Corpus Cosmatorum

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The construction of the medieval basilica on a pre-existing early Christian building is not confirmed. According to tradition, during the papacy of Urban II (1088-1099), the relics of various saints from Palermo were transferred from the Basilica of S. Ninfa in Palermo to S. Maria in Monticelli. The first certain mention of the church, which still exists today, is found in the Liber Pontificalis from the year 1100/01, when Pope Paschal II (1099-1118) consecrated it. It is believed that the basilica was built around 1100, using a heterogeneous set of spolia columns and capitals. All that remains of the 12th-century basilica are the outer walls and the five-storey bell tower, while all that remains of its rich furnishings is a mosaic fragment in the apse depicting the face of Christ and a few other decorative remains. In 1580, there was still a Cosmatesque floor. During the excavation of the pillars of the nave in 1715, a floor was discovered 55 cm below the existing level, made of fragments of serpentine, porphyry, granite, marble, alabaster and breccia, similar to those found in other Roman basilicas. Part of this ancient floor has been preserved near the entrance to the church. During the renovation of the church in 1715/16, traces of frescoes were found in the upper parts of the nave.

Abb. 272-MariainMonticelli_001.tiffDownload
Rom, S. Maria in Monticelli, Fassade und Turm (Foto Claussen 2017)
© Claussen, Peter Cornelius
BY-NC-SA 4.0
Abb. 273-MariainMonticelli_002.tifDownload
Rom, S. Maria in Monticelli, Weihinschrift Innocenz’ II. aus dem Jahr 1143 (Foto Claussen 2017)
© Claussen, Peter Cornelius
BY-NC-SA 4.0
Abb. 274-MariainMonticelli_003.tiffDownload
Rom, S. Maria in Monticelli, Ausschnitt Tempesta-Plan (1593/1603) noch mit den Obergeschossen des Campanile (nach Ehrle 1932)
BY-NC-SA 4.0
Abb. 275-MariainMonticelli_004.tiffDownload
Rom, S. Maria in Monticelli, Apsisdekoration, heutiger Zustand (Romano, Riforma 2006)
BY-NC-SA 4.0
Abb. 279-MariainMonticelli_008.JPGDownload
Rom, S. Maria in Monticelli, Arkadensäule im ersten Pfeiler links (Foto Senekovic 2014)
© Senekovic, Darko
BY-NC-SA 4.0
Abb. 280-MariainMonticelli_009.tifDownload
Rom, S. Maria in Monticelli, Aufmaß der rechten Obergadenmauer außen (nach de Falco/Parisella 1992)
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Abb. 281-MariainMonticelli_010.JPGDownload
Rom, S. Maria in Monticelli, Kranzgesims der rechten Obergadenmauer außen (Foto Claussen 2017)
© Claussen, Peter Cornelius
BY-NC-SA 4.0
Abb. 282-MariainMonticelli_011.tiffDownload
Rom, S. Maria in Monticelli, Turmobergeschosse nach der Restaurierung (Foto Claussen 2015)
© Claussen, Peter Cornelius
BY-NC-SA 4.0
Abb. 283-MariainMonticelli_012.tiffDownload
Rom, S. Maria in Monticelli, Turm vor der Restaurierung, ca. 1910 (Serafini, Torri 1927)
BY-NC-SA 4.0
Abb. 284-MariainMonticelli_013.tiffDownload
Rom, S. Maria in Monticelli, Pavimentrest in der Nische mit dem Taufbecken (Foto Senekovic 2014)
© Senekovic, Darko
BY-NC-SA 4.0
Abb. 285-MariainMonticelli_015.tifDownload
Rom, S. Maria in Monticelli, Christus in der Apsis, Aquarell in Windsor, RL 8972 (nach Osborne/Claridge 1996-1998)
BY-NC-SA 4.0
Abb. 286-MariainMonticelli_016.tiffDownload
Rom S. Maria in Monticelli. Aquarell der Apsismalerei von 1860 mit thronendem Christus (nach Wilpert 1916)
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Abb. 287-MariainMonticelli_017.jpgDownload
Rom, S. Maria in Monticelli, Freskenrest mit Bild eines Papstes an der inneren Eingangswand (Richiello 2005)
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Taf. 27-MariainMonticelli_014.tifDownload
Rom, S. Maria in Monticelli, Mosaiktondo mit Christusfragment in der Apsis (nach Romano, Riforma 2006)
BY-NC-SA 4.0
Number in map
65
Church name
S. Maria in Monticelli
Existing
Coordinates
41.89308, 12.47405
Address
Via di S. Maria in Monticelli
Rione
Parione (VI)
Nolli's map #
737
Chronology
first quarter 12th century
Keywords
medieval basilica, early Christian building, Pope Urban II, relics, Pope Paschal II, spolia columns and capitals, mosaic, cosmatesque floor, frescoes
Research status
Completed
Authors
Claussen, Peter Cornelius
PDF download
2D