San Lorenzo Art History | Location | Opening Hours Tickets | Authorizations
The Basilica of San Lorenzo de Medici in Florence
Nave of the Basilica of San Lorenzo The basilica church of San Lorenzo stands on the site of an ancient church, consecrated as a cathedral in 393 by Saint Ambrose and dedicated to Saint Lawrence.
This first cathedral was rebuilt and consecrated again in 1059 by Bishop Gherardo di Borgogna when he became Pope under the name of Nicholas II.
The Renaissance church of Filippo Brunelleschi
In 1418, the Medici family, represented at the time by Giovanni di Bicci, father of Cosimo the Elder, wished to make it their own family church and entrusted Filippo Brunelleschi, the architect of the famous dome of the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral, the Duomo, with the task of radically transforming the old cathedral.
Filippo Brunelleschi set to work and dome of the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Duomo, with the task of radically transforming the old cathedral.
Filippo Brunelleschi set to work and the plans for the future church were completed in 1421.
The work was completed in 1461.
Nave of the Basilica of San Lorenzo This Brunelleschi basilica is one of the most perfect examples of Renaissance architecture, combining Romanesque structures with ancient Greco-Roman architecture.
The interior of San Lorenzo
The church is divided lengthwise into three naves and two rows of columns resting on short plinths and topped with Corinthian capitals and tall sculpted abacuses supporting semi-circular arches connected to the cornice by a console.
The ceiling is flat, with coffers decorated with gilded rosettes.
The Pulpits of Donatello
Donatello's pulpit On either side of the choir are two pulpits resting on Ionic columns.
This work dates from 1460.
Donatello, by then elderly, was unable to finish the panels of these pulpits, which were completed by his pupils Bertoldo and Bellano.
The themes represented are those of the life of Christ.
The pulpit on the right shows the martyrdom of St Lawrence, St Luke and the Mocking of Christ.
Tomb of Cosimo de Medici the Elder Also depicted are Pentecost, the Holy Women at the Tomb, the Descent into Limbo, the Resurrection and the Ascension.
The left-hand panel of the pulpit, on the side of the aisle, shows the Agony in the Garden, St John the Evangelist and the Flagellation.
The other sides of the pulpit show Christ before Pilate, the Entombment, the Descent from the Cross and the Crucifixion.
A small adjacent cloister provides access to a crypt where some items from the treasure of the Basilica of San Lorenzo are on display.
Treasure reliquary in the crypt But it is not just the treasure.
It is also the tomb of Cosimo de' Medici the Elder.
A rather unusual tomb since it is inside a pillar of the crypt, a pillar that supports the floor of the basilica just above it.
In the basilica, the location is marked by a large tombstone dedicated to the "Father of the Nation".
Frescoes on the dome This stone is surrounded by four lunettes through which the tomb just below can be seen.
This tomb was made by Andrea del Verrocchio, Leonardo da Vinci's master.
The Dome of San Lorenzo
The dome is covered with frescoes by Vincenzo Meucci depicting the Saints Florentines and the four Fathers of the Church in glory.This work dates from 1742.
It was commissioned by Anna Maria Luisa de Medici, the last descendant of the Medici dynasty.
These frescoes are particularly well showcased within the great sobriety that reigns in this Basilica of San Lorenzo.
San Lorenzo Art History | Location | Opening Hours Tickets | Authorizations
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