The Cathedral of St Andrew, Amalfi

[endlessrarities]

Back to the magnificent Cathedral of St Andrew in Amalfi now, and a post devoted to the Chiostro del Paradiso - The Cloister of Paradise.

Built in1266, the Arab influences are clearly apparent in the style of the arches:

 

There's a good view of the campanile from this cloister:-

 

Much of the interior has been whitewashed, but some frescoes still survive.  According to Sorrento & The Amalfi Coast, by Conti et. al. (Bonechi, 2009), these date to the 14th century.
 

 

Sadly, time and human agency have taken their toll on these artworks, which have been extensively mutilated throughout the centuries.  But some fragments survive which indicate just how colourful the structure would have been in its heyday.

And then there's the mosaics.  Not Roman mosaics, but medieval ones, which in my opinion are even better:-

 

There, I told you it got even better!! Never has a Chiostro del Paradiso been more aptly named...  Once again, I'm seriously impressed!

Comments

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Any idea what happened to those missing faces from the frescoes? I would hope they're being restored somewhere and not hanging on someone's wall...

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

I would guess they've been chipped away by over-zealous religious types who were trying to reduce levels of idolotry in the church. We've had similar instances in the UK where the heads are hacked off statues or whatever. The reformation never took hold here, but I can't help thinking that the pre-dominance of white-washed interiors in the churches reflects a similar attitude regarding imagery and painting.

But balance this against the richly decorated Baroque interior of the main church building... The jury is probably still out.

[clairehawthorn.livejournal.com]

When my eye caught the word "whitewashed" I braced myself and expected the worst......but I love the surviving frescos with their worn beauty and the mosaics are an absolute joy - I want that yellow one with the exotic birds!

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

Isn't it gorgeous?? I looked at that and thought 'WOW!!!!!'

[coldhighmountai.livejournal.com]

those arches are really interesting. the columns look not quite up to snuff, however...

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

It's a far cry from either Classical columns, or the decorative forms you find in Romansesque or Gothic.

[basefinder.livejournal.com]

This tiny laptop screen does not do justice to your photo posts, but rest assured after I return home, I will spend time this weekend trying to catch up! :-)

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

This particular site was extremely photogenic!

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

Nice!

The Italian south remains on our 'to do' list!

That blind arcading in the first one gives a clue to where at least one of the multiple styles influencing art deco was coming from :o)

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

Venice is next on our Italian list, followed by Sicily. I'm fascinated by the Moorish influence.

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

We're tempted to revisit Trento and Bolzano but coming at it via Innsbruck over the Brenner which is apparently an impressive railway journey!

Our next trip is Prague, however.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

Next year's aim for us is Carcassone.

[red-trillium.livejournal.com]

I love the shape of those arches! I bet this would have been a beautifully coloured cathedral before time and people ravaged it.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

It would probably have looked just like the Villa of The Mysteries in Pompeii.

Though perhaps not quite as sordid in its subject matter.

Mind you, these unfortunate saints get finished off in all sorts of gruesome ways. I'm thinking of a fresco in Siena which features St Lawrence getting griddled....

[changeling72.livejournal.com]

Very nice!

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

Isn't it just?

[puddleshark.livejournal.com]

Just gorgeous! I've seen pictures of Moorish architecture in Spain, but I hadn't realised the influence had spread so far and wide...

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

I knew it had reached Sicily, but I didn't know it had got to the mainland.