Santi Luca e Martina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Santi Luca e Martina |
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The church of Santi Luca e Martina with the remains of the Roman Forum.
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| 41°53′36″N 12°29′06″E / 41.89322°N 12.48505°E | |
| Location | Roman Forum, Rome |
| Country | Italy |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
Santi Luca e Martina is a beautiful church in Rome, Italy. It stands right between the ancient Roman Forum and the Forum of Caesar. It is also very close to the famous Arch of Septimus Severus. This church has a long and interesting history, connecting to ancient saints and famous artists.
Contents
History of the Church
Early Beginnings and Dedication
The church was first built to honor Saint Martina. She was a Christian who died for her faith around 228 AD. This happened when Emperor Alexander Severus ruled Rome.
In 625, Pope Honorius I ordered the first church to be built here. It was a simple, rectangular building. Over time, it was surrounded by other structures.
Rebuilding by Pietro da Cortona
The church was repaired in 1256 by Pope Alexander IV. But its biggest change came in the 1600s. A famous artist and architect named Pietro da Cortona completely rebuilt it.
In 1577, a special art school was founded in Rome. It was called the Accademia di San Luca. This academy was for painters, sculptors, and architects. In 1588, the church was given to this academy. It was then renamed S. Luca in S. Martina. This honored both Saint Martina and Saint Luke, who is the patron saint of artists.
The academy started making small improvements to the church. They also began buying land next to it.
A New Discovery and New Plans
In 1634, Pietro da Cortona became the president of the art academy. He soon started working on the church's underground area, called the crypt. During this work, some ancient remains were found. People believed these were the bones of Saint Martina herself.
This discovery was very exciting. It was hoped that finding these relics would bring in money. This money would help build a grand new church to house them. In November 1634, Pope Urban VIII visited the church. His nephew, Cardinal Francesco Barberini, promised a large sum of money for the project.
Construction Challenges
Building the new church began in 1635. However, the work faced many delays. Pietro da Cortona had to leave Rome for a long time. He visited Florence from 1639 to 1647. Also, Cardinal Francesco Barberini had to leave Rome from 1645 to 1648.
When Cortona passed away in 1669, some parts of the church were still not finished. For example, the decorations inside the dome were incomplete.
Church Design and Art
Upper Church Layout
The main part of the church, called the upper church, has a special shape. It is almost a Greek cross, meaning its arms are nearly equal in length. A large dome sits in the center of this cross shape.
Inside, you will see many tall Ionic columns. These columns support a large entablature, which is a decorative band. They are grouped around the central area and along the walls. The windows in the curved ceilings have unique designs. They feature split pediments and heads in scallop shells.
A Surprising Interior
Even though the church was built for an art academy, its interior is mostly white. It is made of white stucco. This might seem surprising for a church dedicated to the patron saint of painters, St. Luke. Pietro da Cortona, who designed it, was known for his colorful frescoes.
The decorations inside the dome were likely done by Cortona's student, Ciro Ferri. The dome combines ribs and patterns. These patterns seem to move and shimmer, creating a beautiful effect.
Lower Church and Saint Martina's Chapel
Two stairways from the upper church lead down to the lower church. This lower area has a hallway that connects to an octagonal chapel. This chapel is directly below the dome of the upper church. There is also the Chapel of Santa Martina, which is below the main altar.
A round opening in the ceiling of the octagonal chapel lets you look up to the dome above. Unlike the bright, open upper church, the lower church is richly decorated. It uses colorful marbles, shiny bronze, and has lower ceilings.
In the Chapel of Santa Martina, the columns are placed diagonally. This creates a unique and interesting space. This chapel focuses on the altar dedicated to Saint Martina.
The Church's Facade
The front of the church, called the facade, has a gentle curve. It features two levels of paired pilasters. These are columns that are flattened against the wall. Other parts, like the triangular pediments and moldings, stick out. This creates a feeling of depth and movement.
Artwork Inside the Church
In the upper church, the main painting above the altar is called Saint Luke painting the Madonna. It was painted by Antiveduto Grammatica. This painting is a copy of an original work by Raphael. The original is now in the art academy's collection. Below this painting is a white marble statue of Saint Martina. It was created by Nicolo Menghini.
In the left side area, called the transept, there is a painting called Assumption and Saint Sebastian by Sebastiano Conca. In the right transept, you can see the Martyrdom of San Lazzaro by Lazzaro Baldi. Baldi is also buried here.
Near the main entrance, a stone slab marks where Pietro da Cortona was buried in 1669. In the lower church, there is a memorial with a bust of Cortona by Bernardo Fioiti.
The sculptures of the Evangelists in the dome's triangular sections were added later, in the 1700s. They were made by artists like Filippo della Valle, Camillo Rusconi, and Giovanni Battista Maini.
To the right of the entrance, you can find a monument to Carlo Pio Balestra (1776) by Tommaso Righi. There is also a Monument to Giovanna Garzoni by Mattia De Rossi.
In the sacristy, which is a room where priests prepare, there is a relief sculpture. It is called the Ecstasy of St Mary Magdalene and was made by Alessandro Algardi.
See also
- History of early modern period domes
