A monumental architectural treasure kept within the city walls, the former church of San Domenico is today a seat of the Sacred Art Gallery of the Cassa di Risparmio di Fano Foundation and houses works on canvas, wood and frescoes from the 14th to the 18th century.
Monumental deconsecrated church whose foundations were probably built in 1216 by order of a priest of the Dominican order, following important restoration works, the former Church of San Domenico is today an interesting art gallery of sacred art
The expansion of the church took place towards the end of the 14th century according to the Gothic style, while at the beginning of the 18th century the architect Francesco Gasparoli modified the interiors with late Baroque altars. Following the structural damage suffered during the Second World War, a long series of restorations was necessary which ended in 2006 which brought to light magnificent medieval frescoes, among which those of the Life of Saint John the Baptist attributed to Ottaviano Nelli stand out.
The church also contains the remains of the noble family of Ugolino and Pietro De Pili, and the tomb of Jacopo Del Cassero of Dante's memory.
The art gallery houses paintings ranging from the 14th to the 18th century, including the famous altarpiece by Guercino depicting the Marriage of the Virgin, commissioned by the Mariotti family of Fano in 1649; canvases by Simone Cantarini, including the Madonna of the Rose and Hagar and Ishmael; also works by Sebastiano Ceccarini and Simone De Magistris, by Giovan Francesco Guerrieri (author of the beautiful Penitent Magdalene, signed and dated 1611, and of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes, formerly in the Fano church of Saints Philip and James), by Federico Barocci, Palma the Younger, Federico Zuccari and other important painters of the 17th century.
The sacred art gallery contains paintings ranging from the 14th to the 18th century, the original works of art from the church relocated to their place after some necessary restorations.
Thus even the frescoes and wall paintings have returned their original colors thanks to consolidation and recovery interventions. Everything was then fully integrated by the art collection already owned by the Cassa di Risparmio di Fano Foundation: twenty-seven canvases and panels, previously housed in the Pinacoteca of the Malatestiano Palace. To complete the important collection there are some stone and wooden elements that were already part of the temple and which have also been treated and/or relocated to their original locations. Among the most prestigious works we remember the famous altarpiece by Guercino which portrays the Marriage of the Virgin and which was commissioned by the Mariotti family of Fano in 1649. Other notable works are those of Simone Cantarini, including the Madonna of the Rose and Hagar and Ismaele, and the paintings of Sebastiano Ceccarini, Simone De Magistris, Giovan Francesco Guerrieri with his penitent Magdalene, and the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes.
