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Santi Quattro Coronati


Santi Quattro Coronati
Photo Information
Copyright: Lasse Lofstrom (ellelloo) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 237 W: 12 N: 649] (2432)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-16
Categories: Architecture
Camera: Olympus FE-100
Exposure: f/3.0, 1/300 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Map: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Travelogue: Italy 2007
Date Submitted: 2008-11-17 12:38
Viewed: 262
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The cloister of Santi Quattro Coronati
In 1116 Pope Paschal II founded the monastery in the Basilica of Santi Quattro Coronati, which in 1138 was controlled by one of the most powerful Italian Benedictine abbeys: Santa Croce di Sassovivo at Foligno in Umbria. The monastic buildings were located on the left side of the Basilica and underwent an intense phase of development during the 13th. century. The blocked-out windows of the monastic cells are still visible on the imposing western facade that overlooks Via dei Querceti. The cloister, the subject of this restoration project, also dates from the first half of the 13th. century. It is a splendid example of what can be defined as 'cosmatesque' architecture, the name coming from one of the principal sculptor-architect families, the Cosmati, who worked in Rome during the 12th and 13th centuries.

The cloister is made up of four corridors supported on the inner side by arches resting on 96 coupled columns and 10 marble pilasters. The corridors were originally covered by a roof. A splendid brick cornice with marble corbels and mosaic intarsia runs the whole length of the four sides. Traditional medieval figurative elements are harmoniously fused with direct references to classical antiquity, such as the fluted pilaster strips. There is clear evidence of the relationship that existed with the cloister at the Abbey of Sassovivo. The latter was being constructed in 1229 and bears the signature of the Roman marble worker Pietro de Maria. It is therefore possible that he is also the author of the Roman cloister.

After the complex was turned into a orphanage for girls run by Augustinian nuns in 1564, restoration and extension work was carried out that also involved the cloister; in particular, the corridors were covered by barrel vaults and a simple open gallery on pilasters was constructed above them. Between the 16th and 19th centuries the cloister was seriously tampered with, altering both its aspect and static condition. Between 1912 and 1916 the Fine Arts Superintendent Antonio Muñoz, well known for his interventions on medieval buildings, restored the thirteenth-century part of the cloister and placed a precious marble cantharus, probably from the 11th century, in the center of the open space that had been turned into a garden.

Muñoz adorned the perimeter walls with notable stone inscriptions and pieces of sculpture, dating from Roman times up to the Middle Ages, which had been found inside the complex. With its controlled space and harmonious proportions, the cloister today represents a typical example of how the stratification of parts of epochs and different styles in the city of Rome has given rise to a single irreplaceable figurative whole. Every day the cloister is open not only to tourists and students interested in its architecture, its works of art and historical testimonies, but also to believers of all creeds who see it as a place of prayer and contemplation.

http://www.santiquattrocoronati.org/index_enn.htm
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Here is the cloister and the Carolingian tower. I should have needed a wide angle lens to include the whole tower. Excuse the dull sky too. :-) You can see the tower from the outsise of the complex in WS #1. In WS 2 is the entrance seen from inside. Unfortunately I do not have any photos from the ancient basilica of Santi Quattro Coronati belonging to the same complex of buildings. In the above link you will find photos from it in the section "History of Monument".
paololg, grigand, baddori, fanni, Longroute, Buin, archimatica, polpo56, francio64, stego, Silvio1953 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Ciao Lasse,
marvelous game of perspectives, lights and shades, perfectly managed by your cleverness. The image is pleasantly completed from the flowers and from the fountain creating a composition rich in details.
Excellent work, bravo!
Ciao
Paolo

Hi LAssie,
A very interesting shot and note, I like ypur shot although the sight of the tower is not complete.
ciao
andrea

Hello Lasse
Note to the comprehensive pignoleria.
But after so much history.
Technical Comments: To go into no sets forth the discounted fai interesting places in your congenital deck in the nature of friendship, in this monument.
Congratulations
Gianfranco

  • Great 
  • fanni Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 496 W: 83 N: 872] (3361)
  • [2008-11-17 22:29]

Hello Lasse,
interesting building -and very good composition showing some of its beautiful details and the lovely little yard. I also like the flowers and the greenery below as they add a touch of liveliness to the image :) Excellent colours and light management!
The WS photos are interesting, too.
best regards,
Elena

Hej Lasse,
A very interesting abd beautiful place! It is hard to decide which of the three versions I really prefer, they are all very good and could very well have been posted separately on TE :) Your note and the attached link are just an extra bonus!
Hälsningar
Gunnar

Fine and interesting subject, well cropped composition and photo well executed tecnically. I like the colours and the light. Very good and fine the external view too.
Interesting and exaustive note.
(For the rest I completely agree with baddori (:-)
Ciao,
Donato

  • Great 
  • dumbo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 437 W: 52 N: 157] (3092)
  • [2008-11-18 4:02]

Hei Lasse,
Warm summer memories=) I like the architecture of that building and the beautiful colors of this photo. This composition is also good.
Well done!

Terveisin,
Eino

  • Great 
  • Buin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3692 W: 1 N: 7806] (28201)
  • [2008-11-18 9:47]

Hallo Lasse!
What a wonderful sunny courtyard! These filigrane columns really are lovely. This yard must be an oasis in the city...
The burnt out sky and the cut off tower? It doesn't matter at all. The shown really is beautiful and worth seeing and the workshop photos are excellent complements in order to imagine the whole site. In combination with your more than good note a splendid contribution to TE. Hats off!
Greetings from wet, cool, grey Germany!
Frank

Ciao Lasse,
a very impressive architectural picture...
A nice composition and fine colours.
TFS

Ludo

Ciao Lasse,
ottimo taglio per questa bella immagine di architettura.
La fontana e i vasi con i fiori rossi sulle finestre, contribiscono a dare maggiore composizione.

Francesco

Hola Lasse.
Estupenda imagen con un colorido muy bien captado.
Perfacto encuadre y acertada exposición.
Saludos, JL.

  • Great 
  • aadilj Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2105 W: 62 N: 1787] (12474)
  • [2008-11-23 21:19]

Hi Lasse, I love the golden etxtures and the ambient hues of the sunlight, the archietcture is vivid and well managed

Ciao Lasse,
the photos inside the cloisters are always difficult to be realized for the quality of the light. you have succeeded in optimizing the lights and the shades with this beautiful photo.
nice job
Giorgio

  • Great 
  • stego Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3863 W: 639 N: 5483] (17384)
  • [2008-11-26 4:21]

Hi Lasse,
I find these convents very charming in its austere beauty. These cloisters are not easy to photograph, but you achieved producing a very interesting and well balanced compo/perspective, using the variety of lines and their inclinations very cleverly. It's a pity that the sky is completely white, but we can't have everything and I find that just a minor detail.
Regards, José.

Hello Lasse, good shot of this nice yard. Nice architecture!

TFS

Phil

Hi Lasse, great view of wonderful architecture by splendid POV, very well done, ciao Silvio

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