Maestà delle Volte (1567-90)

The church is named for a fresco known as the Maestà delle Volte (1297), which the Commune commissioned for the vaulted street under Palazzo del Podestà.  This image was to be illuminated at night so that it would deter undesirable behaviour in this dark location.  

An oratory that was built in 1335 to house the image was replaced by a larger shrine in 1440-75.  This shrine was destroyed in1534, when Ridolfo Baglioni took Perugia, set fire to the adjacent palace and murdered the papal legate, Cinzio Filonardi. 

• A portico in red and white stone that probably formed part of it survives in situ, at right angles to the facade of the present building.
  

• Some sculptures (ca. 1475) from the façade by Agostino di Duccio were rescued from the fire and are now in the Galleria Nazionale (Room 19).

The church was rebuilt in brick in 1557.  In 1566 it became part of the seminary and Bishop Fulvio della Corgna initiated further renovation.  The design of the facade (1590) is attributed to Bino Sozi or Valentino Martinelli.  The inscription records that  Bishop Antonio Maria Gallo ornamented it, using funds from the will of Marco Antonio Oradini. 

The deconsecrated church is now a dress shop, but it still retains its distinctive architecture and some of the original frescoes.  

Maestà delle Volte (1297)

The remains of this fresco are on the back wall.  It seems that the original depicted the Madonna and Child enthroned with SS Lawrence, Herculanus and Christopher, although the figures of saints no longer survive.  The later repainting of the original image has been removed, leaving only the outline of the Madonna and Child enthroned flanked by praying angels.

Frescoes (1568)

The frescoes in the cupola are signed by Nicolò Circignani (called Pomarancio).  [Subject ??]

Return to the detour to Walk I.