Pair of Spiral-Twist Columns

Tuscany, around 1340-60
White marble
H 220 & 225 x L 25 x P 25

^{_{Arms of the Olivetani Order – inlaid marble on the floor of the courtyard of the reformed Benedictine convent of Monte Oliveto Maggiore}}

This remarkable pair of twisted white marble columns features a central helical band flanked by two lateral bands, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship. Distinguished by their size, quality of execution, and remarkable state of preservation, sculptures of this nature are rarely seen outside Gothic buildings.

The capitals are adorned with the emblem of the Olivetan order: three hills surmounted by a cross and flanked by olive branches. The olive branch, a universal symbol of peace and divine blessing, also reflects the order’s dedication to harmony and contemplation in monastic life. This motif is prominently displayed in marble on the courtyard floor of Monte Oliveto Maggiore.

^{_{Spiral-twisted marble column, Bardini Museum in Florence (inv. n. 145)}}

The spiral-twist design of these columns serves both a structural and symbolic purpose. Their upward, undulating motion evokes a sense of ascension toward the divine, a powerful metaphor that aligns with the spiritual aspirations of the Olivetan monks, who emphasized devotion, simplicity, and the pursuit of a closer relationship with God.

The Olivetan order, formally known as the Order of Our Lady of Mount Olivet, is a branch of the Benedictine rule. Following the Regula Monachorum of Saint Benedict, its members, known as Olivetan Benedictines, wear white habits and append the initials O.S.B.O. (Ordinis Sancti Benedicti Oliveti) to their names. The order was founded in 1313 by Giovanni Tolomei, a nobleman from one of Siena’s oldest and most distinguished families. By the end of the 14th century, the Olivetans had established approximately 50 monasteries across Italy. In Florence, the monks were initially based at the Monastery of Santa Maria del Castagno (founded in 1334 and expanded in 1337) and later at the Convent of San Bartolomeo.

^{_{Twisted Columns in the cloister, Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, Rome}}

The precise origins of these specific columns remain unknown. However, two similar columns of smaller dimensions are preserved in the Bardini Museum in Florence (Inventory Bardini, nos. 145 and 384). According to the scholar Neri Lusanna, this type of column can be attributed to central-northern Italian craftsmanship between 1340 and 1360.

The stylistic dating proposed by Neri Lusanna corresponds chronologically to the approval of the new monastic congregation by Pope Clement VI on January 21, 1344, as well as to the establishment of new monasteries for the Olivetan order during this period.

Similar columns can also be admired in the stunning Cloister of Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Wall in Rome. This type of twisted column is also a key feature of Gothic esthetic, often framing major episodes in Italian Gothic frescoes.