Next OUSA Northern Italy Venue or Outing Page
This page offers the reader the latest information regarding
the next venue and/or outings page for OUSA Northern Italy.
Visit to the Picasso exhibition in Milan
Arts Society
The Arts Society will be visiting the Picasso exhibition
in Milan.
Time table etc. is still to be decided but it should be in the morning.
We will also have a brief committee meeting.
This page will be updated very shortly so stay tuned.
Preface
When I first came across the church of San Maurizio I simply could
not believe that such beauty was hidden away just yards from C.so Magenta,
a very busy and noisy road even by Milan standards. I must admit that the
outside of the church is grummy and like so many other landmarks in Italy
it has been overtaken by the weeds of consumerism i.e. fashion shops, coffee
bars, mobile phone shops and the like.
Yet in a way it exemplifies Italy, that is to say, it is a mixture
of emotion, passion and is totally unexpected.
So even if the restoration work will take ages to complete you simply
don't care because the sentiment you are left with as you leave the church
is one of admiration for God and the wonderful work that man can do if
he puts his mind to it.
A quick Peek at its History
The Church of San Maurizio, situated in the inside of the important
Monastery Maggiore of the Benedictine, was constructed from 1503 and completed
fifteen years later. It was divided into two parts: the first part (the
one that faces C.so Magenta) was dedicated to church goers and the general
public. The second part was reserved only to the nuns of the monastery
(or rather nunnery) who were not allowed to pass the dividing wall. Subsequently
in 1794 the Archbishop gave them the chance to enter in the public half
of the church in order to admire the altar.
The frescoes are the work of some of the most important artists of XVI
century in Lombardia: Paolo Lomazzo, Bernardino Luini and his two sons,
Calisto Piazza and Vincenzo Foppa. However, during the restoration work,
many of the theories concerning the paternity of these works have been
completely re-discussed. Here is an excerpt:
? The Cappella Besozzi is dedicated to Saint Catherine, a marvellous
fresco showing the decapitation of the Saint.
? Absolutely spectacular is the dividing wall, attributed to Luini,
with images of S. Ursula, S. Maurice, Alessandro Bentivoglio (the commissioner
of this work) e the painting of Campi with the Adoration of the magi.
? To the left of the altar, and through the St. John the Baptist and
the Deposition Chapels, you enter in the church, where you will be dazzled
by the wonderful frescoes of the Presbytery.
? As you move into the rear of the church you will be astounded by
the background of a dark blue sky packed of stars and complete with images
of God with the Evangelists and groups of Angels. Take your time here as
the atmosphere is worth treasuring.
? On the dividing wall there are images of St. Catherine, St. Agatha,
Christ, the Wedding of Cana and the Climb to Calvary. In the terminal Chapel
of the presbytery, there is another wonderful fresco of the Ecce Homo -
look at the faces of the two rascals that deride Christ.
? Next there is a very beautiful image of Adam and Eve who receive
the sin fruit from the snake - while on the left you can admire the
fresco of Aurelio Luini, the Noah's Ark's Chapel.
? The upper part of the church boasts the beautiful women's galleries,
entirely decorated - probably by Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio - with flowers
and faces of nuns and Martyrs.
The church organ was commissioned in 1554 to Giovanni Giacomo Antegnati
and installed 3 years later.
For further info. contact Christine Jones:
Everyone is welcome.
