The Marble Intarsia Decorations at Montecassino and Benedictine Ties between Spain and Its Territories

Martijn van Beek

Research output: Contribution to ConferencePaperAcademic

Abstract

In this paper I will argue that the Benedictine friar Juan Ricci de Guevara (1600–81) was responsible for the concept behind the polychrome marble intarsia on the pedestals of the ten pillars of the abbey church of Montecassino, Naples. The key for this attribution is found in his illustrated manuscripts, which he started in Spain and continued on the Italian peninsula, and which prove the extent of his scholarly knowledge. Many general aspects of erudition come together in this project: religious history, artistic knowledge, and design theory. This decoration not only materialized the Benedictine genius loci at Montecassino, but the intarsia also epitomized the function of architecture as “bearer of meaning” both physically and metaphorically.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusUnpublished - 18 Mar 2019
EventThe 65th Annual Meeting of the Renaissance Society of America - Toronto, Canada
Duration: 17 Mar 201919 Mar 2019
https://rsa.confex.com/rsa/2019/meetingapp.cgi/Home/0

Conference

ConferenceThe 65th Annual Meeting of the Renaissance Society of America
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityToronto
Period17/03/1919/03/19
Internet address

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The Marble Intarsia Decorations at Montecassino and Benedictine Ties between Spain and Its Territories'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this