Santa Maria delle Grazie, Brescia
| Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie | |
|---|---|
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| Basic information | |
| Location | Brescia, Italy |
| Geographic coordinates | Coordinates: 45°32′33″N 10°12′47″E / 45.5426°N 10.213179°E |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Country | Italy |
| Year consecrated | 1539 |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | Ludovico Barcella |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Baroque |
| Groundbreaking | 1522 |
| Completed | 17th century |
The church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Brescia is located on at the west end of Via Elia Capriolo, where it intersects with the Via delle Grazie. Built in the 16th century and remodeled in the 17th century, it still retains much of its artwork by major regional artists, including one of its three canvases by Moretto. The other two are now held at the Pinacoteca Tosio Martinengo. The interior is richely decorated in Baroque fashion. Adjacent to the church is the Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie, a neo-gothic work.
A church at this site, which lay outside the then city walls, was founded in the early 16th century by Hieronymite monks. Almost abandoned after the devastating siege of the city in 1512, the Hieronymites began constructing a new church in 1522. When the Hieronymites were suppressed in 1668, the Pope Clement IX, transferred the monastery to the Jesuits, who established a school. In 1797, the monastery was closed, but the church remained open.
The façade has a bronze statue of the Madonna della Pace, by Emilio Magoni. The front rose window depicts a nativity. In the center of the façade, a sculpted marble portal derives from another church, which had stood outside the city walls, but which was demolished in 1517 by the Venetian authorities. The inscription reads "MATTHEUS LEONEUS HANC PORTAM PROPRIIS FABREFACTAM SUMPTIBUS BEATAE DEI GENITRICI GRATIARUM MARIAE DEVOTE DEDICAVIT", recalling the patronage of the condettiore Matteo Leoni. Another inscription quotes Bernard of Siena: "SINE GRATIA DEI ET MARIE NULLUM / PRORSUS SIVE VOLENDO SIVE AGENDO / FACIUNT HOMINES BONUM E SIMILITER EXCELSA VIRGINI DISPENSO DISPENSATORI". The carved portals are attributed to Filippo Morari da Soresina.
The interior is decorated by numerous artists including, Francesco Giugno, author of five medallion canvases in the central ceiling depicting the Apparition of Christ to his Mother, Pentecost, as well as Assumption, Coronation, and Death of the Virgin. Giovanni Mauro della Rovere painted in the presbytery, while Girolamo Muziano painted Episodes in the life of San Gerolamo in the small dome near the altar of the patron saint.
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