{"id":9609,"date":"2021-02-23T20:28:26","date_gmt":"2021-02-23T19:28:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rickzullo.com\/?p=9609"},"modified":"2021-09-25T15:08:42","modified_gmt":"2021-09-25T13:08:42","slug":"art-tour-of-romes-churches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/art-tour-of-romes-churches\/","title":{"rendered":"Art Tour of Rome\u2019s Churches"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This virtual art tour of Rome\u2019s Churches is inspired by a conversation with my friend Elyssa Bernard in Episode 39<\/a> of my podcast.<\/p>\n \n I intended to write a post that was sort of a checklist of things to see in Rome that are either free or very cheap, and that come just after the well-known \u201cTop Ten Lists\u201d on tourists\u2019 itineraries. But then as I started creating the list of “the next ten,” I noticed that nearly every item was a church. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rome is absolutely packed with spectacular churches that individually would be major tourist attractions in any other city in the world. There are dozens of these jewels and it\u2019s easy for them to get somewhat \u201clost\u201d among the more than 900 churches in the city proper.<\/p>\n \n Here are a few that have struck my fancy, and I made a cool Google Earth map for reference (click to open<\/a><\/strong>).<\/p>\n <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Chiesa di San Luigi dei Francesi <\/strong> Piazza di S. Luigi dei Francesi <\/p>\n \n I\u2019ll start with this church because it\u2019s my favorite for the art inside. From the outside, you may wonder why you see so many people coming and going into this rather ordinary fa\u00e7ade. The reason is Caravaggio, arguably the most (in)famous painter to ever live and work in Rome<\/strong>. His reputation as a hooligan and troublemaker is only outdone by his talent as an artist. He didn\u2019t produce that many paintings during his short life, but the very best of what he did produce is here (for free) in this church.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When you enter, go the apse on the left and walk all the way to the front. This is where you\u2019ll find the Contarelli Chapel and the three famous canvases by the baroque master: The Calling of St Matthew, The Inspiration of Saint Matthew, and The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew. Within these three paintings we witness the full realization of the chiaroscuro style\u2014the use of dramatic light and shadows\u2014which Caravaggio made famous. Don’t miss it!<\/p>\n \n Santa Maria del Popolo <\/strong> Piazza del Popolo, 12 <\/p>\n \n To continue your study of Caravaggio, go to the church of Santa Maria del Popolo where you can view two very different artists side by side; Caravaggio and Annibele Carracci. <\/p>\n \n You can plainly see Michelangelo\u2019s influence on Carracci’s work, using soft pastel colors, and lots of fat cherubs clinging to Mother Mary. Also notice the order and symmetry. Now look to the left at Caravaggio\u2019s \u201cThe Crucifixion of Saint Peter.\u201d It\u2019s difficult to believe that they were painted in the same year.<\/p>\n \n This style of depicting real life scenes (life in extreme contrasts, as it truly was and not how we wished it to be) put Cavarggio at odds with many art critics and church officials of his time who preferred biblical scenes of majestic splendor and pastoral perfection\u2014a style which had achieved its height during the Renaissance. Indeed, during the Baroque era of Italian painting in Rome, the two opposing camps were represented by Caravaggio on one side and his rival Annibale Carracci on the other.<\/p>\n More about CARAVAGGIO…<\/strong><\/p>\n In Rome<\/p>\n The artist established his reputation (for better AND worse) in The Eternal City. The bulk of his masterpieces are on display in the churches and museums, many of which you can see for free. <\/p>\n The Capuchin Crypt <\/strong> Via Vittorio Veneto, 27<\/p>\n \n A fairly well-known site, and easily accessible on the Via Veneto near the Barberini Metro. I always take family\/friends here when visiting Rome. It\u2019s cool to see if you\u2019ve never seen anything like it, but perhaps just as important is that it\u2019s a quick and easy stop if you happen to be in the area. From Wikipedia: \u201cWhen the monks arrived at the church in 1631, they brought 300 cartloads of deceased friars. <\/p>\n \nA Quick Art Tour of Rome\u2019s Churches<\/strong><\/h2>\n