OSSUARY
Ossario
Stráda dala Gésa
6822 Arogno
In Canton Ticino there were several ossuaries, whose purpose was to honour the remains of the deceased. Although we have no certain documentation for this building, the records of pastoral visits would place the construction between 1684 and 17101 (Fig. 1, 2).
Several restorations are reported: in 1967, directed by architect Aurelio Galfetti; a campaign in the years 1975-1978, entrusted to Luigi Gianola, possibly including consolidation of the stuccos and plasterwork and also application of the ochre-coloured layer2; most recently, restorations conducted in 2016-2017 by Andrea Meregalli.
Ossuary
The exterior stucco decorations consist of a sequence of figures and elements that supplement and provide organic complement to the architectural volumes, framing the side niches and portal rather than superimposing the architectural structure (Fig. 3). The portal is surmounted by a cartouche with inscription, of which only a few letters remaining legible (Fig. 4). The frame above, probably intended to contain a fresco, is also badly damaged. In this, in a shell between plant garlands at the top, we see a veiled skull, symbol of death. Finally, executed in strongly projected manner in the tympanum, an angel hovers above - perhaps the archangel Michael (Fig. 5).
