Santi Nazaro e Celso, Brescia

Santi Nazaro e Celso
Pediment with Christ and six statues of saints
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Province	Brescia
Location
Location	Brescia, Italy
Geographic coordinates	45.537005°N 10.213125°E / 45.537005; 10.213125
Architecture
Type	Neoclassic Facade
Groundbreaking	13th century
Completed	1780

The church of Santi Nazaro e Celso is located on Corso Giacomo Matteotti, at the intersection with via Fratelli Bronzetti, in Brescia, Lombardy, Italy. The church contains the Averoldi Polyptych (1522), a masterwork of Titian.

History

Originally a church was found at approximately the same site in 1222, in an area that was soon enclosed by enlarged city walls. A major reconstruction began in 1746, by designs of abate Zinelli, and completed in 1781, leading to the statue-topped neoclassical facade we see today.[1] It was interrupted in 1769 by an accidental explosion of a powder magazine at nearby Porta Nazaro. Reconstruction finally ceased and worship was resumed in 1780. Seventeen years later the college of canons was suppressed, but the church remained functioning as a parish church. The organ in the church was completed by Luigi Amati in 1803.

The entrance has a bust of one of the patrons of the reconstruction, the bishop of Modone, Alessandro Fe.[2]

Interior

Moretto, Coronation of the Virgin with Saints Michael Archangel, Joseph, Francis of Assisi, and Nicola of Bari

In addition to the polyptych, the church contains the following artworks:

• Coronation of the Virgin with Saints (circa 1534) by il Moretto, 2nd altar to left.
• Passion of Christ with Moses and Solomon (or David) (1541-1542) by Moretto, 3rd altar to right.
• Annunciation by Gabriello Rottini, 3rd altar to left.
• Adoration of the Shepherds with Saints Nazarius and Celsus (circa 1540) by Moretto, 4th altar to left.
• Madonna and child with St. Laurence and Augustine (c. 1460–1480) by Paolo da Caylina the Elder.
• Polyptych of St Rocco (c. 1590) by Antonio Gandino.
• Adoration of the Magi (1740) by Giambattista Pittoni.
• Death of St. Joseph (1738) by Francesco Polazzo.
• St Barbara and donor (1588) by Lattanzio Gambara.

References

1. Guida di Brescia rapporto alle arti ed ai monumenti antichi e moderni, by Federico Odorici (1853), page 101-102.
2. F. Odorici, page 102.

External links