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Through Death to Heaven
from PJR Portfolio
by pjrmaya
The cieling of the Chigi Chapel is a dome inspired by St. Peter’s and the Pantheon. contains eight frescos. Eight symbolizing the number of eternal life. Agogostino was a strong beleiver of astrology and Raphael complied his patron with a strong mix of pagan and Christian symbolism.
The sculpture of Jonah (above) and Elijah were made by Lorenzetto based off of sketches from Raphael.
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Paganism + Christianity
To understand the symbolism within the Chigi Chapel is to know Agostino Chigi, the initial funder of the chapel and patron of Raphael. Agostino was a devote Catholic, friendly with popes and cardinals and manager of the church’s accounts. He was also a devote student of astronomy and believer in the fortune of the stars. Therefore, the dome ceiling of the Chigi Chapel, reminiscent of a smaller St. Peter’s Basilica uniquely contains both Christian and pagan symbolism. Based on sketches from Raphael in the center of the oculus, stands God in the act of creation. And in the eight mosaics surrounding him representation of the known planets and zodiac symbols. The octagon chapel repeats sets of eight, the number of eternal life, throughout its contents.
References
ARoadRetraveled. “Angels and Demons Tour: EARTH (St. Maria del Popolo) part 2. June 22, 2009. Accessed May 1, 2022. https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=CZJDf_UiMqA&t=23s.
Buer, Linda. “Bernini’s Organ- Case for S. Maria del Popolo.” Volume 62, p 115-123. New York: Taylor a& Francis, 1980.
Dickerson, Claude Douglas III, Anthony Sigel and Ian Wardropper. Bernini: Sculpting in Clay. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2012.
CHIGI CHAPEL
S. Maria del Popolo
Rome, Italy
1507-1661
Raphael and Gian Lorenzo Bernini
The floor of the Chigi Chapel is centered around a winged skeleton holding the family crest of the Chigi family. This floor was completed by Bernini and embodies the chapel’s theme of resurrection with its Latin inscription “through death to heaven.”
DiFuria, Arthur Nagel and Ian Verstegen. Space, Image, and Reform in Early Modern Art: the Influence of Marcia Hall. Kalamazoo: Medieval Institute Publications, 2021.
Shearman, John. “The Chigi Chapel in S. Maria del Popolo.” Volume 24. London: The Warburg Institute, 1961.
