The church of St. Mary constitutes a true treasure trove of unknown Chini works, starting with the interesting baptismal font dating back to the twenties of the last century. A wrought iron gate, decorated with the well-known geometric motifs inspired by Klimt, protects the font decorated with polychrome tiles; the latter are also inspired by the geometric motifs of Viennese Jugendstil and belonging to the production repertoire of the San Lorenzo Furnaces designed by Galileo Chini.
On the wall, instead, we admire a ceramic panel depicting the Baptism of Christ, obtained from the same cartoon, probably by Tito Chini, used for the font of the Abbey of Susinana, created with a pictorial treatment of excellent effectiveness, achieved by combining references to Renaissance painting with modernist lines.
Also of significant quality are the stained-glass windows depicting, within rounds, the beautiful symbols of the evangelists (the lion of St. Mark, the ox of St. Luke, the angel of St. Matthew, and the eagle of St. John: the latter unfortunately rather damaged); these are powerful images with significant graphic force and interesting for their relationship with the circular shape in which they are inserted.
The Chini decoration of the church concludes with the ceramic cladding, still in tiles with geometric motifs, applied to the side altars, which give a lively decorative sense to the whole.
Scheda di Marco Pinelli
Foto di Marta Magherini
© Il Filo – Idee e Notizie dal Mugello
Progetto Itinerario Liberty Mugello – Unione montana dei Comuni del Mugello
