The Iconology of Old St. Peter's Rome - Assignment Example

The Iconology of Old Saint Peters Rome: Medieval Rome: In the history of Rome, the middle age is known as the dark period.  the political and economic powers shifted towards the north and that caught up the city in its influence. Some noble families in the city where in the continuous struggle to regain the power of Machiavellian politics, although a continuous debate was seen among the church and the emperors and rulers of Europe.1 From this period up to the future the city stands as a symbol of eternal magnitude and ostentation. Because of the controversial issues between emperor and popes, the city had suffered a lot. Rome was very far the huge maritime and commercial states and the general economic progress could not profit it hence.2 Christian Art at Early Ages: Between the 3rd and 7th centuries, art works and buildings were produced for the Christian church. The period of roman art and architecture was of the late second to the seventh century which has been overlapped by it. Not only this but also involves the first three centuries that is fifth to seventh centuries, of Byzantine art and architecture. In 313, by the proclamation of Milan, Christianity was declared as the one of the state religions of Roman Empires, by the Roman emperor Constantine the Great.3 Until that the Christian art was really confined, it was limited to the decoration of catacombs or other hidden places of worship, or titulae the meeting houses, that were than converted to private houses. Roman art had been a role model for the early art, as we have often found in the representations of painting and sculpture, though they were suitably stylized to fit according to the holiness of the religion. 4Christian concepts could be visualized by the division of iconography. As we can see the symbols of Christianity are lamb, a cross, a fish, or some Greek letters combined together as a monogram. A beardless young man had been symbolized as the good Shepherd, the Christ. The derivation of it had been taken from the images in Italy in the 6th century, Apollo and its pagan embodiments. 5 The Basilica: A roman basilica and a hall are required for Christian as being congregational that’s why these both have become the model for all kind of churches. In the 4th and 5th centuries the sites of enormous timber-roofed basilicas were principal shrines. Old Saint Peter’s is well known for this an atrium was often included in the plan or a central hall bordered by side aisles, a porch, a transparent hall, a forecourt or a polygonal apse. For the decorative panels and other columns throughout the pagan spoils were used. Directly over the shrine the altar was set in front of the large arched or domed recess, esp. at the end of a church. Incorporation of the bronze roof tiles from the colonial constructions was done into the new constructions. Comparatively a large number of basilican churches were built which were smaller than those like the Church of Santa Sabina in Rome and the Church of Saint Apollinare in Classe in Ravenna. Old Saint Peter’s in Rome is an excellent example of the basilica and an earliest instance of the Christian architecture. It started beginning in 333 AD and in 16th century Pope Julius II ordered to demolish it to make way for the new Saint Peter’s. Old Saint Peter’s had a long central aisle based on the shape of Latin cross, and a crossing to it that was transparent in front of the church. The construction of Old Saint Peter’s was commissioned by the Roman Emperor Constantine in the 306 to 307 AD, after the legalization of Christian religion as a public hall and a church.6 Saint Peter: According to the Biblical Book of the Acts of the Apostles, in the second quarter of the first century AD, Jesus had the twelve disciples, after the Jesus crucifixion of Christ, one of them was a fisherman from Gelilee, Simon, normally known as Peter. Among the Jesus Followers, Peter took the position as a leader. He is significantly known among the founders of Christian Church. In Latin peter is known as Petrus and in Greek it is Petros. Petros is derived from a Greek word Petra meaning rock or stone. According to the King James Version of Gospel of Matthew, the words have been recorded that were spoken to the Peter by Jesus, "And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church". For a very long time, as a tradition, it has been believed that Peter did his services there for thirty years and then shifted to Rome where he had put to death as a martyr.7 From the conventional tales it comes into knowledge that in 64 AD, Peter was executed, that was the era of Roman emperor Nero. In that reign martyrdoms of many Christians happened who were the followers of the Great Fire of Rome, and his martyr was one of them. In the Circus of Nero, near the obelisk, by his own request, he was said to have been crucified head downwards. This obelisk is now held in deep affectionate or religious respect as a witness and stands in Saint Peter’s Square. This obelisk is one of the several obelisks of Rome before the fall of the Roman Empire in the West.8 Just outside the circus, have been buried the Peter’s remains across the Via Cornelia from the Circus, on the Mons Vaticanus, which is merely 150 meters from the death’s place of Peter. The Via Cornelia had been known with some other name to the Romans before the fall of the Roman Empire in the West. This is the road on the land along the north wall of the circus that ran east to west. This is now covered by the Saint Peter’s Square Basilicas southern portion. Red rock is the symbolic of Peter’s name, so initially his grave was marked simply of that. But this mark does not contain any meaning for the non Christians. After few years a shrine was constructed on that site. And Old saint Peter’s Basilica was created after almost three hundred years. Throughout the Christianity, the exact location of Peter’s grave was possibly considered by the Christians, as that had been very important to them, so it is possible that true location of his grave is the traditional location. 9 Old St. Peters: Old saint Peter’s was the first Basilica in Rome of Saint Peters. It was a basilican plan church with five aisles. at the west end of which was the apse transept which was constructed by the order of Roman emperor Constantine between AD 326 and 333and took almost thirty years to complete. St. Peters is a famous name among churches and is popular for its many features that include proportioned arcades along with a middle obelisk in addition to two matching spouts. That is how among the Berninis work, it is considered the best. A slim Borgo area was in the closing of the square. In 1586, Carlo Fontana erected Egyptian obelisk, and there was no other orientation other than a fountain. Bernini’s connected two squares for the accomplishment of this project and it was the masterpiece of him. The first one was like a big oval. 10 The enter through of the church was the entrance hall which was known as paradise and all around were the gardens having fountains. The reception area or the entrance hall provided the five doors which lewd to the body of the church. At the end of the central hall was the bow having the medley of St Peter among with Constantine in which he was presenting his church model to the Christ. The walls of the aisles were clerestory, each having eleven windows. Each window had painting done in water-color on a wall or ceiling before the plaster is dry of prophets, apostles, patriarchs and Old and New Testaments scenes. Though this Old Saint Peter’s been demolished in the 16th century and was reformed into the new Saint Peter’s.11 The Latin name of Basilica of Saint Peter is Basilica Sancti Petri, In Italy, officially it is known as Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano and the common name of the Basilica of Saint Peter is St. Peter’s Basilica. Saint Peter’s Basilica is enjoying a great position among all religious buildings as being a holiest site and "the greatest of all churches of Christendom", located in the Vatican City. This basilica is the namesake Saint Peter, he was one among the twelve apostles of Jesus, and this basilica is the burial site of him. Saint Peter, according to the customs was the later first Bishop of Rome and the first Bishop of Antioch. Among the process of following in order of a pope or the papacy, Saint Peter stood first. Though this is the most famous church of the Rome, still according to the ranks it doesn’t enjoys the first position, and this honor is being grasped by the Basilica of St. John Lateran of pope’s Cathedral Church.12 There are four major and well known Basilicas of Rome, Basilica of St. Rome is one of them. The four major ones are: Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica of St. John Lateran St. Paul outside the Walls St. Peter’s Basilica13 The most important and significant building in the vicinity of Vatican City is St. Peter’s Basilica. In the skyline of Rome, the most dominant feature of the St. Peter’s Basilica is its Dome. The church covered the area of 2.3 hectares and no doubt can be called as largest church in the Christianity. It has the largest capacity to accommodate people and it is 60,000 people. According to the catholic conventions it is the burial site of Saint Peter, its name sake. He was one among the twelve apostles of Jesus, was the later first Bishop of Rome and the first Bishop of Antioch according the catholic traditions of Roman. Among the process of following in order of a pope or the papacy, Saint Peter stood first. Though the presence of Peter or His martyrdom is not confirmed by the New Testament, but according to the catholic conventions Peter’s tomb lies under the altar and baldachin. Many popes, have been buried there for the same reason. The new St. Peter’s construction started at April 18, 1506 and accomplished in 1626.14 Begun by the emperor Constantine, Old St. Peters Basilica was the fourth century church, built between AD 326 and 333. The typical balisical Latin cross form is found in Old Saint Peter’s especially when we go through its apsidal end at the part of a church near the altar, a broad central part of a church on either side having the two aisles. A large colonnaded reception hall is comprised by the entrance and the church is almost 103.6 meters long.15 By the traditional cathedral thoughts, it is believed that the church is constructed over the shrine of its namesake, Saint Peter, the place has been thought of his burial place. Most of the popes from the times of Saint Peters up to 15th century have been buried there and it also included the large number of other memorials. Since the New Testament has been built up, the name Old Saint Peter’s refers to the old building that is the predecessor, in order that the two buildings remain distinguished. The Plan to Rebuild: During the period of Avignon Papacy, the Old basilica had been badly neglected by the end of 15th century and was in bad repair. Pope Nicholas of the era 1447-1455 was the first pope who considered rebuilding of the Old basilica, in fact had done some radical changes to it. Rossellino was assigned the task of designing an entirely different plan for the new basilica; work on the old building commissioned from Leone Battista Alberti and Bernardo Rossellino an extreme modification of the old building was desired. But actually the ruling era of him was badly frustrated by the political problems, so not much of the work could be done and at the time of his death just little achievements have been seen. However one major task had been done by him that is from the Rome Colosseum 2,522 cartload of stones had been transported. In those days the rumors were that that is a bad omen for them who try to interfere with Saint Peter’s, for the glorification of Rome and own self increasing power undoubtedly, as the decision was intended to destroy and replace the ancient buildings with the grander and thus changing and interfering the heritage. The death of Nicholas V was also result of such interference. But the Pope Julius II, of the era 1505, failed to heed such warnings. At the Uffizi Gallery a competition was set and a lot of designs were survived there. A succeeding of heads of the Roman Catholic Church and designers of buildings went along in the coming 120 years, and the combined efforts of them all have been resulted and can be seen in the form of a new building. This scheme which was initially set by Julius II carried on through a series of reigns and that was from 1513 to 1521, Leo X, from 1522 to 1523 Hadrian VI, from 1523 to 1534 Clement VII, from 1534 to 1549 Paul III, from 1559 to 1565 Pius IV, from 1565 to 1572 Pius V (saint), from 1572 to 1585 Gregory XIII, from 1585 to 1590 Sixtus V, 1590 Urban VII, from 1590 to 1591 Gregory XIV, 1591 Innocent IX, from 1592 to 1605 Clement VIII, 1605 Leo XI, from 1605 to 1621 Paul V, from 1621 to 1623 Gregory XV, from 1623 to 1644 Urban VIII, from 1644 to 1655 Innocent X 16 Successive Plans: There have been successive plans made for the reconstruction of the Old Saint Peters after the Julius II. The most significant of which are the following. Bramante’s Plan Raphael’s Plan Michelangelo’s Plan Michelangelo’s plan was extended with the Maderna’s central part of a church and outward appearance.17 Uffizi Gallery in Florence had been remained accommodated with numerous entities for the competition for designs of the reconstruction of the Old Saint Peters as the scheme of the Julius II for the grandest building in Christendom meant to be the subject of competition among heads of the Roman Catholic Church and designers of buildings for a very long period of time. Among all the designs of the designers the design of Bramante was selected finally and in 506 foundation stone was laid for it. This plan was inspired by the huge temples of the Rome having grand domes, circular temples the pantheon, and was the form of the Greek cross. But the Bramante’s plan differed to pantheon in the sense that in it the huge and enormous domes were supported by the continuous walls, but the Bramante’s plan suggested that the domes of the new basilica will be supported by the four piers only, and in the ultimate design, this feature was maintained. Bramante’s plan dome was almost very similar to he Early Renaissance lantern Florence cathedral that was designed by Michelozo for the Brunelleschis dome but the little difference was that Bramante’s plan dome was to be crowned by lantern with its own small domes 18 According to his plan the central dome of the building at the diagonal axis was supposed to be surrounded by the five lower domes. The large arched or domed recess at the end of the church was to be ended with the equal part of a church near the altar from the west door to the chancel excluding the side aisles and transept arms at each of the two bays. A tower was planed to stand at each corner of the building. The overall plan of the building was thus square. The cardinal points were to be projected by the apses. The semi circular shape of the dome was planed to be squared off with the two large radial buttresses for each large arched or domed recess. 19 After the death of the Pope Julius in 1513, Giuliano da Sangallo, Raphael and Fra Giocondo were made as the replacement of the Bramante. In 1515 Singallo and Giacondo died, and Bramante even died in the preceding year. The only change in the Raphael plan was the five bays in nave and apsidal chappals off the aisles making up a complex row. He also died in 1520. Peruzzi was his successor and he maintained the changes that Raphael had recommended. But the plan failed to go ahead; the reasons were being different difficulties of the church and the state. Antonio da Sangallo known as Sangallo the younger, combined the plans of Bramante’s, Raphael and Peruzzi and submitted his plan. This plan extended the building further with a small central part of a church having a broad outward appearance and colonnade of energetic presentation. For both the decoration and structure his proposal was more elaborative. His practical contribution was supporting the piers of Bramante’s plan which began to crack. Completion: Hence the construction of the New Saint Peter’s started. The completion of this project was done by a number of methods. Giacomo della Porta And Fontana should be credited for the completion of the Dome. The dome was brought to the completion by these both in 1590. This was the last year of the era of Sixtus V. after his was his ancestor Gregory XIV; he made Fontana to complete the lantern. Around its inner opening he had place words inscribed in the honor of Sixtus V. Clement II was the next pope and he raised the cross into the church. This event took the whole day for completion. The whole city and all churches accompanied it by ringing the bells all over. Two lead caskets are placed in the arm of the cross. On of the lead casket contains the true fragrance of the True Cross and the other has Medallions of Holy Lamb. Cracks appeared in the dome in the mid 18th century, in order to protect the church from these cracks four iron chains were placed between the two shells in order to tightly fasten it up. This was done in the shape of a ring which keeps the barrel from bursting, at various times as many as ten chains have been installed. 20 4 rows of Tuscan columns forming 17m long porticos make up the building. It creates three galleries, and widest is the middle one. There are 284 colossal in total and 88 pillars. Alessandro VII’s large coat of arms and many statues of saints are carved above it. There are four bronze lions at the obelisk and its pavement is made up of white stripe of marbles. The pillar is made up of stone and it is quite same to the Christianity ancient times traditions that to have the Caesar ashes in the foundation and remains of the crucifix at the top.21 Bibliography: William W. Clark, Mediavel Cathedrals, Greenwood Publishing Group, (2006) John R. Curran, Pagan City and Christian Capital: Rome in the Fourth Century , UK: Oxford University Press, (2000) Marcia B. Hall, Rome: Artistic Centers of the Italian Renaissance, Cambridge University Press, (2005) Encyclopedia of World Art. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, volume 10 (1959-1968) Academic American Encyclopedia, Grolier Incorporated, volume 17, (1994) Richard Krautheimer, St. Peters and Medieval Rome, Unione internazionale degli istituti di archeologia, storia e storia dellarte in Roma, (1985) Richard Krautheimer, S. Pietro in Vincoli and the Tripartite Transept in the Early Christian Basilica, America: American Philosophical Society, (1941) Read More