Chiesa Nuova Rome

 

Early morning view, March  2024

The Chiesa Nuova is another of the great Counter Reformation Roman churches. It is the headquarters of the Oratorians founded by Philip Neri (1515-95). This society of priests and lay brothers is formally called the Congregation of the Oratorians of St Philip Neri. The members do not take formal vows but commit to a particular independent self-governing local community. Brompton Oratory in Kensington, London is an example. 

Pope Gregory XIII recognised the group of Philip Neri as a religious Congregation in 1575 and gave him the church of Santa Maria in Valicella. Philip commissioned Matteo da Citta di Castello and later Martino Longhi the Elder  to rebuild the church. It was consecrated in 1595 but the facade was not finished until 1605.

It is a typical Counter Reformation church with single nave, transepts  and side chapels all focussing on the main altar. St Philip was a local Roman priest and had expected only whitewashed walls. What we see today is one of the most splendid Baroque interiors in Rome through patronage in 1620-90 and the resulting artistic masterpieces. The main altar boasts three paintings by the young Peter Rubens (Madonna with angels, and two of groups of saints).There are major frescos by Pietro da Cortona : the Assumption  in the apse ; the glory of the Trinity in the dome with Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel on the surrounding pendentives; the vision of St Philip Neri while building the church over the nave.

Assumption fresco in the apse by Pietro da Cortona

Dome  Creative Commons dvdbramhall

Another organ I was unable to play...

Pendentive showing Isaiah

'St Philip's vision of the Virgin' by Cortona. It recounts a dream of St Philip's,
 in which he sees the church roof about to collapse, and the Virgin Mary appears and holds the splintered beams aloft. Creative Commons Lawrence OP