NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Basilica di San Lorenzo di Firenze

The Basilica di San Lorenzo (Basilica of St Lawrence) is one of the largest churches of Florence, Italy, situated at the centre of the city’s main market district, and the burial place of all the principal members of the Medici family from Cosimo il Vecchio to Cosimo III. It is one of several churches that claim to be the oldest in Florence; when it was consecrated in 393^[1] it stood outside the city walls. For three hundred years it was the city's cathedral before the official seat of the bishop was transferred to Santa Reparata. San Lorenzo was also the parish church of the Medici family. In 1419, Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici offered to finance a new church to replace the eleventh-century Romanesque rebuilding. Filippo Brunelleschi, the leading Renaissance architect of the first half of the fifteenth century, was commissioned to design it, but the building, with alterations, was not completed until after his death. The church is part of a larger monastic complex that contains other important architectural works: the Old Sacristy by Brunelleschi; the Laurentian Library by Michelangelo; the New Sacristy based on Michelangelo's designs; and the Medici Chapels by Matteo Nigetti. Basilica di San Lorenzo di Firenze, Florence. ... Basilica di San Lorenzo di Firenze, Florence. ... Download high resolution version (576x768, 98 KB)Interior of the Basilica di San Lorenzo di Firenze, Florence, looking towards the high altar. ... Download high resolution version (576x768, 98 KB)Interior of the Basilica di San Lorenzo di Firenze, Florence, looking towards the high altar. ... St. ... This page concerns the Christian martyr. ... Florences skyline Florences skyline at night from Piazza Michaelangelo Florence (Italian: ) is the capital city of the region of Tuscany, Italy. ... Jacopo Pontormo: Cosimo de Medici, 1518-1519 Cosimo di Giovanni de Medici (September 27, 1389 â€“ August 1, 1464), was the first of the Medici political dynasty, rulers of Florence during most of the Italian Renaissance; also known as Cosimo the Elder (il Vecchio) and Cosimo Pater Patriae. ... Cosimo III de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (14 August 1642 â€“ 31 October 1723) was Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1670 to 1723. ... Events Gao Zu succeeds Tai Zu as Emperor of the Later Qin Empire in China. ... A cathedral is a Christian church building, specifically of a denomination with an episcopal hierarchy, such as the Anglican, Catholic and some Lutheran churches, which serves as the central church of a diocese, and thus as a bishops seat. ... Below the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore there are remains of a paleo-christian cult area and the building of Santa Reparata Ever since the barbaric ages there was an area in the north of Florence which was dedicated to the christian cult of the time and up to... The Medici coat of arms The Medici family was a powerful and influential Florentine family from the 13th to 17th century. ... Giovanni di Bicci de Medici (1360 (Florence) â€“ February 20 or February 28, 1429) was the founder of the famous and powerful Medici dynasty of Florence; father of Cosimo de Medici (Pater Patriae), and great-grandfather of Lorenzo de Medici (the Magnificent). ... Romanesque St. ... Sculpture of Brunelleschi looking at the dome in Florence Filippo Brunelleschi (1377 â€“ April 15, 1446) was a Florentine architect and one of the first architects to be associated with the Italian Renaissance. ... Raphael was famous for depicting illustrious figures of the Classical past with the features of his Renaissance contemporaries. ... The Sagrestia Vecchia, or Old Sacristy in Florence is one of the most important monuments of the early Italian Renaissance architecture. ... It has been suggested that Biblioteca Mediceo Lauenziana be merged into this article or section. ... Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (March 6, 1475 â€“ February 18, 1564), commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet and engineer. ...

Building history

Though considered a milestone in the development of Renaissance architecture, S. Lorenzo has a complicated building history. Even though it was built – at least partially - under the direction of Filippo Brunelleschi, it is not purely of his design. The project was begun around 1419, but lack of funding slowed down the construction and forced changes to the original design. By the early 1440s, only the sacristy (now called The Old Sacristy) had been worked on as that and not the church was being paid for by the Medici. In 1442, the Medici stepped in to take over financial responsibility of the church as well. Brunelleschi died, however, in 1446 and the job was handed over either to Antonio Manetti or to Michelozzo, scholars are not certain. Though the building was “completed” in 1459 in time for a visit to Florence by Pius II, the chapels along the right-hand aisles were still being built in the 1470s and 80s. Tempietto di San Pietro in Montorio, Rome, 1502, by Bramante. ... Sculpture of Brunelleschi looking at the dome in Florence Filippo Brunelleschi (1377 â€“ April 15, 1446) was a Florentine architect and one of the first architects to be associated with the Italian Renaissance. ... The Sagrestia Vecchia, or Old Sacristy in Florence is one of the most important monuments of the early Italian Renaissance architecture. ... The Medici coat of arms The Medici family was a powerful and influential Florentine family from the 13th to 17th century. ... Antonio Manetti (1423-1497) was a Florentine mathematician and architect. ... Michelozzo di Bartolommeo (1391 - 1472?) (sometimes called Michelozzo Michelozzi, although some sources say this is an error), Italian architect and sculptor, was a Florentine by birth, the son of a tailor, and in early life a pupil of Donatello. ... Pope Pius II. Pius II, né Enea Silvio Piccolomini, in Latin Aeneas Sylvius (October 18, 1405 - August 14, 1464) was pope from 1458 to 1464. ...

By the time the building was done, many aspects of its layout, not to mention detailing, no longer corresponded to the original plan. The principal difference is that Brunelleschi had envisioned the chapels along the side aisles to be deeper, and to be much like the chapels in the transept, the only part of the building that is known to have been design by Brunelleschi.^[2] A chapel is a private church, usually small and often attached to a larger institution such as a college, a hospital, a palace, or a prison. ... Cathedral ground plan. ...

The building in Renaissance architecture

Despite its history, the building is seen as one of the great examples of the new style. Its features are:

There are significant problems in the design, most, however, occur at the level of detail. Already Giorgio Vasari thought that the columns along the nave should have been elevated on plinths.^[3] That the pilasters along the wall of the side aisles rest on a floor that is three steps higher than the nave, is also considered an error. Giorgio Vasaris selfportrait Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Giorgio Vasari Giorgio Vasari (Arezzo, Tuscany July 3, 1511 - Florence, June 27, 1574) was an Italian painter and architect, mainly known for his famous biographies of Italian artists. ...

S. Lorenzo is often compared with Santo Spirito,also in Florence. Santo Spirito, which Brunelleschi began somewhat later, is considered to have been constructed more or less in conformance with his ideas, even though Brunelleschi died before most of it was built. The Church of Santa Maria del Santo Spirito (St. ...

The outer and inner facades

The Medici pope Leo X, gave Michelangelo the commission to design a façade in white Carrara marble in 1518. Michelangelo made a wooden model, which shows how he adjusted the classical proportions of the facade, drawn to scale, after the ideal proportions of the human body, to the greater height of the nave. The work remained unbuilt. Michelangelo did, however, design and build the internal facade, seen from the nave looking back toward te entrances. It is comprised of three doors between two pilasters with garlands of oak and laurel and a balcony on two Corinthian columns. Pope Leo X, born Giovanni di Lorenzo de Medici (11 December 1475 â€“ 1 December 1521) was Pope from 1513 to his death. ... Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (March 6, 1475 â€“ February 18, 1564), commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet and engineer. ... Carrara is a city in the Massa Carrara province of Tuscany, Italy, famous for the white or blue-gray marble quarried there. ... Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (March 6, 1475 â€“ February 18, 1564), commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet and engineer. ... West facade of the Notre-Dame de Strasbourg Cathedral A facade (or faÃ§ade) (Pronounced fa-sa-de) is generally the exterior of a building â€” especially the front, but also sometimes the sides and rear. ... Links to full descriptions of the elements of a Gothic floorplan are also found at the entry Cathedral diagram. ... Corinthian refers originally to the port of Corinth in Greece Corinthian order a classical order of Greek and Roman architecture Corinthian league Pauline epistles, books of the New Testament of the Bible: First Epistle to the Corinthians Second Epistle to the Corinthians Third Epistle to the Corinthians (Armenian Orthodox) The...

The campanile dates from 1740. A campanile (pronounced []) is, especially in Italy, a free-standing bell tower (Italian campana, bell), often adjacent to a church or cathedral. ...

The Old Sacristy

Opening off the north transept is the square, domed space, the Sagrestia Vecchia, or Old Sacristy, that was designed by Brunelleschi and that is the oldest part of the present church and the only part completed in Brunelleschi's lifetime; it contains the tombs of several members of the Medici family. Cathedral ground plan. ... The Sagrestia Vecchia, or Old Sacristy in Florence is one of the most important monuments of the early Italian Renaissance architecture. ... A sacristy is a room for keeping vestments (such as the cassock and chasuble) and other church furnishings, sacred vessels and church treasures. ...

The New Sacristy

Opposite it in the south transept is the Sagrestia Nuova (New Sacristy), begun in 1520 by Michelangelo, who also designed the Medici tombs within. The new sacristy was composed of three registers, the top most topped by a coffered pendantive dome. The articulation of the interior walls can be described as early examples of Renaissance Mannerism, see Michelangelo's Ricetto in the Laurentian Library. The combination of pietra serena pillasters on the lower register is carried through to the second facade; however, in Mannerist fashion, architectural elements 'seem impossible' creating a suspense and quality of tension that is evident in this example. Michelangelo's sculptural elements, to be used on the tombs themselves, was left undone. A difficult person to work with, Michelangelo refused to direct the completion of the new sacristy.

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2592x1944, 1827 KB) Firenze Description: Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, seen from the Campanile Time, Place: April 2005 Florence License: Picture by myself, PD File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2592x1944, 1827 KB) Firenze Description: Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, seen from the Campanile Time, Place: April 2005 Florence License: Picture by myself, PD File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not... It has been suggested that Biblioteca Mediceo Lauenziana be merged into this article or section. ... Download high resolution version (576x768, 58 KB)One of the Donatello pulpits in the Basilica di San Lorenzo di Firenze, Florence. ... Download high resolution version (576x768, 58 KB)One of the Donatello pulpits in the Basilica di San Lorenzo di Firenze, Florence. ...

Cappelle Medicee

The most celebrated and grandest part of San Lorenzo are the Cappelle Medicee (Medici Chapels) in the apse. The Medici were still paying for it when the last member of the family, Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici, died in 1743. Almost fifty lesser members of the family are buried in the crypt. The final design (1603-1604) was by Bernardo Buontalenti, base on models of Alessandro Pieroni and Matteo Nigetti. Above is the Cappella dei Principi (Chapel of the Princes), a great but awkwardly domed octagonal hall where the grand dukes themselves are buried. The style shows Mannerist eccentricities in its unusual shape, broken cornices, and asymmetrically sized windows. In the interior, the ambitious decoration with colored marbles overwhelms the attempts at novel design (Wittkower, R. p.126). At its centre was supposed to be the Holy Sepulchre itself, although attempts to buy and then steal it from Jerusalem failed. This article is about an architectural feature; for the astronomical term see apsis. ... The Medici coat of arms The Medici family was a powerful and influential Florentine family from the 13th to 17th century. ... Anna Maria Luisa de Medici, (1667-1743), was the last of the Medicis. ... Crypt is also a commonly used name of water trumpets, aquatic plants. ... Bernardo Buontalenti was an architect in the Italian Renaissance who designed the crypt of the Basilica di San Lorenzo for the Medici family. ... Mannerism is the term used to describe the artistic style that arose in mid-16th century. ... The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, called Church of the Resurrection (Anastasis) by Eastern Christians, is a Christian church now within the walled Old City of Jerusalem. ... Hebrew ×™Ö°×¨×•Ö¼×©Ö¸××œÖ·×™Ö´× (Yerushalayim) (Standard) Yerushalayim or Yerushalaim Arabic commonly Ø§Ù„Ù‚Ù€ÙØ¯Ù’Ø³ (Al-Quds); officially in Israel Ø£ÙˆØ±Ø´Ù„ÙŠÙ… Ø§Ù„Ù‚Ø¯Ø³ (Urshalim-Al-Quds) Name Meaning Hebrew: (see below), Arabic: The Holiness Government City District Jerusalem Population 724,000 (2006) Jurisdiction 123,000 dunams (123 kmÂ²) Mayor Uri Lupolianski Web Address www. ...

Works of art

Andrea Doria as Neptune Agnolo di Cosimo ( 1503, Firenze – 1572, Firenze) (also known as Agnolo Bronzino and Agnolo Tori). ... Fresco by Dionisius representing Saint Nicholas. ... Desiderio da Settignano (c. ... The Tabernacle is known in Hebrew as the Mishkan ( ×ž×©×›×Ÿ Place of [Divine] dwelling). It was to be a portable central place of worship for the Hebrews from the time they left ancient Egypt following the Exodus, through the time of the Book of Judges when they were engaged in conquering... Statue of Habacuc (popularly known as Zuccone) for the Giottos Bell Tower. ... Frieze of the Tower of the Winds. ... In the art of sculpture, a relief is an artwork where a modelled form projects out of a flat background. ... A tondo is also a circular painting or relief carving. ... Antonio del Pollaiuolo (1429 - 1498) distinguished himself as a sculptor, jeweller, painter and engraver, and did valuable service in perfecting the art of enamelling. ... Madonna and Child 1440-45, tempera on panel National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC Fra Filippo Lippi (1406 - October 8?, 1469), commonly called Lippo Lippi, one of the most renowned painters of the Italian quattrocento, was born in Florence; his father, Tommaso, was a butcher. ... Moses Defending the Daughters of Jethro by Rosso Fiorentino (c. ... Categories: Artist stubs | 1435 births | 1488 deaths | Italian painters | Italian sculptors ...

Funerary monuments

Nineteenth-century culture hero: Bernardo Cennini scans printing proofs in a niche overlooking the Mercato Nuovo, Florence. ... for the tractor manufactorer, see Landini (tractor) Landini playing a miniature organ (illustration from the 15th century Squarcialupi Codex) Francesco Landini or Landino (around 1325 â€“ September 2, 1397) was an Italian composer, organist, singer, poet and instrument maker. ... Jacopo Pontormo: Cosimo de Medici, 1518-1519 Cosimo di Giovanni de Medici (September 27, 1389 â€“ August 1, 1464), was the first of the Medici political dynasty, rulers of Florence during most of the Italian Renaissance; also known as Cosimo the Elder (il Vecchio) and Cosimo Pater Patriae. ... Cosimo I de Medici in Armour by Agnolo Bronzino Cosimo I de Medici (June 12, 1519 – April 21, 1574) was the first Grand Duke of Tuscany, ruling from 1537 to 1574, during the waning days of the Renaissance. ... Cosimo II de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (12 May 1590 – 28 February 1621) ruled as Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1609 to 1621. ... Cosimo III de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (14 August 1642 – 31 October 1723) was Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1670 to 1723. ... Ferdinando I de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (30 July 1549 – 17 February 1609) was Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1587 to 1609, having succeeded his older brother Francesco I. Ferdinando was the fourth son of Cosimo I de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany and Eleonora of Toledo (1519... Ferdinando II de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (14 July 1610 – 23 May 1670) ruled as Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1621 to 1670. ... Ferdinando (August 9, 1663 â€“ October 31, 1713), son of Grand Duke Cosimo III ... Francesco I de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (25 March 1541 – 19 October 1587) was the second Grand Duke of Tuscany, ruling from 1574 to 1587. ... Giovanni di Bicci de Medici (1360 (Florence) â€“ February 20 or February 28, 1429) was the founder of the famous and powerful Medici dynasty of Florence; father of Cosimo de Medici (Pater Patriae), and great-grandfather of Lorenzo de Medici (the Magnificent). ... Giovanni de Medici (riding the brown horse) with his brother Piero, Benozzo Gozzolis frescoes in the Magi Chapel of Palazzo Medici, Florence. ... Portrait of Giuliano de Medici by Raphael. ... Portrait by Sandro Botticelli. ... Lorenzo di Piero de Medici (January 1, 1449 – 8 April 1492) was an Italian statesman and ruler of the Florentine Republic during the height of the Italian Renaissance. ... Lorenzo di Piero de Medici (September 9, 1492 - May 4, 1519), Duke of Urbino, grandson of Lorenzo the Magnificent; he was ruler of Florence from 1513 to his untimely death in 1519. ... Piero de Medici (the Gouty), Italian Piero il Gottoso (1416 â€“ December 2, 1469), was the de facto ruler of Florence from 1464 to 1469, during the Italian Renaissance. ...

References

Saint Ambrose, Latin Sanctus Ambrosius, Italian SantAmbrogio (circa 340 - April 4, 397), bishop of Milan, was one of the most eminent fathers of the Christian church in the 4th century. ... Milan (Italian: ; Lombard: MilÃ¡n (listen)) is the main city of northern Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. ...

External links

Categories: Basilica churches in Florence | Renaissance architecture | Buildings and structures in Florence Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (700x921, 196 KB) Summary it: Stemma del Comune di Firenze (Provincia di Firenze). ... Florences skyline Florences skyline at night from Piazza Michaelangelo Florence (Italian: ) is the capital city of the region of Tuscany, Italy. ... Originally, a landmark literally meant a geographic feature used by explorers and others to find their way back or through an area. ... The Battistero di San Giovanni (Baptistery of St John) is believed to be the oldest building in Florence. ... The Boboli Gardens is a famous park in Florence, Italy that is home to a small but distinguished collection of sculptures. ... David by Michelangelo. ... Giottoâ€™s bell tower (campanile) stands on the Cathedral square (Piazza del Duomo) in Florence, Italy. ... Early, tinted 20th-century photograph of the Palazzo Pitti, then still known as La Residenza Reale following the residency of King Emmanuel II between 1865â€“71, when Florence was the capital of Italy. ... The Strozzi Palace in Florence, Italy, was begun by Benedetto deMaiano, for Filippo Strozzi an unfortunate rival of Medici. ... Palazzo Vecchio The Palazzo Vecchio is the town hall of Florence, Italy. ... Ponte Vecchio over the Arno, Florence. ... San Miniato al Monte and the Bishops Palace The Basilica di San Miniato al Monte (Basilica of St Minias on the Mountain) stands atop one of the highest points in Florence, and has been described as the finest Romanesque structure in Tuscany and one of the most beautiful churches... The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) is the principal Franciscan church of Florence, Italy, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. ... The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore is the cathedral church, or Duomo, of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Florence, noted for its distinctive dome. ... The Romanesque-Gothic facade, completed by Leon Battista Alberti in 1470 Santa Maria Novella is a church in Florence. ... The Church of Santa Maria del Santo Spirito (St. ... The Uffizi Gallery (Italian: Galleria degli Uffizi) is a palace or palazzo in Florence, holding one of the oldest and most famous art museums in the world. ...

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