A precious witness to the Renaissance appearance of the Cathedral
The marble panel depicting the infant Christ in arms, placed vertically within an environment defined in perspective by the gap in the floor and surrounded by angels, is located behind the altar, opposite the Madonna della Sfida.
This is what remains of a larger complex, probably kept in the Santissimo Sacramento chapel located in the ambulatory of the Cathedral, under the patronage of the Elefante family. One of the exponents of this house, Monaco, commissioned the tabernacle, as evidenced by the inscription "Monacus Elefante Fecit".
The author is not known, but is generally traced to the milieu of local stonemasons. However, the use of marble in an area where the sculptures were generally made of stone should be highlighted.
The Elefante family was among the main financiers of the modernization works of the presbytery area of the Cathedral in the sixteenth century, so much so that it secured two of the radial chapels in the ambulatory: the Sacrament and the central chapel.
Photogallery
What to see here
Madonna con il Bambino e Salvatore
Identificata tradizionalmente nella “devotissima figura della Madonna” dinanzi alla quale, come raccontano le fonti, pregarono i tredici cavalieri italiani che presero parte alla Disfida, l’icona per questa ragione è chiamata anche Madonna della Sfida.
Read allSalvatore
Conservata all’interno del museo diocesano al piano superiore della sagrestia della Cattedrale di Santa Maria Maggiore, la tavola rappresenta il Salvatore benedicente a figura intera
Read allTrinità e Vergine in trono e Assunzione
Esemplare tra i tanti a fondo oro presenti a Barletta, la tavola della Cattedrale costituisce probabilmente la parte superstite di un più complesso polittico
Read allRead more
Scheda scientifica sul tabernacolo