Ancient
and new cathedral
This title is very
strange because is present a contradiction, ancient and new is anomalous, but
also in Italian Middle age was possible that a cathedral was destroyed and
after rebuilt. Cathedral of Sermoneta(Figs.1-3) was destroyed for a war with
other town, very next, in south Latium, and feudal family, Annibaldi, from 1235,
this is step of document: “He(a
priest of this cathedral) that he heard they
says that for war that lord of Sermoneta has had with Lando Major from Ceccano,
and for rebuild
of this church, religious celebrations were in other church…”,,
interest in this document is that this priest said rebuild, then when Annibaldi,
feudal family of Sermoneta, would rebuild this cathedral needed of material,
and an ex convent of Basilian monks, today abbey of Valvisciolo, was perfect,
then is was dismantled and reassemble with other form to this cathedral. I must
consider where is, now, this material: first pillars(Figs.4-12) of cathedral
have a form of stones that is specular to some fragmentary pillar of Basilian
church in Valvisciolo(Figs.8,10), if we confront these pillars we can see that
are equal structure and equal cut of stones, and these stones are equal to
stones of ancient walls of Constantinople(Fig.9), capital of Byzantine imperium,
and these stone are equal to Byzantine wall of Crotone(Fig.11), in south Italy;
abacuses of cathedral are from this Basilian church and style is evident,
because merely Byzantine(Figs.13-16), this form has used also to basis of
pilaster both in Basilian church and in cathedral(Figs.17-18), because basis of
cathedral are same of Basilian church. But original church was with one nave alone,
and we can imagine this build with a photo(Fig.19)[1], and we can find original
Byzantine nature of material trough an inscription on one pilaster(Fig.20),
that said in ancient Greek, or Byzantine Greek of 8th century after
Christ, Πρoΰ θ(εος), in front of God, may this inscription was set to access of
Basilian church, and it indicated nature of building, typical of Middle age
when advises have written on principal door of city. Other sign of Basilian and
Byzantine nature is form of pillars; plane is on Greek cross in conformity with
Byzantine architecture (Figs.21-22). Accesses of this cathedral were on two side,
today covered by chapels, but we can intuit these accesses for some remained structure(Figs.23-24),
and we can see original access on left side for a modified photo(Fig.25). Other
structure that was completed this cathedral was chapter room, today first room
of Diocesan Museum, structure of vault(Fig.26) is equal to span of cathedral(Fig.27),
and one window closed(Fig.28) is equal to other original windows in cathedral,
similarly closed(Fig.29). A relevant work is interest of Francesco da Volterra(1535-1595)
a famous Italian architect that worked also to Caetani family in Sermoneta, to
two churches, and to these windows in cathedral(Figs.30-32): I can proof this
attribution because other windows to other church in Sermoneta, Saint Mary of
Graces(Figs.33-34). This cathedral has unified Byzantium, Basilian and Italian Renaissance,
therefore this church is monument to unity
both religion and style.
Alessandro Lusana
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
No comments:
Post a Comment