16th Century Beato Giovanni Cacciafronte De Sordi Painting Oil on Canvas

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16th Century Beato Giovanni Cacciafronte De Sordi Painting Oil on Canvas

About the Item

XVI Century Blessed Giovanni Cacciafronte de Sordi with the model of the city of Vicenza Oil on oval canvas, 51 x 40.5 cm With frame, cm 58,5 x 48,5 The oval canvas depicts a holy bishop, as indicated by the attributes of the miter on the head of the young man and of the crosier held by the angel behind him. The facial features reflect those of a beardless young man, with a full and jovial face, corresponding to a youthful representation of the blessed Giovanni Cacciafronte (Cremona, c. 1125 - Vicenza, March 16, 1181). Another characteristic attribute is the model of the city of Vicenza that he holds in his hands, the one of which he became bishop in 1175. Giovanni Cacciafronte de Sordi lived at the time of the struggle undertaken by the emperor Frederick Barbarossa (1125-1190), against the Papacy and the Italian municipalities. Giovanni was born in Cremona around 1125 from a family of noble origins; still at an early age he lost his father, his mother remarried the noble Adamo Cacciafronte, who loved him as his own son, giving him his name; he received religious and cultural training. At sixteen he entered the Abbey of San Lorenzo in Cremona as a Benedictine monk; over the years his qualities and virtues became more and more evident, and he won the sympathy of his superiors and confreres. He was first appointed prior of the small monastery of S. Vittore, dependent on the abbey of San Lorenzo and then abbot of the same great Abbey of Cremona. In those years schism broke out in the Church, with the election of the antipope Victor IV (1159-1164), supported by Frederick Barbarossa, against the legitimate Pope Alexander III (1159-1181), who opposed the imperial overwhelming power, supporting the Lombard League of Municipalities, which opposed the invasion of Barbarossa's troops. Abbot Cacciafronte with his influence managed to keep Cremona in obedience to Pope Alexander III, but the emperor made him exile; later, the pope entrusted him with the government of the diocese of Mantua, in place of the bishop Graziadoro who had joined the schism of the antipope Victor IV and his successors Pasquale III (1164-1168) and Callisto III (1168-1179). After the famous battle of Legnano (29 May 1176) lost by the Emperor Barbarossa by the Lombard League, at whose head Pope Alexander III had been elected there was peace dealt with in Venice in 1179, after which the anti-pope in office Callisto III was deposed. The repentant bishop Garziadoro returned to the episcopal see of Mantua and again in 1179, Msgr. Giovanni Cacciafronte de Sordi, was transferred to the bishopric of Vicenza, which remained vacant at that time. Just two years later, on March 16, 1181, the bishop Cacciafronte was killed by a certain Pietro, a feudal lord in concession of the assets of the Vicentine Church, who wanted to take revenge because the bishop had excommunicated him and deprived him of his property, due to his frequent violations of the rights of the Church. The assassination of the bishop is mentioned in the 'decretals' of Pope Gregory IX (1227-1241), in the text of a letter dated 21 March 1198, sent by Pope Innocent III, to the bishop of Vicenza, Msgr. Pistore, forbidding him to give the assets of the Church as a fief to the assassins of Bishop Giovanni and their heirs. The body of the holy bishop and martyr was buried in the cathedral of Vicenza and moved to the same cathedral in 1441, in a more worthy marble tomb. The cult of Blessed Giovanni Cacciafronte de Sordi, bishop and martyr, which had been given to him for centuries, was confirmed by Pope Gregory XVI on March 30, 1824. His liturgical feast is set for 16 March while in the diocese of Mantua his memory is celebrated on 9 July.

Dimensions:
Height: 23.23 in (59 cm)Width: 19.3 in (49 cm)Length: 23.23 in (59 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Canvas,Hand-Painted,Oiled,Painted
Place of Origin:
Italy
Period:
16th Century
Date of Manufacture:
16th Century
Condition:
Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use. The painting has been cleaned.
Seller Location:
Milan, IT
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU5918226732612