Monday, July 22, 2019

St. PANTALEON

S. PANTALEO
Mentioned in the sources for the first time in 1186
Maybe restored in about 1216 by Honorius III Savelli (1216/27) who entrusted it to English prelates
Originally it had the orientation reversed, with entry from Piazzetta dei Massimi
Granted in 1614 by Paul V Borghese (1605/21) to St. Joseph Calasanz (1557/1648), founder of the Order of the Pious Schools, the first free public schools in Europe that he opened in 1567 near the church of S. Dorotea (St. Dorothy of Caesarea) in Trastevere
Reconstructed in two phases: 1681/82 and 1686/89 by Giovanni Antonio De Rossi (1616/95) for Cardinal Gaspare Carpegna, with the orientation reversed
Last work of Giovanni Antonio De Rossi and his most accomplished piece of religious architecture, although maybe his initial project with a central plan had been rejected by the Order
“The architectural structure of S. Pantaleo is the expression of a first attempt to evolution, if not revolution, of Baroque poetry towards forms that are able to rationalize the means of expression, in the context of a classical language” (Gianfranco Spagnesi)
Dedicated to St. Panteaeon doctor of Nicomedia, martyr in the year 305. In Rome, the name changed to Pantaleo and he became the protector of the lotto players and he was an inspiration for winning numbers. The church was used for a long time for exorcisms

1806 Giuseppe Valadier (1762/1839) for Prince Giovanni Torlonia with “Frieze with weapons and armor” by Pietro Aurelj

Spectacular “Triumph of the Name of Mary” 1687/92 masterpiece by Filippo Gherardi (1643/1704)
Six years before starting this amazing fresco Filippo Gherardi had mourned the death of the painter Giovanni Coli (1636/81), his beloved partner, with whom he wanted to share the grave even though he died 23 years later

1st RIGHT - CHAPEL OF THE CROSS
Sculptural group “Crucified Christ and Mary Magdalene” by an unknown artist of the eighteenth century and fresco with “Landscape”

2nd RIGHT - CHAPEL OF St. JOSEPH
Above the altar “Death of S. Joseph” about 1690 maybe by Sebastiano Ricci (1659/1734) with beautiful still life on the left
Inside the altar there are the relics of St. Flavian martyr

1763/67 designed by Nicola Salvi (1697/1751)
Redesigned and begun by Carlo Murena (1713/64)
Finished in 1802 by Giuseppe Valadier
Relief in stucco “St. Joseph Calasanz and the Scolopi Fathers attend the triumph of Our Lady” 1802 by Luigi Acquisti (1745/1823) with inserted “Madonna of the pious schools” given to the Scolopi Fathers in 1688
Urn containing the body of St. Joseph Calasanz by Carlo Murena

2nd LEFT - CHAPEL OF St. PANTALEON
Above the altar “St. Pantaleon heals the sick” 1689 by Tommaso Caisotti copy from an original of Guido Reni
Inside the altar since 1995 body of blessed Pietro Casani

1740/46. Above the altar “Sts. Joachim and Anne with the Virgin Mary as a young girl” about 1750 Bartolomeo Bosi

SACRISTY
In the passageway of the entry “Tomb of Laudomia Brancaleone” d. 1577 daughter of Giovanni Brancaleone, the knight who led the Italians to victory in the challenge of Barletta in 1503
“Sts. Justus and Pastor” maybe by Cristoforo Roncalli aka Pomarancio (1552/1626) the only painting remaining of the original furnishings

ORATORY OF THE APPARITION
Decorated 1923/25 by Antonino Calcagnadoro (1876/1935)

ROOM OF St. JOSEPH CALASANZ
It is the room where he lived and died in 1648. Frescoes of the sixteenth century

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