| It seems that the construction of the cathedral, carried out to make the
old Parish church, which was an important rural vicariate, larger and more
beautiful, was done by degrees. The church, built to a design by Giulio
Todeschini, and dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, was consecrated by the
Bishop of Verona in 1611. As happened with many buildings constructed over
a number of years the completion of the works was not entirely in accordance
with the original design. This was most certainly brought about by problems
of a practical nature, most likely a sudden reduction in funding, due to
economical crisis. The façade - Examining the outside of the church admirers
of the building talk of Doric style, cold but decorously Renaissance. Todeschini's
style is linked to that of Sanmicheli and that of Scammozi. The façade also
shows some baroque elements, reminiscent of famous works such as the Church
"del Gesù" in Rome by Vignola. Inside the cathedral it is possible to admire
a pictorial cycle dedicated to Mary Magdalene and painted by Andrea Celesti,
one of the main representatives of Veneto art in the seventeenth century.
In the presbytery of the cathedral, behind the altar, in the centre, there
is "The repentant Magdalene consoled by the Angels in a moment of rapture".
On the left there is "The resurrection of Lazarus" said to be the brother
of Mary Magdalene. On the right there is "The dinner in the house of Simon
the Pharisee" during which Mary Magdalene washes Jesus' feet and dries them
with her hair. Taste for the spectacular and for the description of a banquet
predominates. The influence of a large canvas by Paolo Veronese ("The banquet
at Levi's house", 1573, now in the Venice Academy), is evident. Above the
windows in the apse there are two minor canvases, also by Celesti. Celesti's
cycle, dedicated to Saint Mary Magdelene, concludes with the triumphal "Resurrection
of Christ" on the counter-façade of the cathedral. Other paintings by Celesti
can also be found on the joining surfaces between one arch and another of
the two rows of columns in the central nave. Other important works can be
admired in Desenzano's cathedral. Gian Battista Tiepolo's "Last Supper"
shines in the Holy Chapel. This painting was completed around 1738. Tiepolo's
painting is of great interest because it is iconographically atypical, in
that the twelve apostles are grouped together, contrary to the traditional
idea, along a perspective line, running lengthwise, which seems to gather
the guests together in close intimacy whilst the drama unfolds. There are
more works in the vestry. The eye is immediately drawn to the "Deposition"
and to the series of small canvases illustrating "The Mysteries of the Rosary".
Inside the cathedral there are also works by other artists, amongst which
Giovanni Andrea Bertanza of Padenghe, Donato Zenone, Domenico Cignaroli,
whilst in the left-hand nave there is a chapel, built in 1874, and dedicated
to St. Angela Merici. |
