Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
de Marcillat in the early 16th century. The altar houses the 13th-century painting
Madonna del Popolo, and the altarpiece of the Assumption is by Annibale Carracci.
The former Augustinian convent adjoining the church hosted Martin Luther during his
month-long mission here in 1511, and now houses the Genio di Leonardo da Vinci exhibi-
tion (
Click here
).
Chigi Chapel
Raphael designed the Cappella Chigi, dedicated to his patron Agostino Chigi, but never
lived to see it completed. Bernini finished the job for him more than 100 years later, con-
tributing statues of Daniel and Habakkuk to the altarpiece, which was built by Sebastiano
del Piombo. The most famous feature is the 17th-century mosaic of a kneeling skeleton,
placed there to remind the living of the inevitable.
Cerasi Chapel
The church's dazzling highlight is the Cappella Cerasi with its two works by Caravaggio:
the
Conversione di San Paolo
(Conversion of St Paul) and the
Crocifissione di San Pietro
(Crucifixion of St Peter). Both are exquisitely spotlit via the artist's use of light and shade.
The latter is frighteningly realistic: the artist used perspective to emphasise the weight of
the cross as it's turned upside down, and St Peter's facial expression as he is upturned is
heartrendingly human; sorrowful rather than afraid.
Della Rovere Chapel
The frescoes in the lunettes and the Nativity above the altar in this chapel were painted by
Pinturicchio in the 15th century. They show delicate, graceful figures; restrained, elabor-
ate , classically allusive decoration; and gold motifs.
