Key to Umbria: Bettona

Sant’ Antonio da Padova (1494-1502)

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Bettona: Home History Art Saints Walks Monuments Museums

In 1494, Pope Alexander VI approved a request from the Observant Franciscans of the Convento di Sant' Onofrio to build a new church and convent on the site of the chapel of the fortress of San Manno. The friars were able to move to the new complex in 1502.

The complex was suppressed in 1809, when Giuseppe Bianconi stepped in to protect the church and convent, including its library. The friars returned in 1816 but the complex was definitively suppressed in 1866.

✴The original choir stalls (ca. 1502) from the church are now in the Sala Consigliare of Palazzo Comunale.
✴A fragment of a sarcophagus (3rd century AD), which was documented in 1840, when it served as the architrave of a door in the convent, is now in the Museo Civico.

Art from the Church

St Antony Abbot (16th century)

This polychrome wooden statue, which came from Sant’ Antonio da Padova, is now in Santa Maria Maggiore.

The following are now in the Pinacoteca Civica.

St Antony of Padua (ca. 1512)

This altarpiece, which is signed by Perugino and dated by inscription. The inscription records that it was commissioned by Bartolomeo di Maraglia, who was a soldier in the pay of Gian Paolo Baglioni, who was taken prisoner by the French at the the Battle of Marignano in 1512. He is depicted in armour kneeling at the feet of the saint giving thanks for his release.

Madonna della Misericordia with saints (16th century)

This altarpiece, which is attributed to Perugino,depicts the Madonna della Misericordia sheltering SS Stephen and Jerome and two kneeling donors (presumably a married couple).

Virgin in Glory with Saints (1547)

This altarpiece was documented on the high altar in 1872. The predella contains images of the donors and identifying inscriptions: Donna Ciancia Angelini commissioned the work according to the will of her husband, Juliano in 1547. The panel is attributed to the workshop of Jacopo Siculo, who died in 1544.

The main panel depicts the Madonna and Child in a mandorla of clouds and pitti, with a townscape of Bettona below. In front of it are six kneeling figures: SS Crispoltus; Francis; Jerome; (?); Antony of Padua; and Louis of Toulouse.

The predella contains images of the donors and identifying inscriptions: Donna Ciancia Angelini commissioned the work according to the will of her husband, Giuliano in 1547.

Return to Walk II or Around Bettona.

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