Friday, January 18, 2019

St. JOHN BOSCO

S. GIOVANNI BOSCO
1953/58 Gaetano Rapisardi (1893/1988) who also designed the square, for the Salesians, the order founded by St. John Bosco (1815/88) also known as Don Bosco
FAƇADE
High relief at the center:
“St. John Bosco among young men and angels” by Arturo Dazzi (1881/1966)
In the large arches on the sides statues:
“Archangel Gabriel” and “Archangel Michael” by Ercole Drei (1886/1973)
In the four smaller niches statues from left:
“St. Francis de Sales” by Giovanni Amoroso (1913/73)
“Pius IX Mastai-Ferretti (1846/78)” and “Pius XI Ratti (1922/39)” by Francesco Nagni (1897/1977)
“S. Giuseppe Cafasso” by Antonio Venditti (1914/81)

DOME
31 m (101.3 feet), the third largest by diameter in Rome after the Pantheon (43.3 m - 142,06 feet) and St. Peter (42.56 m - 139.63 feet)
On top of the dome “Four bronze angels and crown surmounted by a cross of light” by Alessandro Monteleone (1897/1967)

PORCH
On the main door:
Reliefs “Symbols of the Four Evangelists” and stories of Don Bosco: “Pius IX blesses the work of the St. John Bosco”, “Leo XIII entrusted him with the construction of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Rome”, “Mass of St. John Bosco in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart”, “Apostolate in Rome of St. John Bosco as a young priest” by Federico Papi (1897/1982)
Above the two side doors:
Bronze statues “Redeemer” and “St. John the Baptist” by Attilio Selva (1888/1970)

INTERIOR
Marble coating by Triestino Trognoni con Cima Gargari, Fausto Gargari and Aonio Paleario
“Stations of the Cross” by Venanzo Crocetti (1913/2003)

1st CHAPEL ON THE RIGHT
“Crucifix” in bronze by Venanzo Crocetti

2nd CHAPEL ON THE RIGHT
Painting “S. Maria Domenica Mazzarello” co-founder of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians by Paolo Giovanni Crida (1907/67)
“He renders in a popular form an orderly and readable arrangement of interesting episodes from the life of the saint. She appears in the center in a radiant halo supported by angels. The commitment of the painter turns to a historical documentation of the facts, illustrated with a minute and diligent realism with no synthesis and abstractions” (Official Website of the Parish of St. John Bosco - www.donboscoparrocchia.pcn.net)

2nd ALTAR ON THE RIGHT
Painting “S. Domenico Savio” student of Don Bosco by Mario Caffaro Rore (1910/2001)

3rd ALTAR ON THE RIGHT
Painting “St. Joseph the Worker” by Emilio Notte (1891/1982)

MAIN ALTAR
Mosaic “Glory of St. John Bosco with saints and blessed” by Giovanni Brancaccio (1903/75)
It covers an area of about 100 m² (1,100 square feet) with about 15 million tiles
Altar in Carrara marble weighing about 10 tons (11 tons) by Father Costantino Ruggeri (1925/2007)
The huge block seems to break at the base to symbolize both the crack that opened in Mount Calvary at the death of Christ, and the moment when Christ broke bread during the celebration of the Eucharist
Tabernacle with “Crucifixion with Angels” and “Bronze Candelabra” by Pericle Fazzini (1913/87)
Eight huge marble bas-reliefs (four on each side) on the sides of the tabernacle with “Stories of Don Bosco”, from bottom to top, by Alessandro Monteleone (1897/1967), Luigi Venturini (1912/98), Francesco Nagni (1897/1977) and Vico Consorti (1902/79)
Monumental “Candlestick” in bronze for the Easter candle by Lyda Preti

SMALLER DOME
24 windows with “Seven Sacraments and Works of Mercy” engraved by Bruno Saetti (1902/84)

Stained Glass “Stories from the Life of Jesus” by Marcello Avenali (1912/81) and Lorenzo Gigotti (1908/94)
Ring at the base with mosaic “Dreams of St. John Bosco” by Augusto Ranocchi

CHAPEL OF St. ANNE
Painting “St. Anne with Madonna as a young girl and angels” by Lorenzo Gigotti (1908/94)

1st CHAPEL ON THE LEFT
“Baptismal font” and “Angels” in bronze by Emilio Greco (1913/95)

1st ALTAR ON THE LEFT
Painting “Virgin Help of Christians with Don Bosco, saints and boys' choir singers” by Gisberto Ceracchini (1889/1982)
In the church there are also works by Attilio Torresini (1884/1961), Primo Conti (1900/88) and other artists

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