The Left Aisle of the Upper Church
The Left Aisle of the Upper Church
The Left Aisle of the Upper Church
Audio Transcription
In a small apse to the left of the central one, there is a statue called “The Laughing St. Zeno.” It is a polychrome marble statue from the 13th century. This image of the patron saint is very dear to the Veronese people because of the benevolent smile of bishop who is seen holding a crosier with a fish attached to it. The statue was supposed to be placed in an elevated position, perhaps above the keystone of the Romanesque arch. St. Zeno was of African origin, probably from Mauritania. The statue shows a face of African appearance, and even Dante refers to St. Zeno as a dark bishop in the Divine Comedy. Other iconographic sources, however, represent St. Zeno with a fair complexion.
Above the door leading to the sacristy one can admire the Crucifixion: An important 14th century fresco attributed to the school of Altichiero. On the same side, there is also the large central nave fresco, high up on the right wall, depicting Abbot Cappelli who Venerates the Virgin with the Monks. Also, along the left wall of the upper church, there are many traces of ancient frescoes, over which other decorations have been stratified over the centuries. Particularly interesting is the 12th century depiction of Christ Enthroned Amongst St. John the Baptist, the Mother of God, the Archangels and the Saints, which has a clear Byzantine influence.