Madonna dell'Archetto

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Madonna dell'Archetto
S. Maria Causa Nostrae Laetitiae
Trevi - Oratorio Madonna dell'Archetto.JPG
The alleyway and the entrance to the chapel
Religion
AffiliationRoman Catholic
Location
LocationVia di San Marcello 41b, Rome (RM), Italy
Geographic coordinates41°53′56″N 12°28′58″E / 41.89889°N 12.48278°E / 41.89889; 12.48278Coordinates: 41°53′56″N 12°28′58″E / 41.89889°N 12.48278°E / 41.89889; 12.48278
Architecture
Architect(s)Virginio Vespignani
StyleNeo-Renaissance
CompletedMay 31, 1851

The Church of the Madonna dell'Archetto (English: Our Lady of the Little Arch) is a small oratory in Rome, Italy, in the Trevi rione. The official title of the church is Santa Maria Causa Nostrae Laetitiae (English: Holy Mary, Cause of Our Joy). It is often cited as being the smallest church in Rome.[1][2]

History and description[]

The chapel was constructed in the nineteenth century to house a venerated image of the Madonna that was located under a narrow arched passageway of the Palazzo Muti,[3] The image had been commissioned by the marchesa Muti Papazzurri in 1690. It is a depiction painted by Bolognese painter Domenico Muratori on maiolica of the Blessed Virgin.[4] In 1696, the image was reputedly seen to move her eyes, which prompted the owner to expose the image to public veneration.[4] By 1751, gates to the alley where the image was located were installed, and a repeat miracle on July 9, 1796 cemented the reputation of the image.[4][5] The 1796 incident occurred before numerous witnesses, who also observed that the eyes of the painting wept—presumably in reaction to that year's invasion of the Papal States by France.[4][5]

In the middle of the nineteenth century, marchese Alessandro Muti Papazzurri Savorelli decided to construct a small chapel to house the miraculous image, which until that point was still located in a narrow alley. The chapel, which was built in the available space at the end of the alleyway, is an example, rare in Rome, of Neo-Renaissance architecture. The interior was covered in precious marbles, the work of architect Virginio Vespignani. The cupola was frescoed by Constantino Brumidi,[6] the same painter who executed the frescoes in the United States Capitol. There are also sculptures by . The miraculous image of the Virgin is located above the altar. The church was solemnly dedicated on May 31, 1851.[4]

The oratory today falls within the parish boundaries of the nearby Basilica of Santi Apostoli, and is categorized as an "annexed" church.[7]

Inscription[]

The Jesuit archaeologist Giuseppe Marchi composed the following Latin inscription, which is located on the exterior of the chapel:[8]

References[]

  1. ^ Nazzaro, Pellegrino (2000). "The Italian Years". Constantino Brumidi: Artist of the Capitol (PDF). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 21.
  2. ^ "Santa Maria dell'Archetto". Roma Capitale. 2007. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  3. ^ An inheritance of 1816 passed the complex of palazzi that includes Palazzo Muti to the Savorelli family; in the 19th century the palazzo was called Palazzo Papazzurri Savorelli: see Palazzo Muti.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Madonna dell'Archetto" (in Italian). Roma Segreta. May 18, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Rino Cammilleri; Vittorio Messori, eds. (2001). Gli occhi di Maria (in Italian).
  6. ^ Groves, Randy (April 3, 2013). "Capella Madonna dell'Archetto". U.S. Capitol Historical Society. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  7. ^ "Parrocchia Santi XII Apostoli". Vicariato di Roma. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  8. ^ Armellini, Mariano (1891). "II. RIONE TREVI". Le chiese di Roma dal secolo IV al XIX. Tipografia Vaticana. p. 257.

Sources[]

  • Armellini, Mariano (1891). Le chiese di Roma dal secolo IV al XIX. Rome: Tipografia Vaticana. pp. 256–257.
  • Pratesi, Ludovico (2000). "Rione II Trevi". I rioni di Roma. I. Milan: Newton & Compton Editori. pp. 131–201.
  • Rendina, Claudio (2000). Le Chiese di Roma. Milan: Newton & Compton Editori.
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