Art In Rome: May 2012

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Cristoforo Roncalli (il Pomarancio)

The Punishment of the Couple Ananias and Saphira
St Peter's

Cristoforo Roncalli (il Pomarancio) c. 1553 - 1626

Cristoforo Roncalli was a painter and draftsman, and one of three Painters who worked in Rome under the name il Pomarancio, (Cristoforo Roncalli, Niccolò Circignani (1520-1597) and Antonio Circignani (1570-1630).

He was born in Pomarance, near Volterra and trained in Florence. In around 1582 Roncalli moved to Sienna with commissions from Ippolito Agostini to paint an altarpiece for the cathedral and decorate the Agostini Palace.

He was first documented in Rome in 1582 collaborating with Niccolò Circignani at San Marcello with frescoes in the oratory of the Crocefisso. During 1585-86 he worked on the frescoes in Santa Maria in d'Arcoeli and in 1588 he became a member of the Accademia di San Luca.

In 1596 he began working in the chapel of Saint Filippo Nero in Chiesa Nuova then in 1597 Pope Clement VIII commissioned him with the decoration of San Giovanni in Laterano and Saint Peter's Basilica where he collaborated with Giuseppe Cesari.

He died in Rome in 1626.

Cristoforo Roncalli Art in Rome
Oratory of the Crocefisso San Marcello
Discovery and Exaltation of the True Cross
Santa Maria d'Arcoeli (Mattei and Valli Chapels)
Passion of Christ
Life of St Paul
Chiesa Nuova (chapel of St Filippo Neri)
Life of St Filippo Neri
San Giovanni in Laterano (transept)
Baptism of Constantine and St Simon
Saint Peter's Basilica (Clementine Chapel)
designed the mosaic decoration
Chiesa dei Santi Nereo e Achilleo
St Domitilla with St Nereus Achilleus
Santa Maria degli Angeli
Sant'Andrea della Valle
San Silvestro in Capite
San Carlo al Corso
San Giacomo in Augusta
San Pietro in Vincoli
Santa Maria della Scala
Santa Maria della Consolazione
San Giovanni Decollato

Helpful Hints

Getting Around

I found walking Rome was the best way to see everything.

The metro, trams and buses are also an easy and cheap option.

Buses and the metro can get crowded. Tickets must be bought before boarding and validated.

Beware of pickpockets.

Buses 40 (express) and 64 start at Termini and end near Saint Peter's, traveling past places of interest, returning the same way.

Some stops along the 64 route are:

Repubblica

Piazza Venezia

Via Nazionale

Corso Vittorio Emanuele II

Bus 75 takes you past the Colosseum to Trastevere

Bus 910 takes you to Villa Borghese

Ticket Options

€1.50 B.I.T (Biglietto Integrato a Tempo) is the standard ticket valid for one metro, unlimited tram or bus rides within 100 minutes.

€7.00 B.I.G ( Biglietto Integrato a Giornaliero) is a daily ticket valid for unlimited metro, tram, bus and train travel within Rome.

Purchasing Bus and Metro tickets.

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Large fines apply to travelers not holding or validating their ticket. Tickets once validated start from the time they have been stamped.

✾

These are a few of my favourite books about Rome

The Cardinal's Hat by Mary Hollingsworth

This book tells the story of one of the sons of Lucrezia Borgia who became a cardinal during the 16th century.

The Tigress of Forli by Elizabeth Lev

I love this book telling the story of Caterina Sforza who was fighting against the Borgia pope to retain the rights of her land and her freedom.

The Popes by John Julius Norwich

A detailed but easy and enjoyable book to read about the history of the papacy and the popes.

The Pope's Daughter by Caroline P Murphy

This book describes in beautiful detail, the life and times of Pope Julius II daughter, Felice della Rovere.

The Families Who Made Rome by Anthony Majanlahti

I love this Book! It explains the families who made Rome what it is as we see it today and also looks at their triumphs, scandals and failures.

Rome by Robert Hughes

This book explains Rome from its beginning and expands on the Renaissance and Baroque until present times.

The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr

Another of my favourite reads about a lost Caravaggio painting and the search for its provenance.

other sites I trust for information on Rome are:

Rome Art Lover

Churches of Rome wiki