ARCHITECTURE AND RELIGION

The Parish Church of San Vincenzo Martire in Claino

The municipality of Claino con Osteno has two parish churches: the church of Saints Pietro and Paolo in Osteno and the church dedicated to Saint Vincent Martyr in Claino.

The latter, like all churches in the town, is westward facing and was erected in the middle of the inhabitants’ dwellings to protect the town from raids of brigands. At that time, access to the town was protected by arcades equipped with gates that were boarded up during the night.

The church was already dedicated to the martyr Saint Vincent in 1300 and was then consecrated on the 3rd August 1510 under the Diocese of Milan, to which it still belongs today.

The Church must have been very small in ancient times and was therefore only used for baptisms.

Prior to 1200, the ancient portal on the left, created in a Romanesque Style, was the entrance to the church, while the altar would have been located where the baptistery can be found today.

Before 1300, the little church had already been extended on its right side to take its current cross-like layout while the beautiful dome was built in 1847 and frescoed free of charge by a native of Claino, Vincenzo de Bernardi, in 1860.

Just follow the Parish Church of Saint Vincenzo Martire tour through our photo gallery: a story made of images and words.

BAPTISMAL FONT

A baptismal font dating back to 1461.

SAINT ANTONIO ALTAR

Pallium made of scagliola in three pieces separated by massive frames of marbled tiles, excellent drapery and floral decorations.

PIETÀ

(Gentilino) Fresco representing the grieving Virgin Mary in the foreground, dressed in solemn gown and sat on a majestic throne with the Christ lying on his mother’s knees. In the background, we can see the cross, from which hang the scourges, the spear, the shroud, the sponge and the whips belonging to the crucifiers. The emotional intensity and rawness of the scene are evident in the long and painful gaze with which the Mother looks at her Son as he lies on her arms. A cartouche, difficult to read, reports that: “On the 9th 1492 August 1492, Mrs Giacomina, wife of Giacomo Comanedi, commissioned this work to be painted by Gentilino”.

PAINTING ON WOODEN PANEL – VOTIVE PICTURE

Dating back to 1461. This work was the altarpiece that would have been above the ancient altar. In the upper section of the painting, different saints are depicted:  Saint Vincent, the Virgin and Child, the little Saint John the Baptist and Saint Bernardo. In the lower section, you can see a procession of worshipers in prayer, portrayed to have the appearance of those who had commissioned the work. These men donated this painting and wanted the work to pray for protection against plague, an illness suffered by neighboring countries at that time.

SAINT ROSARIO ALTAR

A pallium made of scagliola, formerly dedicated to the Saints Mamette and Agapito. It was replaced in 1594 by the will of the Fraternity of Saint Rosario.

HIGH ALTAR

Made of scagliola by Domenico Pagani, it is a copy of Saint Tomaso altar in Milan.

SAINT CROCEFISSO ALTAR – ECCE HOMO

Recovered from the converted church of San Carlo and then dedicated to the Crucifix from 1796. The plaster- cast high-relief of the antependium is remarkable.

ECCE HOMO (Pietro Pagani): plaster bust.

NATIVITY OF OUR LORD – THE WAY OF THE CROSS

A terracotta high-relief by Marco Antonio Pagani. To a limited extend, this is an original model of the nativity scene sculpted by Prestinari. Prestinari’s sculpure can be found in the back section of the choir in the cathedral of Milan and it is considered one of the most beautiful works.

THE WAY OF THE CROSS (Luigi Sangiorgi): paintings in carved walnut.