Santa Maria dei Servi (Siena)

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Santa Maria dei Servi
Basilica of San Clemente in Santa Maria dei Servi
  • Basilica di San Clemente in Santa Maria dei Servi
2009 Sienne San Clemente in Santa Maria dei Servi.jpg
Italy Tuscany location map.svg
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Santa Maria dei Servi
Location in Siena, Italy
43°18′55″N11°20′17″E / 43.315327°N 11.338174°E / 43.315327; 11.338174
Location Siena, Tuscany
CountryItaly
Denomination Roman Catholic
Tradition Latin Rite
History
Status Cathedral, minor basilica
Consecrated 1533
Architecture
Architectural type Church
Completed1537

The Church of Santa Maria dei Servi is a Romanesque style, Roman Catholic church in the Terzo of San Martino in the city of Siena, Tuscany, Italy.

Contents

History

The church is built on the site of the former Church of San Clement, which was acquired by the Servite order in the Medieval era. The original Basilica was built in the 13th century, but later underwent reconstruction and transformation which continued until the 15th-16th century. [1]

Exterior

Exterior San Clemente in Santa Maria dei Servi seen from Facciatone - Siena 2016 (2).jpg
Exterior

The façade is simple and unadorned, with a single doorway and a rose window (indications of another can be discerned on the wall). It is in the Romanesque period style

The adjoining Campanile is likewise of the 13th century, richly embellished by four orders of windows. It was entirely restored in the 20th century. The church building stands atop it is cook entrance stairs, with views over the Duomo and the Palazzo Publico of Siena. [1]

Interior

Interior Basilica dei servi, siena 04.JPG
Interior

The interior is in great contrast with the rough and bare aspect of the exterior. A renaissance design is attributed to Baldassare Peruzzi. The church was enlarged in the fourteenth or fifteenth century, as seen in the interior of a Latin cross, where the Gothic style of the transept and apse joins the Renaissance style of the three aisles. The Renaissance style does not continue into the transept and apse, which are in the Gothic style. Near the entrance is a Crucifix of the 14th century and a Holy Water stoup of the 13th century. [1]

Works of art

The most important works housed in the Santa Maria dei Servi have included :

Coronation of the Virgin altarpiece

It is not known when the Fungai predella panels were dismantled from the altarpiece of the church of Santa Maria dei Servi and then separated. There is a lack of information regarding the dates when these panels found their way into the museums where they are housed at the present. [3]

Predella panels from Fungai
Bernardino Fungai-Conversion de Saint Clement.JPG Bernardino Fungai-Saint Clement retrouvant sa famille.jpg St Clement striking the Rock YORAG-804.JPG Martyrdom of st clement.jpg
Conversion of St Clement
Reunion of St Clement with family
St Clement striking the Rock
Martyrdom of St Clement

Paintings

"Madonna del Bordone" by Coppo di Marcovaldo (1261 CE). Coppo di Marcovaldo - Madonna del Bordone - WGA05221.jpg
"Madonna del Bordone" by Coppo di Marcovaldo (1261 CE).

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Siena: guide with town plan, Santini, Loretta. 1997
  2. "The Dead Christ Supported by Two Angels | Art UK Art UK | Discover Artworks The Dead Christ Supported by Two Angels". artuk.org. Retrieved 2017-02-22.
  3. The Fungai altarpiece in Santa Maria dei Servi in Siena, 1989
  4. Art and Architecture in Italy 1250 to 1400, 1966

Sources