Statues - Hither & Thither

Description

The Ospedale di San Paolo (St. Paul's hospital), since 2006 the Alinari National Museum of Photography, with its characteristic loggia structure, was founded in the 13th century. In 1451 it was expanded with the portico with ten arches. In the cusps is a series of nine engraved terracotta medallions with Franciscan saints and the Works of Misericordia, and and the ends two portraits of Spedalingo B. Benigni (1451 and 1491), all by Andrea della Robbia. In the center of the loggia is also a bust of Ferdinand I de' Medici.

Works of Mercy To give water to the thirsty (?)	San Francesco d'Assisi / St. Francis born Giovanni Francesco di Bernardone (1181/82 - 1226), an Italian friar and preacher. He founded among others the Franciscan Order. Saint Francis is one of the most venerated religious figures in history (Wikipedia).	San Ludovico di Tolosa / St. Louis of Toulouse (Brignoles 1274 - Brignoles 1297) cadet of the royal French house of Anjou, franciscan in 1296 and bishop of Toulouse (Febr.-August 1297) (Wikipedia).
Sant'Antonio da Padova / St. Anthony of Padua born Fernando Martins de Bulhões, (Lisbon c. 1195 - Padua 1231), priest and friar of the Franciscan Order, known for his preaching and expert knowledge of scripture (Wikipedia).	San Bernardino da Siena / St. Bernardino of Siena (Massa Maritima 1380 - Aquila 1444) priest and Franciscan missionary (Wikipedia).	San Bonaventura / St. Bonaventure born Giovanni di Fidanza, (Bagnoregio 1221 - Lyon 1274) Franciscan, scholastic theologian and philosopher, Cardinal Bishop of Albano (Wikipedia).
Sant'Elisabetta / St. Elizabeth (Bratislava 1207 - Marburg 1231), princess of the Kingdom of Hungary, Landgravine of Thuringia; built a hospital where she herself served the sick; symbol of Christian charity (Wikipedia).	Santa Chiara / St. Clare (1194 - 1253), one of the first followers of Saint Francis of Assisi. She founded the Order of Poor Ladies, a monastic religious order for women in the Franciscan tradition (Wikipedia).	Works of Mercy To visit the sick (?)

All anno 1495 Hospital director Benini	Al anno 1451
Two portraits of hospital director B. Benigno

Sculptor

• Andrea della Robbia (Firenze/Florence 1435 - Firenze/Florence 1525/28), Italian Renaissance sculptor, especially in ceramics (Wikipedia).

Sources & Information

• Wikipedia, Museo nazionale Alinari della fotografia.
• Repertorio delle architecture civili di Firenze, Edificio delle Scuole Leopoldine.

Tags

Locatie (N 43°46'22" - E 11°14'57") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

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