Onorio Longhi (1568–1619) – a vagabond architect

Body of the nonexistent Church of Santa Maria Liberatrice destroyed during works on the Forum Romanum at the beginning of the XX century, Giuseppe Vasi

Body of the nonexistent Church of Santa Maria Liberatrice destroyed during works on the Forum Romanum at the beginning of the XX century, Giuseppe Vasi

This architect, an amateur poet, and also the party companion of Caravaggio is a character straight out of a swashbuckling story, one of the most colorful in the artistic life of XVII century Rome. As soon as he left prison, he came right back. He was accused of disturbing the peace, insults, fights, quarrels in brothels, and armed assaults on private persons (e.g. his competitor – the painter Giuseppe Cesari).  He was most fond of spending nights on Roman streets and in taverns. He had a wife and quite a large group of children.

Body of the nonexistent Church of Santa Maria Liberatrice destroyed during works on the Forum Romanum at the beginning of the XX century, Giuseppe Vasi
Onorio Longhi, design of the Chapel of St. Philip Neri, Church of Santa Maria in Vallicella
Onorio Longhi, Palazzo Altemps, Cappella di Sant’Aniceto
Onorio Longhi, design of the façade and the interiors – Palazzo Altemps

This architect, an amateur poet, and also the party companion of Caravaggio is a character straight out of a swashbuckling story, one of the most colorful in the artistic life of XVII century Rome. As soon as he left prison, he came right back. He was accused of disturbing the peace, insults, fights, quarrels in brothels, and armed assaults on private persons (e.g. his competitor – the painter Giuseppe Cesari).  He was most fond of spending nights on Roman streets and in taverns. He had a wife and quite a large group of children.

 

Initially he was an assistant to his father Martino Longhi (the Elder), and after his death in 1591 he took over his commissions. When he himself died, his works were continued by his son – Martino Longhi (the Younger). When along with Caravaggio he was entangled in a murder case and sentenced to exile, Onorio Longhi went to Milan and did not come back until 1611 when he was pardoned, finding work at the construction of the Church of San Carlo al Corso. It was the most important from among his Roman commissions. He worked on the church until his death, while later the construction was supervised by his son Martino Longhi (the Younger) and Pietro da Cortona.

Apart from that his other works known in Rome are:

  • Tombstone of Virgilio Crescenzi in the atrium of the Church of San Gregorio Magno
  • Chapel of cardinal Santoro in the Basilica of St. John on the Lateran (San Giovanni in Laterano)
  • Colonna Chapel in the Church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli
  • Work on the construction of the palace and palace church (Sant’Aniceto) – Palazzo Altemps
  • Main altar in the Church of Sant’Eusebio
  • Main alter in the Church of Sant’Anastasia
  • Side altar of St. Philip Neri in the Church of Santa Maria in Vallicella