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San Rocco by Paolo Gamba, Chiesa di
S. Maria Assunta, Ripabottoni (CB) |
On 16 August 2022, on the occasion of the patronal feast of Saint Rocco in Ripabottoni, at 6:00 pm the “borough of stone” as the town is known, the Parish inaugurated the new Paolo Gamba Museum, housed within the Santa Maria Assunta church. The Museum is named for Ripabottoni native artist Paolo Gamba (1712-1782) who had a flourishing studio there together with this father Giambattista, who spread throughout Molise, Abruzzo and Puglia the style and manner of the great Neapolitan baroque painter Francesco Solimena (1657-1747) of whom he was a student. Ripabottoni was a local commercial center for grain, silk and horse trading in the Kingdom of Naples and thrived under the patronage and leadership of the Francone princes of Ripa who brought many talented people from Naples to Molise to build and decorate public and private property, and who likewise brought a retinue of Ripese talent to Naples to decorate their town houses and other projects. Ripabottoni retains its characteristic stone buildings and is still part of the Diocese of Larino. Paolo Gamba lovingly painted many works still viewable in the church, including canvases depicting a Madonna of the Purgatory, Madonna of the Rosary, St Rocco, a Presentation of the Virgin at the Temple and a number of frescoes such as the Virtue and Prophets in medallions. For the church of Maria della Concezione also in Ripabottoni, he painted an Immaculate Conception, an Assumption of the Virgin, an Annunciation, and medallions with stories of the New Testament.The Museum is the fruit of Mons. Gabriele Tamilia, the parish priest of Ripabottoni who was aided by art historian Gabriella Paduano and by local volunteers Giuseppe Silvaggi, Leonardo Ciarla and Franco Paduano, who have tirelessly worked to bring together many objects belonging to the parish available for visitors to enjoy. On exhibit are sacred vestments, historic liturgical objects, reliquaries, candelabra, processional crosses, books and objects which document the life of the parish over the centuries. Books by and memorabilia relating to Ripa native and parishioner Cav. Pietro Ramaglia (1802-1875) the Europe-wide famous doctor and professor of medicine who became personal physician to King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies, are also on display. Mons. Tamilia and Prof. Paduano are also authors of a book on the Francone family and of another on Dr. Ramaglia.
During the ceremony Cav. Giuseppe Mammarella, archivist of the Diocese of Termoli-Larino explained why the Church of Santa Maria Assunta is a national landmark, designed and build by noted Neapolitan architect Ferdinando Sanfelice, of the noble Molisan family and friend of the Francone family. For centuries the church has been the center of devotion also for Saint Crescenzo whose relics rest there and for Saint Rocco, who is figured in a well known painting by Gamba. Prof. Gabriella Paduano illustrated the importance of such small museums of sacred art and history. Mayor Orazio Civetta announced that the Comune of Ripabottoni is donating to the Museum a bronze of Paolo Gamba depicting the urn containing the body of the Martyr Saint Crescenzo. The Museum is the greatest expression of the preserved heritage of the town and region and aims to showcase the history and spirituality of the community.
