San Matteo
San Matteo
Lunetta della porta sud
Lunetta della porta sud
Epigrafe dei benefattori
Epigrafe dei benefattori
Sarcofago del vescovo Bonifacio
Sarcofago del vescovo Bonifacio
Tomba del Rezzonico
Tomba del Rezzonico
Arazzo dello sposalizio della vergine Maria
Arazzo dello sposalizio della vergine Maria
Sarcofago del vescovo Bonifacio da Modena 1347
Sarcofago del vescovo Bonifacio da Modena 1347
Southern span 3
The saint carved in the keystone is the Evangelist St. Matthew who holds a book and the cartouche that identifies him.
The side door carved by the Rodari bears the inscription “Tempio di Maria Vergine “ and the data 1509.
To the left of the door the triptych inscription bears the list of benefactors .
Two superimposed tombs follow: below the sarcophagus of Bishop Bonifacio from Modena , above the Rezzonico tomb.
In the stained glass window the Visit of Mary to Elisabeth and the Presentation of Jesus in the temple are works by Giuseppe Bertini (1857-1858).
The tapestry with the Marriage of the Virgin was made in Ferrara in 1569 by Luigi Karcher designed by Camillo and Sebastiano Filippi for the Capitolo del Duomo wihich probably wanted it inspired by the canvas painted by Gaudenzio Ferrari in the Cathedral (fourth northern span).
Look at the frieze above the door. The sea battle of mythological characters derives from engravings by Andrea Mantegna: on the left two Satyr-eared characters are riding monstrous figures with head of horses and body of fish. They are fighting with shoals of fishes. On the right another battle is taking place place with sticks and equine skulls of horse between two couples of which the male figures have human heads and torso, horse legs and tails of fanciful sea monsters.
The group of Christ in Piety between Mary and St.John is carved in the lunette. Around the lunette there are seven panels each bearing a female figure holding a lamp: the two at the bottom have the lamp off, the others hold lit lamps according to the evangelical parable of the Wise Virgins (in fact they hold the inscription V(IRGO )PRUDENS) awaiting the Bridegroom (Jesus), depicted in the niche at the top of the lunette.
The reference to the parable was probably inspired by the dedication of the span to Matthew the evangelist, depicted, long before the portal was built, in the keystone of the vault. The theme of the marriage between Christ and the Church finds correspondence in the inscription TEMPLV(M) / MARIAE / VIRGINIS.
Outside and around the arch motifs of dolphins facing each other are symbols of Christ the Saviour.
The sarcophagus of Bishop Bonifacio from Modena (1340-1352) with Gothic inscriptions (1347), the work of an anonymous Campionese sculptor comes from the previous Cathedral of S. Maria Maggiore where it had to stay in a chapel that the Bishop dedicated to the patron of Modena, his city, the holy Bishop Geminiano. On the lid there is the lying figure of the Bishop. In the panels: Madonna and the Child Enthroned with angels, St. Geminiano performing an exorcism and as a school teacher.
Above there is the humanistic Rezzonico tomb (sarcophagus inscribed in an arch) of 1556, facing the Giovio tomb of the same date.
It was dedicated by his sons Francesco and Senofonte to the father Giovan Paolo Della Torre di Rezzonico, son of Vincenzo, a physician and well-deserving of the Liberal Arts, who for his particular eloquence filled public offices and city representation positions. The classical inspiration is also found in the two frescoed angels holding the coat of arms and lighting torches (symbol of eternal life), a Christian version of the pagan funeral geniuses with the inverted torch.