Arca di San Domenico
The Arca di San Domenico is a tomb in which the remains of St. Dominic are. The sculpture stands today in the chapel of St. Dominic Basilica in Bologna. Dominique's body lies in a coffin made of cypress wood, his head is stored separately on the back of the tomb, in the reliquary of the goldsmith Jacopo Roseto da Bologna ( 1383 ).
The work on the tomb extended over nearly 500 years. When Dominic died in 1221, he was first buried behind the altar of the convent church of San Nicolò delle Vigne. 1228 began the development of today's Basilica, and Saint Dominic ' remains were transferred to a plain marble coffin, which was initially in the right gear on the floor. There he was poorly visible for the numerous pilgrims, so that the Dominicans in 1264 gave a new shrine in order. Niccolò Pisano was responsible for the design, execution was in his workshop, mainly by his assistant Lapo di Arnolfo di Cambio and Ricevuto. There is a sculpture of a teacher of the church on every corner. Originally contributed caryatids the coffin; after a transformation of the tomb, these figures are now in various museums like the Bargello, and the Louvre.
1411 the tomb was placed in the center of the church. Between 1469 and 1473 the formerly flat coffin was given a crown; were among the sculptors of the so-called after this work Niccolò dell'Arca and the young Michelangelo. From Michelangelo statuettes of Petronius and St. Proculus of Puteoli come - an anticipation of his David. About the kymation rises a candelabra, held by two putti and four dolphins, on the statue of the Eternal Father.
1532 Alfonso Lombardi added a stage added; it shows scenes from the life of St. Dominic.
From 1597 Floriano Ambrosini replaced the Gothic chapel of 1413 by a new building.
From 1613 to 1615 Guido Reni painted the ceiling fresco above the Arco.
The last addition to the tomb was the altar, designed by Mauro Tesi (1730-1766) and in 1768 performed by Alessandro Salviolini.
Right and left of the Arca hang in the chapel paintings by Alessandro Tiarini and Leonello Spada.