Saints, prophets and gods

Saints, prophets and gods

Bernini’s Habakkuk and the Angel, meaning the story of a mysterious journey into the lion’s den

Saints, prophets and gods

Hercules – a fearless but rather dull protector of Rome

Saints, prophets and gods

Raphael’s Isaiah – how one great artist imitated another

Saints, prophets and gods

Saint Agnes (Sant’Agnese) – a favorite of the Romans – an unbroken virgin

Saints, prophets and gods

Saint Balbina (Santa Balbina) – patroness of the stuttering and… not only

Saints, prophets and gods

Saint Bibiana (Santa Bibiana) – uncompromising Roman girl, whipped to death

Saints, prophets and gods

Saint Cecilia (Santa Cecilia) – twice miraculously found and equally miraculously kept in everlasting youth

Saints, prophets and gods

Saint Eustochium (368–419) – a virgin through and through

Saints, prophets and gods

Saint Mary Magdalene – a phantom figure brought to life out of ignorance, self-interest, and ill will

Saints, prophets and gods

Saint Petronilla (Santa Petronilla) – a virgin and a betrothed of Christ

Saints, prophets and gods

Saint Prisca (Santa Prisca) – three saints for the price of one

Saints, prophets and gods

Saint Sabina (Santa Sabina) – an enigmatic saint from the Aventine

Saints, prophets and gods

Saint Andrew (Sant’Andrea) – holy apostle with a centuries-old visit in the Eternal City

Saints, prophets and gods

Saint Jerome (between 331 and 347 – 420) – „Romans hide your daughters because Jerome is coming”

Saints, prophets and gods

Saint Hippolytus (Sant’Ippolito) – neophyte and a patron of prison guards

Saints, prophets and gods

Saint Sabbas the Sanctified (San Saba) – an uncompromising Palestinian proponent of Rome

Saints, prophets and gods

Saint Stephen (Santo Stefano) – a companion in the cult of St. Lawrence

Saints, prophets and gods

Saint Lawrence (San Lorenzo) – a favorite of the Romans; intercessor of those suffering in the fires of hell

The Temptation of St. Francis – a lesson in the taming of the senses

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The Temptation of St. Francis – a lesson in the taming of the senses

It is not often that we can discover such artistically excellent, moving, and at the same time sensual and sexual works within church interiors. The protagonist of the aforementioned painting is Francis of Assisi – a saint who often appears in Catholic iconography during the post-Trent period – a humble monk, venerated for his noble life, spent in poverty. However, here we see him in an exceptional scene, in which he unveils his human needs, and at the same time struggles against them. This is a warning and a message all in one – how to control one's senses in the face of tem...

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Cardinal Bernardino Spada (1594–1661) – a dream about the grandeur of his own family

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Cardinal Bernardino Spada (1594–1661) – a dream about the grandeur of his own family

Cardinal Spada was a sensible and trustworthy man – diligent and intelligent, he climbed the ladder of a Church career slowly and reasonably. He had great ambitions, although ultimately he was unable to sit upon the papal throne. But he never stopped thinking about it and all his actions, focused on bringing his insignificant in the Eternal City family into the ranks of the black aristocracy, served this purpose. Who was then, this diligent and private official with extraordinary ambitions?

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Chapel del Monte di Pietà – a bombastic symbol of the struggle against usury

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Chapel del Monte di Pietà – a bombastic symbol of the struggle against usury

There is a place in Rome that can be visited only once a year. It is found in an inaccessible palace that currently belongs to a bank, but in the past was connected to an organization that had very little to do with a bank. This place is almost overbearing with its decorativeness, but at the same time, it captivates us with its exquisite selection of materials and the virtuosity of the works of art adorning it. The only surprising fact is that the chapel in question was created for a small number of members of a charitable organization that struggled against usury and brought help to the needy...

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