Echoes of Milan in Ninth-Century Langobardia Minor? Preliminary Findings on the Painted Programme of S. Ambrogio alla Rienna, Montecorvino Rovella (Salerno)
Francesca Dell’Acqua|Ivan Foletti|Vincenzo Gheroldi|Beatrice Leal|Sara María|John B. Mitchell
Thanks to new material analysis and archaeological investigation, still in progress, the rural church of S. Ambrogio alla Rienna countryside Salerno (southern Italy) is revealing crucial information about cultural coexistence between Lombards Franks. Its mid-ninth century mural paintings, whose quality outstanding early medieval period, can be used as highlight political theological disputes, well ethnic identities, economic social dynamics their period. In eighth–ninth centuries area was part Duchy then Principality Benevento Salerno. The at centre a network landholdings belonging powerful monastery Vincenzo al Volturno. What remains original painted programme suggests wealthy patronage close connection on one hand with culture Lombard courts main monasteries, other Carolingian politics northern Lombardy.
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