Santa Maria Novella – treasure church in Florence
Every step through the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence is like revealing most precious treasures of history, arts and religious passion in a way you will never forget….
Piazza Santa Maria Novella – elegant square where spirit of horse chariot races is still present, as a remnant of good old times of Cosimo I Grand Duke of Tuscany. Instead of hearing passionate XVI century Florentine crowd, cheering for their favorite during the race, I am enjoying my creamy cappuccino, watching excited tourists admiring treasure church of Santa Maria Novela in Florence. However, only tiny percent of them dare to enter it, to step into a mysterious but beautiful patchwork of history, arts and religion of the XV century Florence.
Symbolic Facade
Facade is there, attracting us enormously, like an entrance gate to the unreal. Just admire dominant three colors of white, green and pink marble symbolizing faith, hope and charity as three theological virtues. This motive is frequently repeated, almost as a signature of many religious structures in Florence. What you see is marvelous renaissance decoration done by master-class genius Leon Battista Alberti in 1436. And what about hidden symbols and messages we can read from a facade? First of all, somebody needed to pay for this project and we are easily able to identify a rich noble family of Ruccelai as patrons. That’s why pediment (triangular part at the top of a facade) is painted with shining Sun, as a symbol of Dominican Order and birth of Jesus. Just beneath, there is a clear signature IOHANNES O RICELARUS. And truly, Giovanni Ruccelai, rich Florentine merchant, financed this noble church, while architect Alberti implemented beautiful frieze decoration: set of flying tiny white ropes attached to a semicircular sails. And he did it with superb, symbolic purpose.
With that said, it seems like Giovanni Ruccelai spoke to future generations: “I’ve built this house of God and ropes and sails on this facade represent my trade fleet, anchored in Pisa and they are symbols of my wealth and power”. In this case he surpassed importance even of Dominic de Guzman, founder of Dominican Order of priests, who is vividly represented in semicircular lunette above the main door.
Floral and geometrical facade decoration detail (down)
Interior of Santa Maria Novela
Tornabuoni chapel
If we discovered so much just from a facade, imagine the interior. What strikes immediately is shining painted Tornabuoni chapel of the high altar. Colors are so vivid, clean and bright, which makes me thinking of the year 1485. One of the greatest painters ever – Domenico Ghirlandaio started his project on Tornabuoni Chapel. In his time he was dominant enough to give first painting lessons to young Michelangelo, and brilliant enough to gather a dream team of Tuscan painters to paint side walls of the Sistine Chapel.
That was Ghirlandaio, a person to whom a fresco painting technique was like younger sister, nature and people were his inspiration, and Florence, his beloved mother. Tornabuoni chapel in Santa Maria Novella church is full of brilliantly painted characters from the life of Virgin Mary and St. John The Baptist. What creates an extraordinary renaissance portal here is use of clothes styling of the time and faces of XV century Florentine nobles to describe biblical characters! What a parallel between two fascinating worlds by Ghirlandaio!
Holy Trinity fresco
A few steps away from this masterpiece, and you will be intrigued again… There is a fresco, so simple, but so delicate and profound. Holy Trinity painted by Masaccio in 1427. represents pure talent of a painter who would surpass even famous Giotto, if he was not poisoned and died at the age of 27. This tragedy deeply affected his best friends: sculptor Donatello and architect Filippo Brunelleschi. In front of you is a fresco where depth of space, perspective and mathematical proportions are introduced for the first time in renaissance painting. Here they reached almost their highlight with Masaccio’s bright mind. Having a feeling that you can step into a fresco, behind the Crucifixion is simply overwhelming.
Already aware of incredible treasures of Santa Maria Novella, please enjoy famous Strozzi Chapel as well. This is where lives of St. Philip and St. James The Great will become so close to you, thanks to Filipino Lippi’s masterclass technique from 1502.
Gondi chapel
Walking quietly through the nave and transept of a church, you will notice beautifully carved wooden Crucifix, set inside the Gondi Chapel. Every detail is on its spot: body anatomy, expression and dignity of a scene itself. All mentioned came from a creative power of Filippo Brunelleschi – architect of Florentine Cathedral dome, as a response to another wooden crucifix done by his best friend – famous Donatello.” I can do it better”, maybe thought Brunelleschi, and honestly, he did it.
Green Cloister
After brilliantly decorated Spanish chapel adored by Eleonora di Toledo (beautiful wife of Grand Duke Cosimo I ), do not miss to explore elegant Green Cloister (Chiostro Verde) from XIV c. named after paintings done on a specific green clay. For a feeling of unique serenity of the place, walk under the pointed arches with beautiful frescoes. Large Cloister, its green courtyard and cypress trees, bring alive those times, when Dominican monks were devoting their lives to the God.
Mona Lisa’s wedding in Florence
Just before leaving a church let yourself being translated through the time into the year 1495. You would be caught in a tricky moment of a historic wedding ceremony. Charming 15 year old bride was lady Lisa Gherardini, while groom was a merchant Francesco del Giocondo. Yes. You are guessing right. In this very same church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, modest wedding ceremony was organized and the Leonrado da Vinci‘s Mona Lisa was married.
After Santa Maria Novella Church, Florence in your eyes becomes different. You are deeply involved and totally connected with arts, way of life, tradition and renaissance passion. Just let yourself to reflect enough and keep discovering more.
Article images are made by Jonnie World Walker.
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