Review article

A Contribution to the Study of Typology of Franciscan Churches in Istria and on the Kvarner Bay Islands

Damir Demonja orcid.org/0000-0002-4186-5137 ; Institute for Development and International Relations, IRMO Ljudevita Farkaša Vukotinovića 2, 10000 Zagreb

Abstract

Franciscan churches in Istria and on the islands of the Kvarner Bay (Krk, Cres, Rab and Pag) were built in the period from the middle of the 13th to the end of the 16th century and they represent architectonic creations of the so-called preaching church type. It is precisely this type of church, a simple structure consisting of a nave, a wooden or exposed beam ceiling, and a sanctuary executed
in the form of a vaulted quadrangular apsis, which reflects the teachings of Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Order, consistently emphasizing simplicity, humility and poverty. Franciscan churches in the studied region were already the subject of research projects conducted by domestic and foreign scientists of different profiles and interests. However, a systematic study of architectural types was
never conducted, probably because Franciscan churches do not feature particularly developed ground plan forms which would in turn attract the attention of researchers. They were built in compliance with extremely rational construction principles, and their forms for the most part followed the norms that were set.
In this paper we analyze Franciscan churches that were erected in the period from the middle of the 13th to the end of the 16th century in Istria and on the islands of the Kvarner Bay: the Church of St. Francis in Pula, the Church of St. Francis in Poreč, the Church of St. Francis in Krk, the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Košljun, the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Porat (Krk), the Church of St. Mary in Glavotok (Krk), the Church of St. Francis in Cres, the Church of St. Bernardine in Kampor (Rab) the Church of St. Francis in Komrčar (Rab), and the Church of St. Francis in Pag. These churches will be interpreted with respect to their design and construction, the recognized and known master builders, and their representation
in the available scientific and professional papers of Croatian and international authors. To conclude with, a typological classification of these churches will be proposed, based on the design of their spatial and layout units, i.e., aisles and apsides, and on the manner in which they were vaulted.

Keywords

Franciscan churches; Istria; Kvarner Bay islands; analysis; interpretation; typological classification

Hrčak ID:

159953

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/159953

Publication date:

12.11.2015.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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