Documentary

Historical

Research on Faith

Through Religious

Art/Architecture

By:

ESMILIO, HAZEL MAY K.

MERCADO, DIANE TRICIA D.

QUIAMBAO, AMINA FATIMA D.

Location

Left side of the Circus of Nero, where St. Peter was crucified, Vatican City, Rome

St. Peter’s Basilica

The premier church of Roman Catholic

Christendom

Year 324 Constantine gave place to a basilica to built over St. Peter’s tomb. It stood for a century until it verge on collapse. It was constructed during 1450-1626 (176 yrs).

Giuliano da Sangallo plan for St Peter's

Florence, Uffizi, Gabinetto Disegni e Stampe, 7A

Floorplan of Old St Peter's with the presentbasilica superimposed, by TiberioAlfarano, 1570

Architectural styleGothic Style

forms of arches and flying buttress

Central nave Old St. Peter’s bell tower

http://saintpetersbasilica.org/Interior/Nave/Nave.htm

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/rome-st-peters-basilica-photos/slides/1630-painting-by-viviano-codazzi.jpg

Romanesque styleStone barrel vault, thick and heavy walls, thick and heavy

pillars, a transept, sculptured decoration on portals, capitals

and other surfaces

Right transept Door of Death, Portico

Baroque styleThe external facade is often characterized by a dramatic central projection, The interior is often no more than a shell for painting and sculpture

http://www.thestudioarts.com/Assets/Students/Czech/Architecture/StPeter.jpg

TIMELINE

During Nero’s time the

current location of St.

Peter’s Basilica was a

chariot racing stadium

where persecution was

done to the Christians.

After St. Peter’s

persecution he was

buried to a near

cemetery outside the

stadium. That gave

rise to the biggest

basilica that early

Christians have built

during Constantine’s

reign who gave

freedom to Christians

at 313 A.D.

It was during the peak

of Renaissance Pope

Julius II decided to

replace the basilica in

a more magnificent

structure when Pope

Nicholas V failed to

implement his plan of

reconstruction.

The works done in building the basilica was pioneered by notable Michaelangelo, Maderno, Della Porta, and Bernini.

Paintings/Design/Structure

Pieta was created by

Michelangelo when he

was 25. It portrays the

genre of Mother Mary

cradling the dead Christ.

The Pieta is located at

the first chapel in the right

aisle in Saint Peter’s

Basilica.

The Basilica’s Dome

was also designed by

Michelangelo. Its central

apex lies directly over

Saint Peter’s tomb.

A biblical message is

found at the bottom of

the dome. It says: “You

are Peter, and upon this

rock, I will build my

church; I will give you the

keys to heaven.”

The central Balcony is found at the façade

of the Basilica. It is also called the “Loggia

of the Blessings”. It is where the new

pope is announced.

In 1624, Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini began working on the immense bronze baldacchino or canopy for the high altar of Saint Peter’s Basilica directly over the saint’s tomb.

Bernini also built the Altar

of the Chair or Cathedra

Petri, which is the focal

point of the Church. He

started to build it on 1657

and finished it on 1666.Cathedra Petri

Monument to Alexander VII

Bernini’s last work is

the monument to

Alexander VII. It is a

melodramatic style of

a skeleton, holding an

hourglass. It

symbolizes death.

References

Hacker, Jeffrey “Grolier Encyclopedia of Knowledge” pp.249 V 16, 2002

Ringvelski, Shanon, “Let’s Go Rome”, pp. 112-119, 2003

http://saintpetersbasilica.org/Docs/GuideSPB1.htm http://saintpetersbasilica.org/Interior/Nave/Nave.htm http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/rome-st-

peters-basilica-photos/slides/1630-painting-by-viviano-codazzi.jpg

http://www.thestudioarts.com/Assets/Students/Czech/Architecture/StPeter.jpg

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13369b.htm

SETTING TIMELINE HIGHLIGHTS APPLICATIONS

•Left side of the Circus of Nero, where St. Peter was crucified, Vatican City , Rome•Premierechurch of Roman Catholic Christendom•Constructed for 176 years•Architectural style

•Persecution to early Christians•Freedom to early Christians give by Emperor Constantine•Idea of Pope Nicholas V for a new Basilica•Pope Julius decided to replace the basilica to a “more magnificent structure”•Time for the start of Humanism and Renaissance

•Michelangelo’s Pieta•Bernini’s Cathedra Petri•Monument to Alexander VII

• To remind us of the certain events in the life of Jesus Christ and the history of the Church• Renaissance is the time that people discovered that they are created with image and likeness of God.•Art/architecture helps us appreciate more our faith.

That in all things, God may be glorified