The Virgin Mary, flanked by the 12 Apostles, sculpted by 13th century Lombard master sculptor Guido Bigarelli or Guido da Como on the architrave of the Romanesque central portal below the impressive portico across the lower west front, in Piazza San Martino, of the Cattedrale or Duomo di San Martino in Lucca, Tuscany, Italy.
Lucca, Tuscany, Italy: Saint Mary stands flanked by the 12 Apostles on the architrave of the Romanesque central portal below the impressive portico across the lower west front, in Piazza San Martino, of the city’s cathedral, the Cattedrale or Duomo di San Martino. The Duomo was founded in 1063 by Bishop Anselm, later Pope Alexander III. Surviving parts of the original structure include the apse and the campanile or bell tower. The nave and transepts were rebuilt in Gothic style in the 14th century. Construction of the polychrome marble west front began in the 1200s. Its rich sculptural decoration is often Lombard master sculptor Guido or Guidetto di Bonagiunta Bigarelli, known as Guido da Como (1220 - c. 1257). Guido Bigarelli came from a family of sculptors and architects. He was born at Arogno, now in Ticino, Switzerland, and was particularly active in Tuscany and Trentino. He was responsible for at least some of the sculpture on the Lucca cathedral facade, including this architrave and two symbols of the evangelists. Other works attributed to Guido and his workshop include the octagonal font, signed and dated 1246, in the Baptistery at Pisa, a pulpit and other sculpture in churches at Pistoia and an architrave over the entrance to the church of San Pietro Somaldi in Lucca. The Lucca cathedral portico is said to have once sheltered money-changers who traded with travellers using the Via Francigena, the ancient pilgrimage route linking Rome to Canterbury, England, via France and Switzerland.
Size: 3705px × 2474px
Location: Duomo di San Martino, Lucca, Tuscany, Italy
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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