St. MARY IN PUBLICOLIS

S. MARIA IN PUBLICOLIS

Via in Publicolis 46

Originally built in the twelfth century

It was known as S. Maria De Publico maybe for the nearby PORTICUS MINUCIA or, more likely, for the nearby VILLA PUBLICA rebuilt here by Domitian (81/96) after replacing the original one (destroyed by the Campus Martius fire in the year 80 AD) with the Diribitorium

In the thirteenth century it came under the patronage of the Santacroce Publicola family who claimed a somewhat unlikely descent from the Roman gens (extended family) of the Valerii Publicolae

Completely rebuilt 1642/43 by Giovanni Antonio De Rossi (1616/95) for Monsignor Marcello Santacroce, who conceived it as a private chapel of the Santacroce family, whose symbol was the pair of pelicans represented also in the façade

Restored in 1727 for Prince Scipione Publicola Santacroce

The fresco on the FAÇADE, “Assumption of the Virgin Mary” by Giovanni Francesco Grimaldi (1606/80) from Bologna, has almost disappeared

ON THE RIGHT

“Tomb of Prince Scipione Publicola Santacroce” 1749 by G.B. Maini (1690/1752) with ornamental elements executed in 1750 by Tommaso Righi (1727/1802)

ALTAR ON THE RIGHT

Altarpiece “St. Helena adores the Cross miraculously found on Mount Calvary” 1644 by Raffaello Vanni (1587/1673) from Siena

Helena was the name of the mother of the patron Marcello Santacroce, and it was furthermore believed that the merit of carrying the Cross to Rome was of members of the Santacroce family

MAIN ALTAR

Altarpiece “Birth of the Virgin Mary” 1644 by Raffaello Vanni

“The event of the birth of the Virgin Mary is represented with particular effectiveness by making a interesting fusion of images with a highly symbolic meaning, as the angel holding a crown of stars on the head of the fledgling Virgin Mary, and the scene of domestic life that revolves around St. Anna, lying on bed after giving birth” (Alfredo Marchionne Gunter)

Polychrome marble altar table made in 1727

On the right “Four portraits in oil on copper of lay members of the Santacroce family”

On the left “Four portraits of clergy members of the Santacroce family” 1680 by Alessandro Grimaldi son of Giovanni Francesco Grimaldi

The first portrait of clergyman on the right is Monsignor Prospero Publicola Santacroce, the one who introduced the use of tobacco in Rome from Portugal where he was nuncio. Tobacco was then called Santacroce Grass

ALTAR ON THE LEFT

Altarpiece “St. Francis in Meditation” 1655 by Giovanni Francesco Grimaldi (1606/80) a copy of a lost original by Annibale Carracci

ON THE LEFT

“Tomb of the spouses Antonio Publicola Santacroce and Girolama Nari” about 1709 by Giovanni Francesco Zannoli who was inspired by the Bolognetti monuments in the Church of Jesus and Mary

Busts by Lorenzo Ottoni (1648/1736) with “Winged Death” by Andrea Fucigna (about 1660/1711)

Below “Confessional “ 1708/09 by Giovenale Gauthier

“Among other burials there is also the one of the beautiful Giulia Santacroce, who was said to be the mistress of Cardinal de Bernis. The cardinal would have first met her during a reception at which she showed up with an ample cleavage emblazoned with a cross of diamonds, and he would have rather boldly said: “Princess, I do not know if I should venerate more the Cross or the Calvary...” (Willy Pocino)

PORTICO MINUCIA FRUMENTARIA

PORTICUS MINUCIA FRUMENTARIA

Via delle Botteghe Oscure/Corso Vittorio Emanuele II

Arcaded square of 150 x 115 m (492 x 377 feet) probably built under Domitian (81/96) for the free distribution of grain to the people of Rome in an area previously occupied by the Villa Publica

“It was not till the year 123 BC, that the first legal provision was made for supplying the poor at Rome with corn at a price much below its market value. In that year C. Sempronius Gracchus brought forward the first Lex Frumentaria, by which each citizen was entitled to receive every month a certain quantity of wheat (triticum) at the price of 6 ⅓ asses for the modius, which was equal to 1 gallon and nearly 8 pints English (8.2 liters). (...) This was only a trifle more than half the market price (...). It must not be supposed that each person was allowed to receive as much as he pleased every month; the quantity must of course have been fixed, and was probably five modii monthly, as in later times. This quantity was only given to fathers of families; but it was not confined to the poor, as Plutarch would imply, for every citizen had a right to it, whether he were rich or poor (...); and even Piso, who had been consul, applied for his share at the distribution. It appears, however, from the anecdote which Cicero relates about Piso, that each citizen had to apply in person, a regulation which would of itself deter most of the rich” (William Smith)

The square included a preexisting TEMPLE OF THE REPUBLICAN PERIOD discovered in 1938, probably the Temple of the Nymphs, of which there are two columns of stuccoed lava stone and the brick wall of the cella that belongs to a restoration of the time of Domitian (81/96) after the fire of the year 80 AD