Our Ambrosian expert Nicola de’ Grandi recently visited the town of Biasca, about 79 miles to the north of Milan in the Swiss canton of Ticino. There are three valleys in the area known as the Ambrosian valleys, which were under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the archbishop of Milan since at least the sixth century, and consequently celebrated the Ambrosian Rite. Many churches in the area still use the rite to this day, even though they are now part of the diocese of Lugano, which was founded in 1888, and is coterminous with the canton. Biasca was the seat of the principal parish and mother church of the region, originally dedicated to just St Peter, later also to St Paul. The current building is the second church to be built on the site, the result of a reconstruction project begun in the second half of the 12th century.
Modern restorations have removed most of the additions made to the building in later periods, especially the Baroque, and revealed a great amount of fresco work is preserved in fairly good condition, and a very nice wooden ceiling with decorations of the Gothic period. This post of Nicola’s photos will focus on the frescos; a second post will show the Romanesque exterior.
The apse is dominated by a fresco of Christ in majesty with the four Evangelists, each accompanied by his traditional symbol. The images of the two bishops on the sides have been deliberately damaged with an awl to make the surface rougher; a second layer of fresco which was placed on top of them has subsequently been removed.
Decorative panels with figures of animals at the crossing above the sanctuary, with images of Saints on the arches.
St Ambrose, represented as a rider charged into a group of soldiers on horseback, to represent the ferocity with which combatted the Arian heresy. Although it is largely lost where the plaster has fallen out, one can see just a small part of the three-corded whip in his hand. This image dates from the later 1560s, when St Charles Borromeo was making the churches in the Ambrosian valleys the focal point of efforts to combat the spread of protestantism in region.
A 15th-century fresco of St Lawrence on the grill.
Another fresco which was deliberately damaged so that a second layer could be put on top of it.
At top, a 16th century image of St George, and below, one of the 15th century with St Christopher and the Madonna and Child.
A fresco of the Crucifixion from the 14th century.
St Francis receiving the Stigmata, and two female Saints.
Ss Catherine and Margaret.
The Madonna and Child with Ss Ambrose presenting a patron to them, St Roch and St Benedict, 15th century.
The baptismal font.
A later 16th or early 17th century fresco depicting the Council of Trent...
and events from the pastoral visits of St Charles to the area.
