Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.21857/94kl4clrem
The Construction of St. Saviour Church in Dubrovnik (1520–1534)
Danko Zelić
; Institute of Art History, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The Church of St. Saviour has been recognised as a masterpiece of Petar Markov Andrijić, architect and stonemason of Korčula and Dubrovnik, and as the most Renaissance religious building in Dubrovnik. In the immediate aftermath of the strong earthquake that struck the city on the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ in 1520, the Senate of the Dubrovnik Republic decided to build a votive church dedicated to the Ascension. The introductory part of the study describes the building itself and its urbanistic site, along with the insights resulting from the hitherto art historical investigations, primarily regarding the stages and protagonists of the construction, the sources of the architectural design of the church façade, and lastly, the interpretations of the style features. The central part of the study is dedicated to the history of the construction and furnishing of the votive church. It is based on the information from archival sources, reconsidered in light of the architectural features of the building. Addressed in the conclusion are the contributions to the design and execution of St. Saviour Church made not only by the architect Petar Andrijić, but also by other protagonists of this project, primarily the Senate, as well as the three noblemen appointed as construction overseers of the church (provisores/officiales fabrice ecclesie Sancte Ascensionis Domini nostri). The architecture of the building is analysed in light of the facts regarding administrative and financial controversies of the project, challenges on the construction site and delays in schedule caused by various adverse conditions which resulted in oscillating dynamics and extended construction term. In the discussion of the three consecutive stages of the church’s construction (programming, design, and execution), special emphasis has been placed on two of its most distinctive features—trefoil façade and the planned, yet unrealised dome.
Keywords
church architecture; 16th century; Gothic; Renaissance; Petar Markov Andrijić
Hrčak ID:
288076
URI
Publication date:
1.12.2022.
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