SUN AN’ SOUL - DREAM AN’ ROME
SANTA MARIA DELLA CONCEZIONE
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| Santa Maria della Concezione - click to enlarge |
Santa Maria della Concezione (Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception) known as the Capuchin church, it was built by Felice Casoni, around 1630, for the brother of Pope Urban VIII, Antonio Barberini the Elder Cardinal and Capuchin, who here has his tomb.
The façade of the church today is quite anonymous, but must be considered that with the opening of Via Veneto (end of 1800), disappeared the small square on which envisaged the façade, as well as the bell tower was demolished and the monastery with its gardens and finally also the access staircase has changed.
It saved the single nave interior with five chapels on each side that hold great masterpieces.
In the first chapel to the right, the altarpiece by Guido Reni (1575 - 1642), dated 1635, depicts St. Michael the Archangel crushing Lucifer, famous work of which many copies were made, but as tastes change today is not as admired as in the past. In particular the beautiful San Michele is judged a little 'coy, but it is more appreciated the realism with which it is portrayed Lucifer, that according to commentators of the time would represent a character of the papal court enemy of Guido Reni.
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| St. Michael the Archangel crushing Lucifer (part.) |
On the left wall of the chapel the remarkable “Mocking of Christ” is the work of Gherardo Delle Notti (1592-1656), after the manner of Caravaggio.
Turning to the second chapel the Transfiguration by Mario Balassi (1604 - 1667), is clearly derived from Raphael. On the left wall we see the wonderful Nativity that Giovanni Lanfranco (1582 - 1647) painted in 1632.
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| Mario Balassi - Transfiguration |
Giovanni Lanfranco - Nativity |
A singular destiny meant that two great painters, as Lanfranco and Domenichino, often find themselves side by side, so in the third chapel Domenichino (1581 - 1641) painted the Death of St. Francis and on the left wall St. Francis receiving the stigmata. In the fifth chapel Sant'Antonio by Andrea Sacchi (1591 – 1661).
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| Andrea Sacchi - Sant’Antonio |
In front of the high altar, on the ground the tomb of Antonio Barberini the Elder (1569 – 1646), on which is written HIC IACET PULIVIS CINIS ET NIHIL (here lies ash dust and nothing).
In the third chapel on the left Andrea Camassei (1602 - 1649) painted the Deposition and on the left wall Girolamo Muziano (1532 - 1592) St. Francis stigmatized.
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| Andrea Camassei - Deposition |
In the first chapel on the left shines Pietro da Cortona (1596 - 1669) that in 1631 painted “Anania returns sight to St Paul”.
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| Pietro da Cortona - Anania returns sight to St Paul |
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