The Church
The baptistery of Volterra, opposite the cathedral, shows a characteristic octagonal plan surmounted by a dome.
Built between the late 12th and the 13th century, the edifice synthesizes styles and suggestions mostly coming from the Pisan and Florentine area.
The façade shows a dichromatic masonry in white and black marbles; in the middle, a beautiful splayed portal is surmounted by a lintel and sculpted capitals recalling the modes of Pisan masters.
The interior is marked by six niches opened in the masonry and by a pavilion cover.
It guards interesting works of art of modern age, such as the sculptures by Mino da Fiesole and a baptismal font made in 1502 by Andrea Sansovino.
Description »
The baptistery of Volterra refers to the construction features of the cathedral, either in the building technique and in the decorative details. In particular, the elevation opposite the cathedral is marked by dichromatic masonry of white and black marbles.
The other elevations were built in panchina volterrana dimension stone. Four out of the eight façades host a portal. The main one is splayed and presents an interesting sculptural repertoire, which the critics assimilate to Nicola Pisano’s modes.
Inside the baptistery, the walls are divided into two courses: in the lower one, six semicircular niches are carved into the masonry, while eight oblong, single-light windows open in the upper course.
The central area is surmounted by an octagonal dome, originally covered in lead slates and replaced by a brickwork cover in 1753.
History »
First mentioned in 989, the edifice underwent several renovation phases. The earliest reconstruction dates back to the 12th century, as confirmed by the executive technique of the wall face; the second dates from the end of the 13th century, when Donna Saracena Picchinesi gave a legacy to the Opera to have the baptistery rebuilt.
The decorated lintel on top of the main door, attributed to workers of Pisan school, reports a worker’s name, a certain Gerardo. On the occasion, the façade was built in dichromatic marble, with the insertion of a white marble band following the whole perimeter horizontally, between the lower and the upper course.
In 1427, the Priors of Volterra requested Filippo Brunelleschi’s consultancy, as the baptistery roofing needed to be repaired. It is not known whether Brunelleschi ever went to Volterra to solve the issue; what is certain is that some works were carried out in mid-16th century. In the same period, important works of art were commissioned, to be placed in the church interior.
Works »
Centred on the main façade is a marble splayed portal, marked by decorated capitals of the semi-columns and a lintel adorned with floral, animal and human head motifs. An inscription along the lower margin recalls the renovation of the building performed in 1283.
Counter-clockwise starting from the main prospect, a few stone marks – crosses, stars, flowers –
referring to the project were engraved by stonemasons to test some decorations for a few sculptural details on the baptistery exterior.
The portal facing the old hospital shows a lunette with geometric motifs and crosses in white marble on a red background. The keystone is in white marble and is adorned with two bearded heads.
In the upper external course, the Florentine lily is sculpted in relief on the keystone of a single-light window.
Inside, the main niche houses a marble altar designed by Mino da Fiesole in the 15th century. The central space is covered by a baptismal font made by the architect and sculptor Andrea Sansovino in 1502, on his way back from a journey through Portugal.
Restorations »
The most significant restoration work was signed by the architect Giuseppe Partini from Siena, who was called to Volterra to have the cover repaired at the end of the 19th century.
Bibliography »
F. Lessi, P. G. Bocci, U. Bavoni, Chiese di Volterra, Firenze, Nardini, 2000, vol.1.
Location
