San Marco (Milan)

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San Marco is a church in Milan, northern Italy.

[edit] History

According to tradition, the church was dedicated to St. Mark, patron of Venice, after the help conceded by that city in the war against Frederick Barbarossa in the 12th century. However, the first mention of the church dates from 1254 when that Augustinians built a Gothic edifice with a nave and two aisles re-using pre-existing constructions.

The structure was heavily modified in Baroque style during the 17th century, when it became the largest church in the city after the Duomo.

In the 18th century, Mozart resided in San Marco for three months and, on May 22, 1824, the funerals of Alessandro Manzoni were held here, Giuseppe Verdi's Requiem being performed for the first time in the occasion.

[edit] Art and architecture

The façade dates from a 1871 restoration by Carlo Maciachini, who kept the marble portal with tympanum, a gallery of small arches, the rose window and three statues of saints attributed to Giovanni di Balduccio or the Master of Viboldone. In the lunette is a mosaic representing the Madonna between Saints, a copy of the original by Angelo Inganni.

The campanile is from the 14th century. It was restored and completed in 1885. The interior, in Baroque style, has a nave and two aisles.

In the first chapel on the right are frescoes by Giovanni Paolo Lomazzo. In right transept is a fresco by the Fiammenghini with Alexander IV Instituting the Order of the Augustinians, under which in 1956 a 14th century Crucifixion was discovered. The author of the latter has been identified by Anovelo da Imbonate. The right arms of the transept houses also several sarcophagi from the mid-14th century. By Giovanni di Balduccio is the tomb of Lanfranco Settalo, counsellor of archbishop Giovanni Visconti.

Near the rear exit is a 16th century tombstone portraying the Angel of the Resurrection, another fresco by the Fiammenghini (under which is a 14th century fresco). On the side walls of the presbytery are the Dispute of St. Ambrose and St. Augustine by Camillo Procaccini and the Baptism of St. Augustine by Giovan Battista Crespi.

[edit] References

• Gatti Perer, M. L. (1999). La chiesa di San Marco a Milano.