Monastery of Sant'Antonio in Polesine

The Monastery of Sant'Antonio in Polesine is located in Ferrara and is the first female monastery in the Este city. The complex of S. Antonio was created to accommodate Beatrice d'Este, daughter of the Marquis Azzo VII Novello d'Este, and the young women who, like her, intended to follow the Benedictine rule. Already around the year one thousand Augustinian monks devoted to S. Antonio had settled on the islet, which was created among the marshy lands: the marquis bought the area and buildings from the fathers in 1257. The following year Beatrice and her companions moved to the complex, however in need of work and extensions. The new church was probably designed on the basis of a three-nave plan, later transformed into a simple hall. In the seventeenth century the external church was embellished with new altars and large canvases. In 1667 the ceiling of the external church was repainted by Francesco Ferrari, perhaps supported by his son Felice. The chosen theme for the decoration was the Madonna and Child in glory and the Saints Anthony and Benedict arranged among rich ornamental motifs, and six images of Benedictine saints.