Santa Maria Maggiore

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

St Mary Major

Carlo Rainaldi (Italian architect, 1611-1691)

Ferdinando Fuga (Italian architect, 1699 - ca. 1782)

Martino Longhi the Elder (Italian architect, ca. 1534-ca. 1591)

Flaminio Ponzio (Italian architect, ca.1560-1613)

J. J. Olivier, ornaments by Ribault, Julie (French painter, engraver, and etcher, born 1789, active 1810-1826)

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Italy

ca. 420-1750 (creation)

partial section of the chapel and tomb of Sixtus V

partial section of the chapel and tomb of Paul V

plan of the chapel of Sixtus V and detail of a mosaic pavement

plan of the chapel of Paul V and detail of a mosaic pavement, sections

plans

Situated at the end of the Esquiline Hill and formerly known as S Maria ad Praesepem, S Maria Maggiore was traditionally founded by Pope Liberius (reigned 352-366) and financed by Johannes, a rich citizen, after a miraculous summer snowfall. It is more likely, however, that it was founded in the early 5th century by Sixtus III, whose name appears in the mosaics of the triumphal arch in front of the apse. Until the 12th century, when Eugenius III (reigned 1145-1153) built the narthex, work on the church was mainly limited to maintenance. The mosaic decoration of S Maria Maggiore was executed in the 5th and 8th centuries

the earlier scheme, in the Classical tradition, comprises the most important mosaic cycle in Rome of this period. Chapels were added and other changes in subsequent centuries

Longhi and Fuga are responsible for changes to the facade.

line drawings (drawings)

Architectural Documentation

basilicas

churches

religious buildings

plans

sections

Early Christian

Italian

architectural exteriors

architectural interiors

Letarouilly, Paul Marie. Edifices de Rome Moderne. Paris: A. Morel, 1868, 308.

Public Domain

Rainaldi, Carlo

Fuga, Ferdinando

Longhi, Martino, the elder

Ponzio, Flaminio