On 15 November 2016, Rome authorities announced they were searching for vandals who broke the left tusk the previous Sunday night and left the piece nearby. The elephant is sculpted from black volcanic rock and has a granite obelisk mounted on top.Vaccarini stumbled upon the elephant in the city ruins following the earthquake of 1693. Meet your group in the Piazza della Minerva, where you’ll discover Bernini’s famed Elephant and Obelisk statue. The Obelisk at Santa Maria Sopra, originally part of a pair, is dated to the reign of pharaoh Apries (r. 589-570 BCE) in the 26th Dynasty of Egypt, or Saite Period (664-525 BCE). Meet your group in the Piazza della Minerva, where you’ll discover Bernini’s famed Elephant and Obelisk statue. RES: Popham, A. E. ‘Bernini’s Drawings of Elephants’. 2012. Between 1797 and 1814, during the French occupation of Rome, the convent was used as infantry barracks, which led to serious damage. Visit the best-preserved monument of Ancient Rome on a guided tour of the Pantheon, and marvel at its oculus in the stunning dome. However, he ordered a new marble block from Pisa which was to arrive on the first boat. All santa maria sopra minerva posters are produced on-demand using archival inks, ship within 48 hours, and include a 30-day money-back guarantee. View against the façade of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, The second Obelisk [of the pair of the Elephant and Obelisk], Urbino, L'Italia. It had probably been brought to Rome in the first century AD for the temple to the Egyptian goddess Isis that was located there. The basilica has its name because it was built directly over the ruins of foundations of a temple dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis, which had been ascribed to the Greco-Roman goddess Minerva. For the last 6 years I live in the Eternal City. There are two Marian scenes, the Annunciation and the Assumption; over the altar is his St Thomas showing Cardinal Carafa to the Blessed Virgin, and on the right-hand wall his Glory of St Thomas. It was unveiled in 1667 in the Piazza della Minerva in Rome, adjacent to the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, where it stands today. The elephant was probably executed by his assistant Ercole Ferrata, while the Egyptian obelisk was uncovered during nearby excavations. It is located right next to the Pantheon behind Bernini’s elephant obelisk statue. The image possibly originated from the Hypnerotomachia Polyphili of 1499. The Risen Christ, Cristo della Minerva in Italian, also known as Christ the Redeemer or Christ Carrying the Cross, is a marble sculpture by Italian High Renaissance master Michelangelo, finished in 1521. ‘Bernini’s Anthropology: A “Key” to the Piazza San Pietro’. The elephant was probably executed by his assistant Ercole Ferrata, while the Egyptian obelisk was uncovered during nearby excavations. Nothing came of this specific project, but Bernini revived the idea in the 1660s, when Pope Alexander VII, Fabio Chigi, wished to build a similar monument after another Egyptian obelisk had been discovered in Rome. “Bernini : Sculpting in Clay : [exhibition, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, October 3, 2012 - January 6, 2013, Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, February 3 - April 14, 2013]. It is likely that the drawings were used so that the patron could make a decision about which design he wanted. Next, venture into the Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, famed for its Renaissance masterpieces. Santa Maria sopra Minerva (Saint Mary above Minerva, Latin: Sancta Maria supra Minervam) is one of the major churches of the Roman Catholic Order of Preachers (Dominicans). And its elephant obelisk in front of the church would be your landmark to find this church. Why is the church called Santa Maria sopra Minerva? The convent of Saint Mary of Minerva remained for about 10 years under the direction of the first Dominican convent of Rome: that of Santa Sabina. The Basilica located right behind the Pantheon in the historical center of Rome. There are many churches in Rome devoted to the mother of Jesus Christ—Santa Maria. The Dominicans caught onto the slight and complained to the pope about the elephant’s position, but Bernini denied any wrongdoing. See more ideas about Santa maria, Rome, Rome italy. Source: This page was last edited on 5 January 2021, at 23:39. Prolific letter writer St. Catherine of Siena is laid to rest here, and Michelangelo's "Christ The obelisk is considered to be one of a pair, the other is in Urbino. Various preparatory drawings done by Bernini exist. The Dominican Santa Maria Sopra Minerva (13th-century) is the only extant example of original Gothic church building in Rome and it is literally packed with treasures. The statue is a sculpture designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. It is the shortest of the eleven Egyptian obelisks in Rome and is said to have been one of two obelisks moved from Sais, where they were built during the 589 BC-570 BC reign of the pharaoh A… The idea of this monument draws on Bernini’s Elephant for the Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome. At the beginning of the 14th century, the Dominican reality became one of the most significant in Rome and welcomed more than fifty brothers. Splendid Blue Vault & St. Catherine of Siena Hidden behind an austere façade on the Piazza della Minerva, is a breathtaking church with a glorious blue vault ceiling. The stucco ceiling was made in 1573 by Marcello Venusti. However, when the friars of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva were digging a new foundation in 1665, they uncovered an obelisk. Choose your favorite santa maria sopra minerva designs and purchase them as wall art, home decor, phone cases, tote bags, and more! Elephant and Obelisk is a statue of an elephant carrying an obelisk, designed by the Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Discover Santa Maria sopra Minerva Flood Markers in Rome, Italy: Plaques on its facade commemorate the Tiber's most destructive deluges. All santa maria sopra minerva artwork ships within 48 hours and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. Small in size, Santa Maria Sopra Minerva packs a large punch. One version in Windsor Castle, UK was probably done in the 1630s when Cardinal Francesco Barberini wished to place an Egyptian obelisk in front of his family palace, the Palazzo Barberini. The monument to the guardians of Pope Clement VIII, Salvestro Aldobrandini and Luisa Dati, is by Giacomo della Porta. The “Risen Christ” was finally finished in 1521 and transported to Rome. This chapel contains the Federico Barocci altarpiece portraying the Communion of the Apostles. Book your tickets online for Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, Rome: See 1,864 reviews, articles, and 1,399 photos of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, ranked No.63 on Tripadvisor among 2,067 attractions in Rome. Obelisk at the Piazza della Minerva, Rome. It was unveiled in 1667 in the Piazza della Minerva in Rome, adjacent to the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, where it stands today. It was unveiled in February 1667 in the Piazza della Minerva in Rome, adjacent to the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, where it stands nowadays. Napier, David A. The Order picked up control of the convent once again in 1815, only for it to be expropriated by the Italian government in 1870. It was consecrated in 1611. It was introduced in 1493, and is additionally known as the Chapel of St Thomas Aquinas. 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