La scuola Napoletana nell'arte della maiolica

Marvelous to see and visit the majolica floor from mid-1751 that adorns the apse of the altar in the upper chapel of the church of Santa Maria la Greca in Putignano.

Bright colors typical of majolica that draw imposing frames of intense green foliage with the presence of flowers and quince. There are baskets full of colorful fruit, representations of typical 1700s vases with hanging flowers and buds, combined with an enchanting and colorful bird of paradise. The artistic representation of the Neapolitan school is presented with bright colors, sinuous brushstrokes of cobalt blue, copper green, blue, yellow and blue.

At the center of the entire walkable surface, in a blue cartouche decorated on the top with a crown of yellow-ocher flowers and green leaves, there is the date MDCCLI, 1751.

The overall size of the pavement is approximately eight by four meters deep, and the overall project consists of square tiles of approximately 11 cm per side.

Fortunately, the scarce trampling of the flooring given the scarce use of the altar, as it is placed high up on an upper level immediately above the main altar, reachable only through two long stairs placed on the sides, has preserved the state of conservation of the same.

The one visible in the church of Santa Maria La Greca is the only ancient majolica floor present in the ancient village, and with good reason it can be considered that it is the second in Puglia, in this regard it is worth mentioning that of the church of San Giacomo in Piazza of Odegitria in Bari

A tutela, valorizzazione e rivalutazione di tali ricchezze artistiche possiamo confermare che sono pochissimi i pavimenti in maiolica sopravvissuti all'usura del tempo e del calpestio in tutta l'Italia Meridionale.