Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato
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The Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato is a prominent church in Genoa; its decoration employed the major baroque studios and artists in Genoa in the 17th century.
It is named Vastato because the area where it was initially built was external to the walls of the city, and an area where houses were demolished (devastated) or defensive reasons. In Latin, vastinium referred to a safety belt within the protective bastions.
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[edit] History
The church was begun by the Franciscans in 1520 in a site previsouly occupied by the small church of Santa Maria del Prato, belonging to the Humiliati. Works were however halted in 1537, and only in 1591 the Lomellini family continued the reconstruction, which was to be directed by Taddeo Carlone.
In the early 17th century the rich Baroque decoration was executed, while Andrea Ansaldo was entrusted with the completion of the works, and in particular of the dome. The current Neoclassicist façade dates to 1830s and 1840s, designed by Carlo Barabino. The church was damaged by Allied bombings during World War II.
[edit] Architecture
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[edit] Interior decoration of the nave
Among the artists responsible for the interior decoration are G.B. Castiglione with St. James defeats Moors; Giovanni Bernardo Carbone (GBC) with St. James opens Coimbra gates to king Ferdinand; Castello with Martyrdom of St. James and St. Peter christens St. James), Capellino with Preaching of the apostle), Piola with Martyrdom of the saint Lorenzo Bertolotto with Aurelio and Giovanni, Lomi with Daughters by Zebedee introduce Jesus & saints.
At the central crossing, the cupola dome has a Assumption fresco, considered the masterpiece of Ansaldo, and restored later by Gregorio De Ferrari. Above the door to the center nave is a Last Supper by G.C. Procaccini, flanked by two Prophets attributed to either Assereto, Ansaldo or Benso; on the ceiling, canvases depicting an Epiphany, Entry to Jerusalem, and Prayer in the Garden were painted by Giovanni Carlone, while the Resurrection, Jesus appears to his Mother and Coronation of Virgin were painted by his brother, Giovanni Battista Carlone.
[edit] Decoration of chapels
The first chapel’s right wall has a frescoed Nativity attributed to the Moncalvo; Agar & Angel by De Ferrari. The ceiling is frescoed with Miracles by St. Bernardino and Simone & Giuda evangelizing Persians by GBC.
The 2nd chapel on right has an altarpiece and a painting depicting Miracles of St. Bernardino, as well as a ceiling fresco of Catechism of St. Matthew by GBC and another Miracle painting by Lomi.
The 3rd chapel is frescoed by St. Thomas Aquinas before Crucifixion by Piola, and Saint Diego cures a blind child by Simone Barabino; Martyrdom of St. Sebastian and the ceiling St. James baptizes pagans by GBC, and on the left wall is a St. Jerome by Strozzi.
The fourth chapel has an altarpiece of St. Louis, altarpiece by GBC; on the walls, two episodes from the life of the saint, attributed to Claudius Francisco Beaumont; the vault is frescoed with Sant'Andrea adores the Cross by Fiasella.
The 5th chapel has an altarpiece of St. Peter of Alcantara adores Cross by GBC; the wall has an Ecstasy of young Saint Francis attributed to Daniele Crespi; on that left Madonna and Saints by Antonio Maria Piola under a fresco of Supper at Emmaus attributed to Strozzi; on the vault is frescoed St, Paul Preaching” by Fiasella.
The 6th chapel has an Annunciation altarpiece by Piola. The walls have paintings of a Presentation, Visitation and Prophet by Andrea Carlone; on the vault is frescoed St. Peter cures the lame by Assereto. The polychrome St. Anthony of Padua, Infant Jesus, & angels was sculpted by Pierre Puget; on the vault are frescoed Pentecost, and in the lunette over the arch that accesses the far chapel is Doubting St. Thomas, fresco by Giovanni Carlone.
The chapel to right of the nave has a Blessed Andrea da Spello draws water from a stone, a canvas by GBC; on the altar in the front, Madonna sculpture by Leonardo Mirano (1618); to right,Saint Domenico Soriano, altarpiece by Tommaso Clerici (on the left, three archangels by the same; on the cupola are frescoes by GBC.
On the main altar is a Crucifixion by Ponsonelli; on the ceiling, Annunciation and Assumption, on the sidewalls, Presentation of Jesus in temple, all frescos by Benso; and Dispute with the doctors, painted from GBC on design by Benso.
In the chapel to the left of the nave, on the right wall is a Nativity, by Borzone; beneath it is a high relief in marble by Santo Varni of the Madonna & Saints, on the altar in the front, Madonna & Child sculpted by Leonardo Ferrandina; on the altar on the left is a Crucifixion by Francisco Scotto; to right, St. Peter denies Christ and Joseph explains dreams, by Strozzi; on the left, Wedding at Cana and Christ at column, perhaps by Saltarello; frescoes by Giuseppe Isola.
In the left transept, in the niche over the altar is a San Pasquale adoring Holy name, a polychorome work by Anton Maria Maragliano; in the ceiing and in the lunettes over the arched entrance to the far chapel, an Ascension and Supper at Emmaus, fresco by Giovanni Carlone.
The tympanum of the 6th chapel (left of the nave) is frescoed with a Madonna sculpted by Taddeo Carlone; on the vault is frescoed Abraham offers bread & wine to Melchisedech, by Assereto. The 5th chapel has Hope and Charity, statues by Ponsonelli; on the vault is frescoed Rebecca at the well by Fiasella.
The 4th chapel has an altarpiece of the Immaculate Conception by Piola. The 3rd chapel has a “Crucifixion” by Cambiaso; on the left, Saint Francesco baptizes Moors by GBC. The 2nd chapel has an altarpiece of the Transit by St. Clair by Paggi.
The first chapel has two canvases of the Martyrdom of St. Clemente (altar and wall) by GBC; above a St. Lorenzo and St. Stefano, canvases by Gregorio De Ferrari; on the outer vault are the damaged frescoes of Joshua crossing Jordan frescoes by GBC.
