Santa Maria Maddalena, Bologna Explained

The church of Santa Maria Maddalena is found in central Bologna, Italy.

History

A church at the site existed in the 11th century, but the structure was rebuilt over the centuries. During 1564, the anterior portico was designed by Giovanni Piccinini from Como.^[1] In 1758, a major reconstruction was designed by Alfonso Torreggiani. The church contains a Madonna delle Febbri attributed to Lippo di Dalmasio.^[2]

Other works once found in the church, included:

• Santa Caterina and Madonna and child by Bartolommeo Passarotti.
• La Concezione (relief) by Angelo Piò .
• Christ preaching to the Magdalen by Francesco Cavazzoni .
• Crucifix on the entrance painted by Lavinia Fontana.
• Virgin with St Joseph and John the Baptist painted by Francesco Monti.
• St Sebastian painted by Francesco Calza.
• A door leads to an internal church called Santa Croce, which has a facade painted with the Triumph of the Cross by Felice Torelli.
• A wall frescoed with Glory of Magdalen by Ercole Graziani.
• Via Crucis was painted by Giuseppe Marchesi, il Sansone.
• Christ mourned by the Maries was painted by Giuseppe Mazza .^[3]
• Interior of cupola ceiling and apse was painted in 1905 by Antonio Mosca (1870-1951) and Domenico Ferri (1857-1940).^[4]

Notes and References

1. https://books.google.com/books?id=IOMDAAAAYAAJ L'architettura a Bologna nel Rinascimento
2. http://www.emiliaromagna.beniculturali.it/index.php?it/108/ricerca-itinerari/12/101 Beni Culturali of Emilia-Romagna
3. https://books.google.com/books?id=l_0NAQAAIAAJ Guida del forestiere per la città di Bologna e suoi sobborghi
4. •Corrado Ricci, Guida di Bologna, 5ª edizione, Bologna, Nicola Zanichelli, p. 116. «...la cupola e l'abside (della chiesa di Santa Maria Maddalena di Bologna) furono invece dipinte da Antonio Mosca (al posto di Romano Alberghini) ornatista e da Domenico Ferri (1857-1940) figurista (1905)". Refuso editoriale segnalato dal pittore Antonio Mosca stesso all'autore Corrado Ricci che 13 luglio 1921 chiede scusa e promette di correggere l'errore nella futura edizione.»