FABRIANO, Diocese of. - The history of the city and territory of F. is linked to that of the Church of Camerino, to whose extensive circumscription F. belonged from its origins throughout the medieval age, until the 18th century. In 1728 Benedict XIII established it as an episcopal see, but united "aeque principaliter" to Camerino. Later, in order to eliminate all dispute, Pius VI with the bull Saque factum est of 8 July 1785 made it autonomous and at the same time erected the episcopal see of Matelica, uniting it "aeque principaliter" to F.; the two dioceses had a single bishop up to the present. The bishop resides in F. Altogether the diocese extends over 322 sq km, with a population of 38,000 inhabitants, all Catholics, distributed in 43 parishes, with 63 diocesan priests and 33 religious, and a seminary; 7 male religious communities with 56 professed members, and 16 female with 166 professed members (1949).
Numerous monastic foundations, which flourished during the period of the dominion of the Church of Camerino, belong to the city and diocese of F.: S. Maria in Campo, 11th century; S. Salvatore di Val di Castro, ca. 11th century, where St. Romuald died (St. Peter Damian, Vita di s. Rom., 69: PL 144, 1005); S. Angelo, 13th century; S. Biagio, in the city, of the Order of the Camaldolese, and S. Vittore delle Chiuse, near Pierosara on the right bank of the Sentino: the monastery was first of the Benedictines, then of the Congregation of S. Croce di Fonte Avellana, suppressed by Innocent VII in 1405; the ancient charters preserved go back to the 10th century (R. Sassi, Due documenti capitali su le origini del monastero di S. Vittore delle Chiuse, in Rassegna marchigiana, II [1930], pp. 335-53); finally S. Maria d'Appennino, 11th century (R. Sassi, Le carte di S. Maria d'Appennino, in Studia Picena, 5 [1929], pp. 77-122). Later the Silvestrine religious settled there, 13th century, of whom the venerable Andrea di Giacomo da F. (1298-1326) was general, as did the Franciscans (R. Sassi, Un documento per la storia francescana di F., in Atti e memorie d. r. Deput. d. storia patria per le Marche, 5th series, 4 [1941], pp. 57-66) and the Dominicans.
Just as with its religious history, so too the civil history of F. is known for the period of the late Middle Ages. Having arisen as a free commune after the year 1000, the city later fell under the dominion of the Chiarelli, who governed it as vicars of the Holy See until the 15th century, when their tyranny was brought to an end with the extermination of the entire family (the massacre of the Ascension, 1435, in S. Venanzo). The subsequent history of the city and territory has greater resonance in the 16th century, and in 1520 its governor was Cardinal Giulio de' Medici (Clement VII; R. Sassi, L'umanista camarte Varino Favorino governatore di F., in Studia Picena, 10 [1949], pp. 65-95); the subsequent events follow those of the Papal State up to the annexation of 1860.
MONUMENTS
F. possesses a notable group of artistic churches: S. Lucia, of which a large part of the 14th-century construction remains (ca. 1360); apse, left side and bell tower (R. Sassi, Chiese artistiche di F., in Rassegna march., 7 [1928], pp. 45-53); in the chapel of S. Orsola and in the adjoining convent there are extensive frescoes of the Fabrianese school of the 13th-15th centuries; among the precious panels preserved is a Madonna and Child by Fr. Ghissi; the Cathedral dedicated to S. Venanzo: the primitive temple was decreed, together with its cult, by the Chapter and people of Camerino (ca. 1046); the characteristic polygonal apse remains and, in the rooms between it and the choir, frescoes of the local school are preserved; S. Agostino, rebuilt in 1768, with a portal and 14th-century frescoes; in the territory, the temple of S. Vittore delle Chiuse is among the finest Romanesque monuments of the Marche region. To the Baroque period belong, through transformations that occurred for the most part in the 17th century, the churches: S. Niccolò, originally of the 13th century (R. Sassi, Chiese artistiche
FABRIANO, DIOCESI of. - St. Anthony Abbot and devotees, panel by A. Nuzi (second half of the 14th century) - Fabriano, Pinacoteca.
di F., in Rassegna march., 8 [1930], pp. 269-82). S. Biagio, of the Camaldolese, rebuilt in 1657: there the body of St. Romuald is preserved, translated there in 1480. S. Benedetto, originally of the 13th century, of the Silvestrines: it was also the primitive seat of the well-known Confraternity of the Gonfalone (1585); S. Venanzo (cathedral) and S. Lucia (S. Domenico).
The birthplace of Gentile da F. had a flourishing school of artists (13th-15th centuries) of the Giotto tradition, over which the painter Allegretto Nuzi (1315-73) dominates: the most remarkable collection of his panels, together with other valuable ones, is preserved in the civic Pinacoteca (L. Serra, La Pinacoteca civica e il Museo degli arozzi di F., Fabriano 1921). The municipal and capitular archives of S. Venanzo possess precious material of medieval and monastic history. - See plate LXIV.
BIBL. P. Fr. Kehr, Italia Pontificia, IV, Berlin 1909, pp. 123-25; Cappelletti, VII, p. 633 ff.; L. Serra, L'arte nelle Marche, Pesaro 1929; B. Molaioli, Guida artistica di F., Fabriano 1937; Cottineau, I, coll. 1007-08.
Serafino Prese