Girolamo. Seripando, Annibale Caccavello e il coro della cattedrale di Salerno

The Augustinian Girolamo Seripando, one of the most prominent figures in the religious debates and ecclesiastical history of the 16th century, served as Archbishop of Salerno from 1554 until his death in 1563. His unwavering commitment to the dio- cese, not only in spiritual matters but also in its material care, found tangible expression in the commissioning of the cathedral’s wooden choir stalls, created between 1562 and 1563. This article examines the choir in its various aspects, attributing the work—also on documentary grounds—to Annibale Caccavello, an artist primarily known for his prolific marble production, but also documented as a woodcarver. The choir of Salerno Cathedral, distinguished by its notably ‘aniconic’ character, thus emerges as an important testament to Seripando’aesthetic convictions. Through a restrained decoration comprising heraldic emblems and inscriptions, and featuring only a single sacred image, Seripando sought to articulate the moral rigour of his religious and political commitment, rooted in his personal relationship with Emperor Charles V and shaped by the turbulent historical context of his time.