Rambles in Rome: An Archæological and Historical Guide to the Museums, Galleries, Villas, Churches, and Antiquities of Rome and the CampagnaForbes, S. Russell
History
Rambles in Rome: An Archæological and Historical Guide to the Museums, Galleries, Villas, Churches, and Antiquities of Rome and the Campagna
Forbes, S. Russell
Art -- Rome; Rome (Italy) -- Guidebooks; Rome -- Antiquities
Proceeding up the aisle, on the right, is Fabris's statue of Leo XII.;
and opposite, Carlo Fontana's monument to Christina, Queen of Sweden,
who died in Rome in 1689, after her abjuration of Protestantism. The
chapel beyond contains a beautiful mosaic copy of the Martyrdom of S.
Sebastian; the original was by Domenichino. Next is the monument to
Innocent XII., supported by Charity and Justice, by Filippo Valle; and
opposite is one to the Countess Matilda, by Bernini; the relief is
Gregory VII. giving absolution to Henry IV.
The Chapel of the Sacrament contains, above the altar, a fresco by
Cortona; over the side-altar is a mosaic copy of Caravaggio's
Entombment. The principal altar is formed with a model in lapis lazuli
and gilt bronze of Bramante's chapel; the original is erected over the
spot pointed out as the scene of Peter's martyrdom. Before the
side-altar is the bronze tomb of Sixtus IV., with reliefs by Antonio
del Pollajuolo; near by is interred Julius II., whose monument, now in
S. Pietro in Vincoli, was to have been the grand masterpiece of
Michael Angelo.
Beyond, on the right, is the monument to Gregory XIII., supported by
Religion and Power, with a relief representing the correction of the
calendar, the work of Rusconi. Opposite is Gregory the Fourteenth's
simple marble urn.
The next chapel is named Madonna del Soccorso, containing the monument
to Gregory XVI., erected by the cardinals he had made. On the left is
a mosaic copy of Domenichino's Last Communion of S. Jerome. In the
aisle, proceeding on the right, is the monument to Benedict XIV.
(with figures of Science and Charity), by Pietro Bracci. Opposite is a
mosaic copy of S. Basil Celebrating Mass before the Emperor Valens,
after Subleyra's picture.
In the transept are mosaic copies of S. Wenceslaus, king of Bohemia,
by Caroselli; Martyrdom of SS. Processus and Martinianus, after
Valentin; and that of Erasmus, after Poussin. In the aisle, leading
out, is Canova's celebrated tomb of Clement XIII. It took eight years
to execute. The pope is represented praying: on one side is the genius
of Death with inverted torch (the finest piece of sculpture in S.
Peter's), and on the other Religion with the cross; at the angles are
a wakeful and a sleeping lion. Opposite is a mosaic of S. Peter
Walking on the Sea, after Lanfranco. In the next chapel is a mosaic of
Guido's S. Michael and Guercino's S. Petronilla. On the left, coming
towards the apse, S. Peter Resuscitating Tabitha, from Costanzi's
painting; and opposite is the tomb of Clement X., by Ferrata.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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