San Lorenzo in Lucina
Encyclopedia
The Church of St Lawrence's at Lucina is a Roman Catholic parish
and titular church and minor basilica
in Rome
, Italy
, dedicated to Saint Lawrence
, Roman deacon
and martyr
. The name Lucina comes from the Roman matron owner of the house on which the church was built.
The current Cardinal Priest of the Titulus S. Laurentii in Lucina, established in 684, is Malcolm Ranjith
since November, 20 2010.
hid here during Maxentius
' persecution, while Pope Damasus I
was elected here in 366. The church was known as Titulus Lucinae, and thus is mentioned in the acts of the 499 synod of Pope Symmachus
.
To the 5th century dates back a tradition that wanted a litany
each 25 April, starting from San Lorenzo in Lucina and ending in St Peter's Basilica.
The facade dates back to the 1112 rebuilding by Pope Paschal II
, while the interior was completely changed in 1650, with the old lateral naves changed in Baroque chapels.
The high altar, designed by Carlo Rainaldi
, is decorated with a Crucifixion by Guido Reni
. Under the altar there is the gridiron on which St Lawrence was martyred. The relics were put here by Pope Paschal II
, according to an inscription on the throne behind the altar. The chorus is decorated by Virgins and Saints by Placido Costanzi
.
The second chapel to the right, designed by Carlo Rainaldi
, was decorated by Jan Miel
. Nicolas Poussin
is buried in the second chapel on the right, with a monument donated by Chateaubriand
with a bust by Paul Lemoyne and a relief by Louis Desprez
.
The fourth chapel, the Fonseca chapel, was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini
, and features a lively bust of Gabriel Fonseca by the master sculptor. It also houses a copy of Guido Reni
's Annunciation completed by Giacinto Gimignani
. The fifth chapel on the right has a Death of St. Giacinta Marescotti by Marco Benefial
and a Life of St. Francis (1624) by Simon Vouet
. The fourth chapel has a St. Giuseppe by Alessandro Turchi
and a San Carlo Borromeo by Carlo Saraceni
. The first chapel has works (1721) by Giuseppe Sardi
.
Charles Stewart, an officer in the Papal army who died in 1864, is buried within the church. He was the son of John Stewart, Prince Charles Edward Stuart's (Charles III) 'maestro di casa'. Charles had created John a baronet in 1784.
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
and titular church and minor basilica
Minor basilica
Minor basilica is a title given to some Roman Catholic churches. By canon law no Catholic church can be honoured with the title of basilica unless by apostolic grant or from immemorial custom....
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, dedicated to Saint Lawrence
Saint Lawrence
Lawrence of Rome was one of the seven deacons of ancient Rome who were martyred during the persecution of Valerian in 258.- Holy Chalice :...
, Roman deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
and martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
. The name Lucina comes from the Roman matron owner of the house on which the church was built.
The current Cardinal Priest of the Titulus S. Laurentii in Lucina, established in 684, is Malcolm Ranjith
Malcolm Ranjith
Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don , often known simply as Malcolm Ranjith or Albert Malcolm Ranjith is a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church who serves as the de facto primate of Sri Lanka...
since November, 20 2010.
History
Pope Marcellus IPope Marcellus I
Pope Saint Marcellus I, pope from May 308 to 309, succeeded Marcellinus, after a considerable interval, most probably in May or June 308.Under Maxentius he was banished from Rome in 309 on account of the tumult caused by the severity of the penances he had imposed on Christians who had lapsed under...
hid here during Maxentius
Maxentius
Maxentius was a Roman Emperor from 306 to 312. He was the son of former Emperor Maximian, and the son-in-law of Emperor Galerius.-Birth and early life:Maxentius' exact date of birth is unknown; it was probably around 278...
' persecution, while Pope Damasus I
Pope Damasus I
Pope Saint Damasus I was the bishop of Rome from 366 to 384.He was born around 305, probably near the city of Idanha-a-Velha , in what is present-day Portugal, then part of the Western Roman Empire...
was elected here in 366. The church was known as Titulus Lucinae, and thus is mentioned in the acts of the 499 synod of Pope Symmachus
Pope Symmachus
Saint Symmachus was pope from 498 to 514. His tenure was marked by a serious schism over who was legitimately elected pope by the citizens of Rome....
.
To the 5th century dates back a tradition that wanted a litany
Litany
A litany, in Christian worship and some forms of Jewish worship, is a form of prayer used in services and processions, and consisting of a number of petitions...
each 25 April, starting from San Lorenzo in Lucina and ending in St Peter's Basilica.
Art and architecture
Pope Paschal II
Pope Paschal II , born Ranierius, was Pope from August 13, 1099, until his death. A monk of the Cluniac order, he was created cardinal priest of the Titulus S...
, while the interior was completely changed in 1650, with the old lateral naves changed in Baroque chapels.
The high altar, designed by Carlo Rainaldi
Carlo Rainaldi
Carlo Rainaldi was an Italian architect of the Baroque period.Born in Rome, Rainaldi was one of the leading architects of 17th century Rome, known for a certain grandeur in his designs. He worked at first with his father, Girolamo Rainaldi, a late Mannerist architect in Rome. After his father's...
, is decorated with a Crucifixion by Guido Reni
Guido Reni
Guido Reni was an Italian painter of high-Baroque style.-Biography:Born in Bologna into a family of musicians, Guido Reni was the son of Daniele Reni and Ginevra de’ Pozzi. As a child of nine, he was apprenticed under the Bolognese studio of Denis Calvaert. Soon after, he was joined in that...
. Under the altar there is the gridiron on which St Lawrence was martyred. The relics were put here by Pope Paschal II
Pope Paschal II
Pope Paschal II , born Ranierius, was Pope from August 13, 1099, until his death. A monk of the Cluniac order, he was created cardinal priest of the Titulus S...
, according to an inscription on the throne behind the altar. The chorus is decorated by Virgins and Saints by Placido Costanzi
Placido Costanzi
Placido Costanzi was an Italian painter of the late-Baroque period.He was born to a family of gem-makers in Rome, where he became a pupil of Benedetto Luti and painted mainly historical and devotional subjects. He painted a St. Camillus in Santa Maria Maddalena, in which he has aspired to the...
.
The second chapel to the right, designed by Carlo Rainaldi
Carlo Rainaldi
Carlo Rainaldi was an Italian architect of the Baroque period.Born in Rome, Rainaldi was one of the leading architects of 17th century Rome, known for a certain grandeur in his designs. He worked at first with his father, Girolamo Rainaldi, a late Mannerist architect in Rome. After his father's...
, was decorated by Jan Miel
Jan Miel
Jan Miel was a Flemish painter, active in Italy, emerging from the circle of genre painters influenced by Pieter van Laer and the so-called Bamboccianti painters. He was born in Beveren-Waas near Antwerp, but had traveled to Rome by 1636. Surprisingly, he briefly collaborating with Andrea Sacchi,...
. Nicolas Poussin
Nicolas Poussin
Nicolas Poussin was a French painter in the classical style. His work predominantly features clarity, logic, and order, and favors line over color. His work serves as an alternative to the dominant Baroque style of the 17th century...
is buried in the second chapel on the right, with a monument donated by Chateaubriand
François-René de Chateaubriand
François-René, vicomte de Chateaubriand was a French writer, politician, diplomat and historian. He is considered the founder of Romanticism in French literature.-Early life and exile:...
with a bust by Paul Lemoyne and a relief by Louis Desprez
Louis Desprez
Louis Desprez was a French sculptor.Born in Paris, he was a pupil of Francois Joseph Bosio. He went to Rome after winning the Prix de Rome for Sculpture in 1826. He was principally distinguished for his busts and portrait statues....
.
The fourth chapel, the Fonseca chapel, was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Gian Lorenzo Bernini was an Italian artist who worked principally in Rome. He was the leading sculptor of his age and also a prominent architect...
, and features a lively bust of Gabriel Fonseca by the master sculptor. It also houses a copy of Guido Reni
Guido Reni
Guido Reni was an Italian painter of high-Baroque style.-Biography:Born in Bologna into a family of musicians, Guido Reni was the son of Daniele Reni and Ginevra de’ Pozzi. As a child of nine, he was apprenticed under the Bolognese studio of Denis Calvaert. Soon after, he was joined in that...
's Annunciation completed by Giacinto Gimignani
Giacinto Gimignani
Giacinto Gimignani was an Italian painter, active mainly in Rome, during the Baroque period.Gimignani was born in Pistoia, where his father, Alessio was also a painter and former pupil of Jacopo Ligozzi...
. The fifth chapel on the right has a Death of St. Giacinta Marescotti by Marco Benefial
Marco Benefial
Marco Benefial was an Italian, proto-Neoclassical painter, mainly active in Rome. Benefial is best known for his repudiation of 18th century decorative Rococo styles pre-eminent in the Rome dominated by Carlo Maratta pupils....
and a Life of St. Francis (1624) by Simon Vouet
Simon Vouet
Simon Vouet was a French painter and draftsman, who today is perhaps best remembered for helping to introduce the Italian Baroque style of painting to France.-Life:...
. The fourth chapel has a St. Giuseppe by Alessandro Turchi
Alessandro Turchi
Alessandro Turchi was an Italian painter of the early Baroque, born and active mainly in Verona, and moving late in life to Rome. He also went by the name Alessandro Veronese or the nickname L'Orbetto....
and a San Carlo Borromeo by Carlo Saraceni
Carlo Saraceni
Carlo Saraceni was an Italian early-Baroque painter, whose reputation as a "first-class painter of the second rank" was improved with the publication of a modern monograph in 1968....
. The first chapel has works (1721) by Giuseppe Sardi
Giuseppe Sardi
Giuseppe Sardi was an Italian architect active in Rome. He was born at Sant'Angelo in Vado, Marche which was then part of the Papal States...
.
Charles Stewart, an officer in the Papal army who died in 1864, is buried within the church. He was the son of John Stewart, Prince Charles Edward Stuart's (Charles III) 'maestro di casa'. Charles had created John a baronet in 1784.
External links
- "San Lorenzo in Lucina", Nyborg.
- Official website of the Vicariate of Rome
- http://spazioinwind.libero.it/lucina