The Gothic Revival façade of the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence, completed between 1857 and 1863, serves as the defining project of Niccolò Matas. This architect, born in Ancona in 1798 to a family of Spanish-Jewish origin, became a pivotal figure in 19th-century Italian design, blending historical reverence with his own technical contributions to the urban landscape.
Academic Training and Early Career
Matas developed his craft through an extensive education at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome, Venice, and Vicenza. By 1825, he established himself in Florence, where he secured a position as a professor at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze. During this period, he operated within a circle of prominent Tuscan contemporaries, including Gaetano Baccani, Mariano Falcini, Emilio De Fabris, and Giuseppe Poggi, while maintaining professional ties to Anatoly Demidov, 1st Prince of San Donato.
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His portfolio spanned both new construction and sensitive restoration work. Notable commissions included the 1842 Dovizi Theater in Bibbiena and decorative work on the Teatro delle Muse in Ancona in 1835. His restorative efforts were significant, such as the 1826 project at the Palazzo Bartolini Baldelli and the 1834 structural and copper dome repairs for the Cattedrale di San Ciriaco in Ancona. Furthermore, he contributed to the Villa di San Martino on Elba Island, designing the Demidoff Gallery in 1851.
The Basilica of Santa Croce and Final Years
The Santa Croce façade remains his most cited work, featuring a distinctive Star of David integrated into the upper masonry. In its design, Matas reportedly drew inspiration from the cathedrals of Siena and Orvieto, as well as a lost schematic by Simone del Pollaiolo. Beyond this commission, he worked on the master plan for the Cimitero delle Porte Sante at San Miniato al Monte. Matas died in 1872 and was later interred under the porch of the Basilica he helped transform.
Fast facts
- Born: 6 December 1798, Ancona
- Died: 11 March 1872, Florence
- Primary Field: Classical Architecture
- Citizenship: Kingdom of Italy
- Notable Work: Façade of the Basilica of Santa Croce (1857–1863)
- Professional Role: Professor at Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze
Questions readers ask
What is the origin of the Star of David on the Santa Croce façade?
The star was an intentional design element incorporated by Niccolò Matas into the upper section of the building's façade between 1857 and 1863.
Where was Niccolò Matas buried?
After his death in 1872, his remains were moved in 1886 to a final resting place under the porch of the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence.
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