including the vertical members, ...
with a broken tympanum rests on the pilasters. The upper level has the same layout as the lower one: in the center there is a large window and on the sides there are empty niches. Above the second architrave there is a triangular tympanum. The bell tower is incorporated into the southern side of the church building: it is completely plastered with angular pilasters. The belfry extends the angular pilasters of the shaft, has round-arched biforas and supports an entablature with a decorated frieze. The spire is conical and surrounded by small pillars.


Interior

The interior is a single rectangular hall divided into three
bays A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or another bay. A large bay is usually called a ''gulf'', ''sea'', ''sound'', or ''bight''. A ''cove'' is a small, ci ...
with a
barrel vault A barrel vault, also known as a tunnel vault, wagon vault or wagonhead vault, is an architectural element formed by the extrusion of a single curve (or pair of curves, in the case of a pointed barrel vault) along a given distance. The curves are ...
. A
triumphal arch A triumphal arch is a free-standing monumental structure in the shape of an archway with one or more arched passageways, often designed to span a road, and usually standing alone, unconnected to other buildings. In its simplest form, a triumphal ...
leads to the square presbytery, which also has a barrel vault; at the base of the arch a beam supports a 17th-century crucifix; on the front of the beam is an inscription:. The church is entirely frescoed: the walls of the hall are marked by false pilasters with monochrome cherubs alternating with golden
capitals Capital and its variations may refer to: Common uses * Capital city, a municipality of primary status ** Capital region, a metropolitan region containing the capital ** List of national capitals * Capital letter, an upper-case letter Econom ...
. The pilasters are also repeated at the corners of the presbytery and in both cases they support an
entablature An entablature (; nativization of Italian , from "in" and "table") is the superstructure of moldings and bands which lies horizontally above columns, resting on their capitals. Entablatures are major elements of classical architecture, and ...
and a decoration that repeats the same motif.. On the lower side of the northern wall is the secondary entrance above which is a fresco of the ''
Flight into Egypt The flight into Egypt is a story recounted in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 2:13–Matthew 2:23, 23) and in New Testament apocrypha. Soon after the Biblical Magi, visit by the Magi, an angel appeared to Saint Joseph, Joseph in a dream telling ...
''. On the southern wall is another door (the entrance to the
sacristy A sacristy, also known as a vestry or preparation room, is a room in Christianity, Christian churches for the keeping of vestments (such as the alb and chasuble) and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records. The sacristy is us ...
) above which is the Serassi mechanical organ built in 1835. On the side walls there are false arches that extend the space of the church and where there are false '' matronea'' with balustrades from which the apostles look out. The walls of the presbytery, although they do not have false arches, have openings with the apostles on either side. Of the two doors in the lower part, one is real. On the sides of the main entrance, on the counter-façade, there are false niches with St. Sebastian and St. Roch. Painted corbels support the large fresco of the ''Adoration of the Magi'' that covers the entire wall..


The Adoration of the Magi

On the left, in a classical setting of ruins, is the Nativity with the Madonna holding the Child and, behind her,
Joseph Joseph is a common male name, derived from the Hebrew (). "Joseph" is used, along with " Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the modern-day Nordic count ...
, the ox and the donkey. In the center of the fresco are the
Three Kings In Christianity, the Biblical Magi ( or ; singular: ), also known as the Three Wise Men, Three Kings, and Three Magi, are distinguished foreigners who visit Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh in homage to hi ...
in oriental dress in various poses. Surrounding the Magi is a group of people: behind them is a kind of procession that seems to continue along a mountain path. On the right are people on horses and grooms. According to tradition, one of these figures, the man with a moustache and goatee who looks directly at the viewer, is a self-portrait of
Gian Giacomo Barbelli Giovanni Giacomo Barbelli (17 April 1604 – 12 July 1656) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active in Lombardy. He was a canvas and fresco painter known for his religious and mythological scenes that decorated many churches and r ...
. The painting is signed.


The Flight into Egypt

The scene of the ''Flight into Egypt'' is on the right wall: it shows a pause in the journey of the
Holy Family The Holy Family consists of the Child Jesus, the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph. The subject became popular in art from the 1490s on,Ainsworth, 122 but veneration of the Holy Family was formally begun in the 17th century by Saint François de La ...
, with the Madonna in traveling clothes riding a donkey and in the act of handing the Child to Joseph. The family is surrounded by a group of eight little angels: three are holding the reins, one is spreading a cloak on the ground, one is reaching out to help the Virgin descend from the donkey, and three are flying in the air. The whole scene is set in an idyllic landscape. This painting is also signed by Barbelli.. Some art historians consider the “Flight” to be one of the painter's masterpieces..


The Assumption of Mary

This is located on the barrel vault and is a highly illusionistic scene: above the real entablature, Barbelli painted a balcony in perfect perspective with angels and cherubs sitting on the balustrade. On the corner pedestals, Barbelli painted the
four Evangelists In Christian tradition, the Four Evangelists are Matthew the Apostle, Matthew, Mark the Evangelist, Mark, Luke the Evangelist, Luke, and John the Evangelist, John, the authors attributed with the creation of the four canonical Gospel accounts ...
.. Pillars and columns, twelve in all, extend the fake scene up to a second rectangular balustrade open to the sky which, however, incorporates a second octagonal one. Inside is the solemn
Assumption Assumption, in Christianity, refers to the Assumption of Mary, a belief in the taking up of the Virgin Mary into heaven. Assumption may also refer to: Places * Assumption, Alberta, Canada * Assumption, Illinois, United States ** Assumption Town ...
with the Madonna surrounded by angels fluttering in a very bright sky full of clouds. The prevailing light comes from the counter-façade, so it has been hypothesized that it was the painter himself who wanted the large window enlarged precisely for this painting. File:Santa-maria-delle-grazie-crema-1.jpg,
Gian Giacomo Barbelli Giovanni Giacomo Barbelli (17 April 1604 – 12 July 1656) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active in Lombardy. He was a canvas and fresco painter known for his religious and mythological scenes that decorated many churches and r ...
, ''Assumption of Mary'', fresco, 1643, general view of the vault. File:Crema-s-maria-d-grazie-barbelli-assunzione.jpg, Gian Giacomo Barbelli, ''Assumption of Mary'', fresco, 1643, detail of the scene.


The Coronation of Mary

This is the scene on the vault of the presbytery, where false corbels resting on an indented frame support an octagonal balcony open to the sky, with the Coronation scene in the center.. The Virgin is crowned by the
Holy Trinity The Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the Christian doctrine concerning the nature of God, which defines one God existing in three, , consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit, three ...
, surrounded by the
Father A father is the male parent of a child. Besides the paternal bonds of a father to his children, the father may have a parental, legal, and social relationship with the child that carries with it certain rights and obligations. A biological fat ...
and the
Son A son is a male offspring; a boy or a man in relation to his parents. The female counterpart is a daughter. From a biological perspective, a son constitutes a first degree relative. Social issues In pre-industrial societies and some current ...
, illuminated by the
Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit, otherwise known as the Holy Ghost, is a concept within the Abrahamic religions. In Judaism, the Holy Spirit is understood as the divine quality or force of God manifesting in the world, particularly in acts of prophecy, creati ...
and surrounded by a large group of little angels.


The altar, the Madonna and Child, the statues by Fantoni

The altar and the balustrade surrounding the presbytery are in
neoclassical style Neoclassicism, also spelled Neo-classicism, emerged as a Western cultural movement in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that drew inspiration from the art and culture of classical antiquity. Neoclassici ...
and were installed in 1824; the materials used are white
granite Granite ( ) is a coarse-grained (phanerite, phaneritic) intrusive rock, intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly coo ...
and
red Verona marble Red Verona marble is a variety of limestone rock which takes its name from Verona in Northern Italy. It includes internal skeletons of ammonites and belemnoidea rostra in a fecal pellets matrix. It has been quarried from Red Ammonitic ''facies'' ...
.. In the altarpiece, between two columns, is placed the venerated image, transferred from the tower of the Venetian walls; the painting is of uncertain attribution, according to tradition, it was made by a certain Giovanni da Caravaggio, but it was also retouched by Tomaso Pombioli (who revitalized the color and worked on the angels holding the crown) and perhaps by Barbelli himself, who could have added the three winged cherubs on the top of the painting.. The two columns support an entablature on which two angels are seated, holding an epigraph with the inscription: The altarpiece is flanked by two statues in
Carrara marble Carrara marble, or Luna marble (''marmor lunense'') to the Romans, is a type of white or blue-grey marble popular for use in sculpture and building decor. It has been quarried since Roman times in the mountains just outside the city of Carrara ...
, representing
Mary Magdalene Mary Magdalene (sometimes called Mary of Magdala, or simply the Magdalene or the Madeleine) was a woman who, according to the four canonical gospels, traveled with Jesus as one of his followers and was a witness to crucifixion of Jesus, his cr ...
and
St. John the Apostle John the Apostle (; ; ), also known as Saint John the Beloved and, in Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Saint John the Theologian, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. Generally listed as the youngest apostle, he ...
, signed by
Andrea Fantoni Andrea Fantoni (1659–1734) was an Italian sculptor and woodcarver of the late-Baroque period, active in the region near Bergamo. He was born in Rovetta in 1659, and he died in Bergamo in 1734. He trained with his family of artisans as well as ...
in 1716 and coming from the suppressed church of Santa Caterina..


See also

* Roman Catholic Diocese of Crema


References


Bibliography

* * * * * * * {{coord, 45.36031, 9.68402, format=dms, type:landmark_region:IT, display=title Roman Catholic churches in Lombardy Shrines to the Virgin Mary Province of Cremona