Rome, Italy: Basilica of Saint Praxedes: Transverse Arches of the Central Nave 1
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Authors
Sheppard, Beth M.
Issue Date
19-May-17
Type
Image
Language
Keywords
Italy , Rome , Basilica di Santa Prassede all Esquilino , Basilica of Saint Praxedes , Corinthian Columns , Mosaic Floors , Frescoes
Alternative Title
Abstract
Description
The Basilica of Saint Praxedes (in Italian: Basilica di Santa Prassede, commonly known as Santa Prassede) is a Catholic basilica located in the Rione Esquilino (or district of Esquiline). Esquiline is the name of a Roman hill, one of seven on which the ancient city was built. The church was rebuilt by Pope Pasquale I in 822 CE and was restored multiple times since then. It was built principally as a resting place for the relics of Roman martyrs and was dedicated to the second-century Saint Praxedes, who was the daughter of a Roman senator. Along with her sister, Praxedes provided comfort and care to Christians persecuted in the Roman Empire. The sisters were murdered for burying early Christian martyrs, which defied Roman law. The church is known for being the most important example of early Christian Byzantine art in Rome because of the mosaics decorating its apse and side chapels. The photograph shows the central nave (of three), with large granite Corinthian columns on a mosaic floor. Four of the sixteen original columns, which directly support the entablature, were later incorporated into reinforcement pillars which support three large transverse arches decorated with 17th century frescoes featuring the Apostles and the Passion of Christ. Two of these transverse arches are shown in the photograph. Note the three dimensionality of the frescoes, as shown in the center of the photograph; the figure seems to be stepping out of the column, a perspective which is characteristic of High Italian Renaissance paintings.
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License
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0