San Floriano Church
The Altar of the Souls is the first documented work by Andrea Brustolon. On the 25th June 1685, the artist signed a contract with the clergy of the San Floriano Church, stating he would deliver the altar within eight months and that he would deliver the “ prayer bench as soon as possible so that the pious souls could once again worship this work of art.” However, the altar was not delivered on time and this is demonstrated by a hand written statement engraved along one of the two skeletons positioned on the side of the altar, which reads “the patience of Agostino Taset shall be awarded in heaven.” The particularity of the altar, denotes a Baroque taste for decorating and for scenic composition, it is a sort of death prayer, which reminds worshippers that death spares nobody. This can be identified by the engraved skeletons at the mirrored base of the altar, which are holding a Pope's circlet, a Bishops head dress and a Regal Crown. There are two incredibly realistic human statues which act as columns positioned on shelves – beneath the shelves there are three engraved, screaming heads of the condemned souls. On the arched capitals there are the figures of pelicans tearing out their chests, which was symbolic of Christ's sacrifice. At the top of the column painted by Agostino Ridolfi in 1687 there is the “Pietà” with the Holy Virgin Mary holding her dead son in her arms, flanked by two archangels who are pointing at the Holy Cross behind the Virgin Mary and at the same time they are holding some of the items used during Christ's Passion.
Opening Hours: Mondays to Sundays 9.00-12.30 / 15.00-18.00
Mareson (Zoldo Alto)
San Valentino Church
The Parish Church of Mareson owns two altars made by the sculptor from Belluno and his work shop. In
the left hand chapel one may admire the Saint Croce Altar which
documents have revealed Brustolon was paid for on the 25th August 1699. The theme of this altar is yet
again Christ on the Cross with the cyma supported by two angels and protected by two archangels with
broken wings sitting at the base of the cross and holding some of the items used during Christ's
Passion. This work is a similar version to the Altar situated in the Church of Pieve di Zoldo. To the
side of the two golden columns, florally decorated there are two statues which represent Saint Giovanni
Evangelista and Mary Maddalena with a vase containing oils. On the external frame work there are heads
of angels which are holding other items used during Christ's Passion and adorned with leafy climbers and
roses. The Main Altar was the last project Andrea Brustolon partially
worked on. It was commissioned on the 31st May 1731 by the Clergy of Saint Valentine and the contract
states that the altar had to be consigned within a year. Andrea Brustolon died on the 25th October 1732
and thus the altar was completed by workers of his work shop. The raised layered section of the altar was
created from an inspiration taken from the altars of the Auregne family, an important family of engravers
who worked for churches throughout the territory during the same period. In fact, this altar has two
lateral niches which contain the statues of Saint Antonio Abate and Saint Francesco of Assisi. The golden
columns are adorned with various forms of life which complete the column made by Girolamo Brusaferro (1732)
which represents the Holy Virgin Mary and Child, together with the Saints Valentino and Nicolò who
are holding up a triumphant Christ surrounded by four angels.
Opening Hours: Sundays to Fridays 8.30-12.00 / Saturdays 8.30-17.00
Dosoledo
Saints Rocco and Osvaldo Church
The present Parish Church designed by Giuseppe Segusini from Feltre between 1839 and 1844 follows a
new-classical design and is decorated internally with frescoes by an artist from Belluno called
Giovanni De Min, who had worked together with Giovanni Segusini on diverse public and private
commissioned works around the territory. Within the church, one may admire the last altar to the left
which was made between 1722 and 1723 by Brustolon who was over sixty at the time, and commissioned by
the Clergy of Dosoledo. Numerous letters were written by Brustolon and by the Clergy, therefore
researchers have been able to reconstruct the various phases of this project and work of art. In
particular the choice regarding which Saints should have been positioned within the two niches on the
lateral sides of the Madonna of the Seven Burdens. By appraising their written communications research
has shown how the choice finally fell upon the Saints Filippo Benizio of the Order of Mary's Followeres,
a saint who had been particularly devout to the cult of the Madonna of the Seven Burdens, and secondly on
Saint Steven, the first Christian martyr who was particularly venerated in the area of Comelico. Saint
Steven is depicted wearing the robes of the religious order and holding a stone in his left hand, a symbol
of his martyrdom. The central niche, for the third time running contains the theme of Christ's Death, as
found on the Souls Altar in the town Pieve di Zoldo commissioned in 1685 and the Mareson Altar completed
about ten years later. On the lateral wings and the central arch there are seven low relief inserts which
represent Holy Mary's seven burdens. Whereas on the central piece made of mixed wood the figure of God the
Father surrounded by angels holding items from Christ's Passion. The Altar of Dosoledo is unique in its
gender as it has a wooden brown surface and not a golden surface as was usually the case with altars made
by Brustolon. Thus, the pear wood used to make the altar was treated and was made to appear as if it were
ebony. Today, the altar has lost most of its black lustre, however its base still maintains the treated
ebony colouring.
Opening Hours: Mondays to Sundays from 8.30 - 12.00 / 14.00 - 18.00
