Niccolò Barabino, The Faith among the representatives of the Guilds

Information
Author
Niccolò Barabino
Date
1885
Collocation
Museo dell'Ottocento
Material
Canvas, oil pigments
Technique
Painting
Dimensions
Height: 285 cm; Width: 228 cm;
Material
Canvas, oil pigments

This lunette, an oil on canvas, was created in 1882-1885 by the Genoese painter Niccolò Barabino. Depicting the allegory of Faith among the representatives of the ancient Florentine craft guilds, it is one of the three lunettes painted by Barabino as preparatory cartoons for the mosaics of the Cathedral portals.

The subject is part of the extensive iconographic program of the facade, developed by the architect De Fabris, responsible for the Cathedral construction, together with the philosopher Augustus Conti. The iconographic theme was the celebration of Mary, patron of the temple. This lunette celebrates the Virgin as "support of the Faith" and it was for the mosaic of the right portal. At center, the female personification of Faith is seated on a throne, inside a niche bearing the gold inscription Ausilium christianorum, referring to the Virgin Mary as "Help of the Christians". The woman is dressed in a blue cloak and holds a book with a red cover; over her head shines the six-pointed star of David (the Virgin Mary is of the lineage of David). Below, on the base, we observe the coats of arms of some guilds: of judges and notaries, of silk, of wool, and of Calimala (the merchants) and the Cambio (moneychangers). Around the throne there are six personages, in medieval garments and with objects that identify their art (a roll of silk for the silk makers; an anvil and a helmet for the armorers, others). All are standing but one, who is prostrate on his knees and bears a mass of wool: he is the representative of the Wool Guild, which oversaw the Opera of the Cathedral.

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