Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva_01
Santa Maria sopra Minerva is a minor basilica in Rome built over an ancient temple dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis. The basilica was built in 1280 by two Dominican friars, Fra Sisto Fiorentino and Fra Ristoro da Campi. The church is unique because it is considered the only Gothic church in Rome, yet it was built in the renaissance era.
The front of the church was altered in the 16th century when Carlo Maderno created a Baroque façade. It was then restored in the 19th century to a neo-medieval style. On the inside of the basilica the nave has uncharacteristic pointed arches, giving it a Gothic style. The church contains the Carafa chapel which includes 15th-century frescoes of the Annunciation and the Assumption by Filippino Lippi. The chapel was commissioned by Cardinal Oliviero Carafa in honor of Saint Thomas Aquinas. The church also houses the Cristo della Minerva by Michelangelo Buonarroti. It is a marble sculpture finished by Michelangelo in 1521 and depicts Christ carrying the cross.
I chose to use Santa Maria sopra Minerva for my journal entry due to its uniqueness. Not only is it the only Gothic church in Rome, but it was also founded by Dominican friars. I also enjoyed the fact that the church housed the Cristo della Minerva. Any church that contains a Michelangelo masterpiece is a worthwhile visit to me.
Shaine Nudel, Survey of Art and Architecture, University of Florida
Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva_02
The Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, or Saint Mary Above Minerva, is one of the few examples of Gothic architecture in Rome. It was constructed by architects Fra Sisto Fiorentino, Fra Ristoro da Campi and Carlo Maderno. Its construction began in 1280 and it was finally finished in 1370, in the heart of the Renaissance. This 13th century church is built on ancient ruins, supposed to have been the temple of Minerva.
This church was the traditional stronghold of the Dominicans, whose antiheretical zeal earned them the nickname of Domini Canes (hounds of the Lord). This simple T-shaped vaulted building holds the tombs of the 16th century Medici popes, Leo X and his cousin Clement VII, which illustrate the monumental style of the Roman Renaissance. Near the steps of the choir is famous Statua del Redentore, or statue for the Risen Christ, by Michelangelo. The church also contains a tomb and a bust by Bernini and the tomb of St. Catherine of Siena who died in the chapel in 1380. At the end of the 16th Century, Carlo Maderno gave the church a Baroque facade, then restored in the 19th century to its present neo-medieval state. Another significant feature on the facade are marks, which date back to the 16th and 17th centuries, which indicate that various floods of the Tiber rose to 65 feet (20 m).
I chose this basilica because it is the only true example of gothic architecture of a church in Rome. It is really interesting to see how architectural eras leave their marks throughout history. The Romans of the time must have reacted to it with curiosity since it was a unique example of a different architectural style in these days.
Luisa Betancur, Survey of Art and Architecture, University of Florida
Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva_03
The Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva is located southeast of the Pantheon and can be easily made out; as an Egyptian obelisk resting on a jovial marble elephant designed by Bernini in 1667 marks the entrance to the building. The only gothic church in Rome, this basilica was built over the foundations of what used to be an ancient temple to the goddess of wisdom Minerva. It was first constructed in the eight century, but the building we appreciate today is a temple rebuilt by the Dominicans friars who received the property from Pope Alexander IV circa the late thirteenth century and later modified in the 1500s and 1900s.
The original architect Sisto Fiorentino and Ristoro da Campi used the Gothic church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence as the model for Basilica di Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. The church has the most beautiful Giotto-blue ceiling covered with gilded stars and accented with red ribbing. Santa Maria Sopra Minerva also houses the tombs of several popes and cardinals, the relics of Saint Catherine of Siena and Michelangelo’s of Christ the Redeemer which stands right next to the main altar.
A curious fact about this Basilica is that famous physicist Galileo Galilei was tried by the Holly Inquisition in the Dominican monastery next to this church for teaching that the Earth followed the heliocentric model thus revolved around the Sun.
Erick Oran, Survey of Art and Architecture, University of Florida
No comments:
Post a Comment