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Transepts

Biblical scenes painted on the vaults

Il ciclo decorativo dei transetti è costituito da trentasette vele dipinte che descrivono in sequenza le Storie di Abramo, Isacco, Giacobbe e Giuseppe.

Un vasto impianto veterotestamentario con le iscrizioni che spiegano rilevanti vicende bibliche nella tradizione cristiana. Cristo è il compimento della promessa fatta da Dio ad Abramo di una discendenza numerosa: “Se appartenete a Cristo, allora siete siete discendenza di Abramo, eredi secondo la promessa” (Lettera di S.Paolo ai Galati, 3, 29.

La narrazione superstite di questi affreschi in tecnica mista inizia dalla prima volta della navatella est del transetto nord vicino al presbiterio, con il racconto con Agar che si rifugia nel deserto per poi proseguire verso nord compiendo tutto il giro e tornare al presbiterio, punto teologico di riferimento.

Difficile è attribuire gli autori e la data esatta di tali opere presumibilmente della seconda metà del 1300.

 

Transepts

Frescoes position

Interactive map

  • Vault 1 - North (east nave) (Stories of Abraham - )
    North transept, east side nave, third bay. Near the Altar of San Michele Arcangelo (St. Michael the Archangel).
    Sarai mistreats expectant Hagar | Intervention of the Angel of the Lord | Return of Hagar | Birth of Ishmael
  • Vault 2 - North (east nave) (Stories of Abraham - )
    North transept, east nave, second span. Near the Altar of the Deposition.    
  • Vault 3 - North (east nave) (Stories of Abraham - )
    North transept, first span east nave. Near the Altar of San Nicola (St. Nicholas).
    Lot and the two Angels | Lot and his family fleeing Sodom | Destruction of Sodom
     
  • Vault 4 - North (west nave) (Stories of Abraham - )
    North transept, third bay on the west side. Near the Altar of Sant’Antonio Abate (St. Anthony Abbot).
    Rebecca offers a drink to Eliezer | Expectant Rebecca| Birth of Esau and Jacob | Esau sells the birthright to Jacob.
  • Vault 3 - South (west nave) (Stories of Jacob - )
    South transept, west nave, third bay. Near the sacristy of the Canons  
  • Vault 2 - South (west nave) (Stories of Jacob - )
    South transept, west nave, second bay. Near the Altar of the Visitation.
    Isaac blesses Jacob and sends him to Mesopopotania | Dream of Jacob | Jacob meets Rachel at the well | Agreement between of Jacob and Laban.
  • Vault 1 - South (west nave) (Stories of Jacob - )
    South transept, west nave, first span. Near the Altar of the Crucifix.
    Jacob meets the angel | Jacob's struggle with the angel | Jacob shares his goods with Esau | Meeting between Esau and Jacob.
  • Vault 1 - South (east nave) (Stories of Joseph - )
    South transept, east nave, first span. Near the Altar of the Annunciation.
  • Vault 2 - South (east nave) (Stories of Joseph - )
    South transept, east nave, second span. Near the altar of San Benedetto (St. Benedict).
    Joseph seduced by Potiphar’s wife | Joseph accused by Potiphar’s wife | Joseph interprets the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker | Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams.
  • Vault 3 - South (east nave) (Stories of Joseph - )
    South transept, east side nave, third bay, near the sacristy.
    Joseph appointed viceroy of Egypt | Joseph distributes the grain | The brothers meet Joseph without recognizing him | The brothers recognize Joseph
South transept

Stories of Isac and Jacob

volta 4

  • Esau back from the hunt (Gen. 27, 30-31 - XIVth century)
  • Rebecca and Jacob (Gen. 27, 15-16 - XIVth century)
    Rebecca disguises Jacob from Esau
  • Esau and Isaac (Gen. 27, 30-31 - XIVth century)
    Esau gives Isaac the wild game
  • Isaac and Esau (Gen 27 1-4 - XIVth century)
    Isaac asks his son Esau to get him some wild game, promising his blessing

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