In the
picturesque cloister to
the side of the Church
of Santa Croce one finds
one of the greatest works
by Filippo Brunelleschi:
the Pazzi Chapel. It dates
from just three years before
the death of the architect
(1443).
The plan
of the chapel is again
the circle and the square.
A rectangular base is covered
with a conical central
dome supported by fine "veiled" vaulting
that one also finds in
the porch. The spaces are
divided up with a geometric
lucidity; the white intonaco
(plaster) of the walls
is in the cool contrast
to the pilasters in grey "serene" stone,
and the beautiful decorations
in glazed terracotta which
adorn the interior are
by Luca della Robbia.
It is considered to be
one of the masterpieces
of Renaissance architecture.
In the
same courtyard there is the
long refectory housing the
dramatic CRUCIFIX by Cimabue
dating from c. 1270 (see
Opera St. Croce Museum).
This was the work of art
most damaged in the flood
of 1966. Ten years time was
necessary for the restoration
of the panel painting, after
lying immersed in the mud
for an entire day.
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Facade
of the Pazzi Chapel |
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Outline
of the chapel from Piazza Santa Croce |
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Detail
of the Doric columns |
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Lunettes
in glaced terracotta with Saints
by Luca della Robbia and followers |
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The
right chapel with the altar |
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The
dome under the portico by Luca della Robbia |
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The stained glass in the right chapel |
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Dome of
the right chapel
The fresco reproduces the sky in Florence on
July 4, 1442.
There is a similar frescoed dome but previous
in the Church of
San Lorenzo in Florence from
the same painter.
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Dome of the left chapel
The fresco reproduces the sky in Florence on
July 4, 1442.
There is a similar frescoed dome
but previous
in the Church of
San Lorenzo
in Florence from the same painter.
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Luca della Robbia -
St. Matthew
Under the Evangelist the crest of the Pazzi
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Luca della Robbia
St. Luke |
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Luca della Robbia
St. John |
Luca della Robbia
St. Mark |
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