Racconto storico della Immagine di Maria detta di S. Luca conservata nel Monte della Guardia et del grandioso tempio, magnifico portico, pitture, sculture &c. Estratto dai più sicuri autentici antichi documenti… dall’ abate Serafino Calindri, perugino.
Octavo (19 x 12 cm). 30 pp., engraved frontispiece of Mary and Jesus (11.9 x 8 cm at platemark), and engraved perspective of the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of San Luca (13.6 x 10 cm at platemark) at end, with the engraved caption “Prospetto della Chiesa della B.V. di S. Luca posta su’l Monte della Guardia di Bologna”. Light dampstain on the lower right corner of the frontispiece affecting a small corner of the image area. Bound in contemporary buff cardboard, stitch-sewn; same dampstain affecting left corner of front cover and front pastedown; evidence of sunning or ghosting on back cover. Second edition of this rare historical account, first published in 1787, of the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca in Monte della Guardia near Bologna, with a full-page illustration of the Madonna and another of the sanctuary which contains a statue of the Virgin that was sculpted, according to legend, by Saint Luke. For over a millennium, a religious site has existed on the hill. According to legend, in the 12th century a Greek hermit and pilgrim received a Byzantine icon of the Madonna and Child, attributed to Saint Luke, from the priests of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. Guided by the priests and an inscription on the icon, the pilgrim set out to find its final resting place, searching throughout Italy until he finally arrived at the Monte della Guardia in Bologna. The icon was welcomed by the city and carried in procession up the hill to its current sanctuary. According to historical documents, Angelica Bonfantini, a noblewoman from Bologna, played a pivotal role in the establishment of the sanctuary. In 1192, she vowed to become a hermit on Monte della Guardia and to build a church there. The current church, designed by Carlo Francesco Dotti, was constructed in 1723 and features stunning artwork by renowned artists like Guido Reni, Guercino, Guiseppe Maria Mazza and others. Another unique feature is the 3.8 km long covered walkway, lined with 666 arches, leading from the city to the hilltop sanctuary. This walkway, built in the 17th and 18th centuries, was originally designed to protect a religious icon during processions. Today, it serves as a popular pilgrimage route and offers stunning views of the city. The frontispiece of the pamphlet depicts the Madonna with baby Jesus, both crowned, with angels hovering overhead and the city of Bologna, with its iconic medieval towers, in the background below. After an opening prayer, the first part of Calindri’s history is devoted to the sanctuary’s early centuries, beginning with a detailed account of Angelica Bonfantini in the early 12th century. The second part focuses on the building of the first sanctuary in the 12th century, through the current building erected in the 18th century. The third part describes the paintings, sculptures, and other architectural details of the sanctuary in the late 18th century, when Calindri composed his account. The pamphlet ends with a detailed engraved perspective of the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of San Luca. Serafino Calindri (1733-1811) was an Italian historian, priest, and hydraulic engineer from the 18th century. He studied under renowned figures like Ruggero Boscovich and Luigi Vanvitelli. Calindri gained recognition for his work on the port of Rimini, but also faced criticism from Giovanni Bianchi. Despite the controversy, Calindri’s most significant contribution is his Chorographic Dictionary, a monumental work that aimed to document the entire Italian peninsula. Although incomplete, it remains a valuable historical resource for understanding the 18th-century Italian landscape.
Price: $975.00