Viterbo, Italy
Santa Maria della Quercia Church
The church
Santa Maria della Quercia Church was built around a painted roof tile depicting the Virgin and Child. In the second half of the 1400s, following a plague pandemic, the inhabitants built a wooden hut in order to safeguard the painting. Here, in 1470, the Dominicans built the Church that is recognized nowadays as a Renaissance artwork.
The painted roof-tile depicting the Virgin and Child
Devotional altar - Andrea Bregno
The work
Our work for this extraordinary place of faith focuses on the liturgical furnishings of the ambo and the main altar. The new works were built with the idea of creating a dialogue between them and the existing environment, in particular with the monumental devotional altar sculpted by Andrea Bregno, master of Michelangelo, where the painting of the Virgin is still kept today.
Artworks created: ambo, main altar, presider’s chair and side chairs.
Artworks created: ambo, main altar, presider’s chair and side chairs.
The ambo
The new ambo in Carrara marble recalls the remarkable style of the devotional altar. The structure, the high-relief figures, the friezes and the architectural motif were conceived with the aim of creating a harmonious connection with this majestic work.
The original design
The ambo
Working phase
The high-relief figures of St. Rose, St. Lucy Filippini and St. Bonaventure (patrons of the diocese of Viterbo) are placed on the three sides of the ambo.
The symbols of the 4 Evangelists are sculpted at the base.
The symbols of the 4 Evangelists are sculpted at the base.
High-relief of St. Rose
High-relief of St. Lucy Filippini
High-relief of St. Bonaventure
Among the many decorative elements that recall the pre-existing style, the lectern of the ambo stands out. It is characterized by the leaf-shaped acroterion, that recalls the same shape visible on the devotional altar.
Acroterion of the devotional altar and lectern of the ambo.
Bas-relief of the main altar
The reference between the two liturgical furnishings, ambo and main altar, is also expressed with the insertion of medallions sculpted in bas-relief depicting the sacrificed lamb, the oak, the lion and the palm, elements of the coat of arms of Viterbo.
To complete the altar, 5 crosses were carved for the upper surface of the altar top and placed at the corners and in the center of the marble slab.
To complete the altar, 5 crosses were carved for the upper surface of the altar top and placed at the corners and in the center of the marble slab.
Bas-relief of the main altar
Detail of the lateral bas-relief
Detail of the sculpted crosses
Presider chair and stalls in Carrara marble
The presider chair and the side chairs, built with the same Carrara marble, recalls the decorative elements of the liturgical furnishings in a more essential way.
Original design
The side pews are in wood and hand-painted in order to match with the other elements.
Production phases
Wooden hand-painted side pews
SANTA MARIA DELLA QUERCIA CHURCH
The new artworks fit harmoniously with the overall style of the Church, which was subject of several works made by important artists in the Renaissance era. Giuliano da Sangallo developed the project, Antonio da Sangallo the younger designed the coffered ceiling decorated in gold, Ghirlandaio painted the frescoes that are on the sides of the building, the glazed terracotta lunettes of the façade were created by Andrea della Robbia while Andrea Bregno, master of the young Michelangelo, sculpted the devotional altar which still today keeps the painting of the Madonna della Quercia and was taken as reference for the development of our artworks.
Devotional altar – Andrea Bregno
Ceiling – Antonio da Sangallo the Younger
Lunettes of the facade - Andrea della Robbia
PROGETTO ARTE POLI SRL:
P.I. 02979060239Via Bresciana 67/b,
37139 VERONA, Italy
tel +39 0458510455
fax +39 0458510298
Arte Poli Gallery:
Borgo Vittorio 88,zona Basilica di S.Pietro, ROMA
tel. 06 68309510
