PhD Program in Historical studies
The Church of the Santi Apostoli and the Filomarino chapel
The place where the presence of Ascanio Filomarino in Baroque Naples is most certainly the church of the Santi Apostoli (Holy Apostles). Located in the largo of the same name, the church is one of the finest examples of Baroque style in Naples. Although its origins are traditionally identified with the Middle Ages, the earliest records of its structure date from the sixteenth century, when the Theatine fathers undertook a major renovation of it. The work was directed, starting in 1611, by great architects such as Francesco GrimaldiFrancesco Grimaldi (1543-1630) was an architect, a native of Lucania. A Theatine friar, he created significant works in Naples, including the Church of the Santi Apostoli (Holy Apostles), and also worked at the Chapel of the Treasury in the Cathedral., Giovanni Giacomo di ConfortoGiovanni Giacomo Conforto or di Conforto (1569-1630) was an architect who designed some of the most famous churches of Naples. Many of his works, however, were completed by other artists, above all Cosimo Fanzago. Of late Mannerist training, he contributed greatly to the development of the Neapolitan Baroque. Among his most important works were the churches of Santa Maria della Verità (Saint Mary of Truth) and Santa Teresa degli Scalzi (Saint Teresa of the Discalced) and the cloister of Monte Oliveto. He worked with Fanzago on the Chapter house of San Martino. and Bartolomeo PicchiattiBartolomeo Picchiatti (1571-1643) was a prominent architect who left his mark in many corners of Naples. A native of Ferrara, he lived most of his life and died in Naples. Among his pupils was his son, Francesco Antonio.. The building was restored several times after some damage, has a bare façade, coated with plaster. It has a Latin cross, with a united nave covered by a barrel vault, four chapels on each side and semicircular apse. Inside, there are frescoes by Giovanni LanfrancoBorn near Parma, Giovanni Lanfranco (1582-1647) worked closely with the Carracci and Guido Reni among Roma and Parma, linking Baroque ideas and Classical themes. His stay in Naples was important (1634-1646), where he worked in key places such as the Chapter house of San Martino, the Church of the Gesù and the Chapel of San Gennaro in the Cathedral, representing a model in the transition from Caravaggio’s school to the great flourishing of the Neapolitan Baroque. such as The Martyrdom of Saint John the Evangelist and The Prophets and Patriarchs, but the works of other artists such as Francesco SolimenaFrancesco Solimena, called l’Abate Ciccio (1657-1747) was a painter and architect, one of the leading exponents of the late Baroque in Italy. Trained in his father’s workshop, he showed initially proximity to Luca Giordano and Mattia Preti. His adherence to Baroque style became evident after 1680. His most famous work is probably the Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple (1725). While working for the major European courts he rarely left Naples. Ferdinando Sanfelice and Domenico Antonio Vaccaro were among his pupils., Dionisio LazzariDionisio Lazzari (1617-1689) was a Neapolitan Baroque architect and sculptor. He was mainly a skilled worker and decorator of marble., Paolo De Matteis and Francesco De MuraThe Neapolitan Francesco de Mura (1696-1782) was trained in Francesco Solimena’s studio. The influence of the Neapolitan Baroque school of Solimena and Luca Giordano is evident in his rich artistic production, which affected the eighteenth century Neapolitan art. are also worthy of note. The sacristy, in a middle Baroque style, contains a bust of Gennaro FilomarinoFerrante Filomarino, called Gennaro (1591-1650), was one of the brothers of Cardinal Ascanio. A Theatine, he was appointed Bishop of Calvi in 1642. A bust of him, by Giuliano Finelli, is preserved in the Church of the Santi Apostoli (Holy Apostles) in Naples. by Giuliano FinelliFrom Carrara, Giuliano Finelli (?-1653) was a sculptor, active mainly in Rome and Naples. He collaborated with Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Between 1636 and 1646 he created the bronze statues of patron saints in the Chapel of the Treasury of San Gennaro.. The crypt, also dating back to the seventeenth century, was painted by Belisario CorenzioBelisario Corenzio (1558-1646) was an Italian painter. Of Greek origin, he adorned major Neapolitan churches with frescoes and altarpieces, but he also worked in Cassino and Salerno. A Mannerist painter influenced by the Romans and Venetians, he did espouse the innovations introduced in the kingdom of Naples by the followers of Caravaggio. He died tragically following a fall from a scaffold in the church of Saints Severino e Sossio (Severinus and Sossius), where he is buried. and holds the remains of the poet Giambattista Marino.
The inauguration and consecration of the Filomarino Chapel, commissioned by the archbishop who wanted to export the art and the taste of the Roman court of Urban VIII in Naples dates back to 1647. The majestic altar of the chapel, the only Neapolitan work (even if it was started in Rome from 1638) by Francesco Borromini confirms this. Other great sculptors such as François DuquesnoyBorn in Brussels, François Duquesnoy (1597-1643) was trained at home with his father, then moved to Rome in 1618. He collaborated on Bernini’s baldachin in Saint Peter’s, and soon entered the Roman classicist milieu in which he became well known. A friend of Nicolas Poussin, he became famous for the great statues, dating back to the thirties, of Saint Andrew in Saint Peter’s and of Saint Susanna in Santa Maria di Loreto (Saint Mary of Loreto). His depictions of cherubs are also famous., Andrea BolgiOriginally from Carrara, Andrea Bolgi (1605-1656) was trained in Tuscany, but soon moved to Rome. He entered Bernini’s circle, with whom he worked in Saint Peter’s, and whose influence is also evident in the works that he executed in Naples, after 1640. A talented sculptor, the summit of his art is represented by busts and portraits., Gabriello BrunelliGabriello Brunelli (1615-1682) was born in Bologna, but lived for a time in Rome, where he was a pupil of Alessandro Algardi. He returned later to Bologna, where he left many examples of his mastery in his hometown but also worked elsewhere, for example in Verona, Padua, Modena, Naples and Cremona., Giuliano Finelli and Giulio MencagliaGiulio Mencaglia (1615/20-1649) was an artist born in Carrara but active mainly in Naples in the Baroque period. were involved in it. The mosaic artist Giovan Battista Calandra was another one of the artists chosen by the archbishop to decorate the altar.