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The Theodoli Chapel ((イタリア語:Cappella Theodoli)) in the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome is an important monument of Roman Mannerism. Although less known than some of the other side chapels of the same church it is a major work in the oeuvre of Giulio Mazzoni. The chapel opens at the end of the left arm of transept next to the famous Cerasi Chapel. ==History== The construction of the chapel coincides with the renovation of the whole building in the mid-sixteenth century. On 10 December 1552 the Vicar-General of the Lombard Congregation allowed the Augustinians to assign two empty chapels to new holders: one of them was located ''„apud cappella Fusari vulgariter nuncupata la Madonina”'' and it had been requested by Traiano Alicorni, a Milanese nobleman and protonotary apostolic. On 27 June 1553 the chapel was granted to Alicorni, and re-dedicated to Saints Lucy, Nazarius and Celsus. The dedication to the most important martyrs of Milan is easily explained by the origins of the Alicorni family. After the death of Traiano Alicorni the property was inherited by his sons, Fausto and Giovanni Battista who began to build a tomb in memory of their father. Soon, however, the chapel was returned to the Augustinians, who assigned it to Girolamo Theodoli, the Bishop of Cádiz, on 24 December 1569. The two families were linked by their common homeland, Romagna. The new owner employed the same artist, Giulio Mazzoni of Piacenza, who had already been entrusted by the Alicorni, and maintained the original dedication of the chapel with the addition of Saints Jerome, Catherine and John the Baptist. The work on the inner decoration had been started by Traiano Alicorni. He commissioned Giulio Mazzoni in a contract dated to 15 October 1555. The artist undertook the task for the considerable sum of 800 scudi and pledged to finish it within two years. He was still working on it ten years later. Previously the Theodoli Chapel was thought be a late work of Mazzoni but this was disproved by the discovery of the contract. The iconographic themes of the paintings help to differentiate the two commissions: the vault is part of the first phase from the 1550s as well as the two lunettes with the Sibyls and the Prophets. The third lunette with the figure of Saint Jerome should belong to the Theodoli phase like everything else in the lower parts. The marble statue of Saint Catherine on the altar also belongs to the post-1569 phase. Originally the chapel was called Santa Caterina «del Calice» or «del Cadice» to distinguish it from the Chapel of Santa Caterina «del Portogallo» in the right aisle. There are stucco chalices with ribbons and vases on the spandrels and the statue of Saint Catherine was holding up an antique chalice at least until the first quarter of 18th century (now replaced by a bronze palm). The symbol of the chalice alluded to the city of Cádiz and the bishopric. The completion of the Theodoli Chapel could be placed around 1575 because Mazzoni returned to Piacenza in the next year. The chapel was refurbished by Marquis Girolamo Theodoli about 150 years later. The large stucco cartouche above the entrance arch with the coat of arms of the Theodoli family probably belongs to this phase. The paintings were restored and refreshed by Giacomo Triga, the court painter of marquis. The 18th century redecoration is probably related to the Jubilee Year of 1725 but the intervention did not significantly alter the 16th century aspect of the chapel. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Theodoli Chapel (Santa Maria del Popolo)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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