Impressions of Italy: Padua

Impressions of Italy: Cities, Churches, Art

photos by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D. - taken June 1999

Assisi	Florence	Padua	Pisa	Churches of Rome
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[click on any small picture below for a larger version]

Padua: The Cathedral Baptistery

Begun in 1075 and dedicated to St. John the Baptist, the Baptistery is a squared-shaped Romanesque building located at the North-East corner of the Cathedral of Padua. It contains an extensive series of frescoes painted by Giusto de' Menabuoi in 1375-78, covering biblical highlights from the Creation of the World to the Resurrection of Jesus. Above the four pillars supporting the main cupola are large frescoes depicting the Four Evangelists, seated and writing the Gospels, along with smaller medallions containing their traditional symbols (see also my page on the Symbols of the Four Evangelists). Around the small altar in the apse are 43 frescoes depicting various scenes from the Book of Revelation.

**The Four Evangelists and Their Symbols (see Rev 4:6-8)**
Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
Angel	Lion	Ox	Eagle

**The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (see Rev 6:1-8)** [*Note: These pictures are unfortunately rather dark, due to poor interior lighting conditions.*]
White = Conquering	Red = War	Black = Famine	Pale Green = Death
	Vision of Christ among the Lampstands from Rev 1:9-20

Some Related Links:

Life of Giusto de' Menabuoi - thumbnails and larger images of most of the baptistery art
Giusto de' Menabuoi - a few other images by the same artist, from the Web Gallery of Art
Padua - official website of the city
Note: the above links all open in new browser windows

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