Madonna dell'Archetto
Madonna dell'Archetto S. Maria Causa Nostrae Laetitiae | |
---|---|
Religion | |
Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
Location | |
Location | Via di San Marcello 41b, Rome (RM), Italy |
Geographic coordinates | 41°53′56″N 12°28′58″E / 41.89889°N 12.48278°ECoordinates: 41°53′56″N 12°28′58″E / 41.89889°N 12.48278°E |
Architecture | |
Architect(s) | Virginio Vespignani |
Style | Neo-Renaissance |
Completed | May 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]
MARIAE DOMINAE NOSTRAE |
To [the honor of] Mary, Our Lady |
References[]
- ^ Nazzaro, Pellegrino (2000). "The Italian Years". Constantino Brumidi: Artist of the Capitol (PDF). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 21.
- ^ "Santa Maria dell'Archetto". Roma Capitale. 2007. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Madonna dell'Archetto" (in Italian). Roma Segreta. May 18, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Rino Cammilleri; Vittorio Messori, eds. (2001). Gli occhi di Maria (in Italian).
- ^ Groves, Randy (April 3, 2013). "Capella Madonna dell'Archetto". U.S. Capitol Historical Society. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
- ^ "Parrocchia Santi XII Apostoli". Vicariato di Roma. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
- ^ 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.
- Roman Catholic churches in Rome
- Roman Catholic churches completed in 1851
- 1851 establishments in the Papal States
- Churches of Rome (rione Trevi)
- 19th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy