The Cathedral
The
cathedral, dedicated to Saint Mary, is one of the masterpieces of the Romanesque
architecture mixing together a wealth of different styles: classical, late
ancient, Byzantine, Lombard-Emilian and Moorish, which brings evidence to the
cultural blooming of Pisa in that age but also of the comprehensive education of
the architect Buscheto. Consecrated in 1118, the building was enlarged during
the first half of the XII century by Rainaldo, who also worked to the lower part
of the façade finished then thanks to the work by Guglielmo and Biduino. The
cathedral with its Latin-cross plan, its transept and its oval-shaped dome is a
beautiful massive structure in white marble very rich in decorations, especially
its façade is characterized by four orders of blind arches, decorated with
statues and tarsias and completed by the thirteenth-century statue of the Virgin
and Child by Andrea Pisano. Amongst the external decorations one must notice the
bronze doors of Saint Ranieri’s Gate, facing the bell tower, made by Bonanno
Pisano in 1180 and decorated with 24 panels representing scenes from the New
Testament. In the interior, where works and decorations of different periods can
be found, the great mosaic on the vault of the apse representing Jesus Christ
the Redeemer between the Virgin Mary and Saint John the Evangelist stands out.
The latter was partly done by Cimabue in 1302. Amongst the sculptural furniture
a particular mention goes to the beautiful marble pulpit by Giovanni Pisano
(1301-11), masterpiece of the gothic style because of the complexity of its
architecture and of the dramatic sculptural richness used by the artist to
represent Episodes of the Life of Jesus Christ together with the Prophets,
Sibyls and other allegorical figures. A few remains of Henry VII’s tomb by the
Senese artist Tino di Camaino (1313-15), originally placed at the centre of the
apse to underline the ghibelline faith of the town to the Emperor, is all that
remains of a vast number of medieval monumental tombs.
The Leaning Tower
The
bell tower, the famous leaning tower, was started in 1173 but soon on completion
of the third storey the works had to be suspended because of the increasing
steep slant. The construction of the tower was resumed a century later under the
supervision of Giovanni di Simone and maybe of Giovanni Pisano, who attempting
to correct its tilt, added three other storeys having an opposite inclination;
between 1350 and 1372 Tommaso Pisano added the bell-chamber on top.
The Baptistery
The
construction of the baptistery was as long and difficult as that of the tower.
It was started in 1152 by Diotisalvi in marble with a circular plan as a
reminder of the Anastasis
(Resurrection) in the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. After a long interruption the
works were resumed during the second half of the XIII century under the
supervision of Nicola and Giovanni Pisano, who were the authors of the second
order of blind arches overtopped with great sculpted busts and spires. The
original dome was begun in 1358 and was a work by Cellino di Nese and by the
Bolognese Maestro Zibellino. Inside there are the precious baptismal font by
Guido Bigarelli from Como (1246), the inlaid altar and the beautiful pulpit by
Nicola Pisano. The pulpit dates back to 1260 and its reliefs, representing
scenes from the life of Jesus Christ, are the first example of Italian sculpture
reviving classicism.
The Camposanto
The
white massive structure of the Camposanto, with its blind arches and huge human
protoma represents the background of the square as a theatre wing. It was
designed by Giovanni di Simone in 1277 and completed during the XVI century. The
ancient burial site still preserves late ancient sarcophagi used during the
Middle Ages as tombs and which were originally placed along the external walls
of the cathedral. At first the walls of the wide four-arcaded court were
completely covered with series of frescoes, that were unfortunately damaged
during the Second World War then taken off the wall and partially restored. The
most important series displays episodes such as “The Triumph of Death”,
“The Last Judgement” and “Lifes of the Saint Hermits” painted by the
Florentine Buonamico Buffalmacco in the mid thirteen century. In the southern
wing several works were decorated in successive stages by various artists:
“Life of Job” by Taddeo Gaddi (1342), “Scenes from the Life of St.
Ranieri” by Andrea di Bonaiuto (1376-77) and Antonio Veneziano (1384-86),
“Scenes from the Lifes of St. Ephisius and Potitus” by Spinello Aretino
(1390-91); in the northern wing Piero di Puccio painted the “Scenes from the
Genesis” (1389-1391) that are now displayed in the Dal Pozzo Chapel. The
decoration of the northern wing was finished by Benozzo Gozzoli, between 1468
and 1483, with scenes from the Old Testament while the western wing was frescoed
between the XVI and the XVII centuries.
The Museum of the Sinopie
The
visit of the cemetery continues with the Museum of the Sinopie, housed since
1980 in the vast rooms of the medieval New Hospital, started in 1258 as planned
by Giovanni di Simone. The New Hospital was built to expiate the excommunication
of the town of 1241. The museum displays the “Sinopie”, which are the
pre-painting sketches in plaster for the frescoes of the cemetery, discovered
after the removal of the frescoes. It is the biggest existing collection of
medieval graphics.
The Cathedral Museum
The
visit of this extraordinary square, which D’Annunzio named the “Field of
Miracles”, ends up with the Cathedral Museum which has been arranged in 1986
in the old Chapter House, where there is a display of remarkable works of art
belonging to different periods and coming from the previously visited monuments.
A particular mention goes to the rich series of stone sculptures by the major
Pisan artists such as Nicola and Giovanni Pisano, Tino di Camaino, Nino Pisano
as well as to the famous bronze Griffin (masterpiece of the Islamic art of the
XI century) and to the precious Exultet, two illuminated parchment scrolls of
the twelfth and thirteen centuries. The Cathedral Treasure is as well rich and
precious: here on display are the famous Madonna and Child , the little ivory
statue made by Giovanni Pisano for the main altar of the Cathedral (1298), as
well as wonderful examples of goldsmith’s work.
Written by Lucia Casarosa
Translation by Maria Vanzini
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