Corpus Cosmatorum

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Only a few remains of the three-nave gallery basilica, built by Pope Leo III (795-816) in place of an earlier titulus, can still be recognized in the existing wall structures. The present building and its liturgical furnishings result from a reconstruction carried out in 1475 under Pope Sixtus IV and a refurbishment in 1596-1597, commissioned by the historian and antiquarian Cesare Baronio (1538-1607), titular cardinal of SS. Nereo e Achilleo. Baronio had elements of liturgical furnishings from the 12th and 13th centuries, that had been dismanteled during the post-Tridentine renovations in several Roman churches, transferred into this church and reassembled: These include the two presbytery screens (plutei), the altar front, the fenestella confessionis, parts of the throne with its lions, portions of the opus sectile pavement of the presbytery, and reassembled cosmatesque fragments in the pulpit stairs. The mosaics have been extensively supplemented and renewed. The resulting “pastiche” combines medieval fragments from S. Giovanni in Laterano, S. Giovanni Calibita, S. Silvestro in Capite, S. Paolo fuori le mura, and possibly also from the basilica of SS. Nereo and Achilleo itself.

Abb. 437-NereoedAchilleo_001.JPGDownload
Rom, SS. Nereo ed Achilleo, Ansicht des Presbyteriums (Foto Racz 2016)
© Rácz, Alexander
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Rom, SS. Nereo ed Achilleo, Grundriss (Umzeichnung nach Turco, Il Titulus 1997)
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Rom, SS. Nereo ed Achilleo, Innenraum, Stich Rossini (BHR Fotothek)
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Rom, SS. Nereo ed Achilleo, Altar und Confessio (Foto Racz 2016)
© Rácz, Alexander
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Rom, SS. Nereo ed Achilleo, Kathedra (Umzeichnung nach Turco, Il Titulus 1997)
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Rom, SS. Nereo ed Achilleo, Paviment (Umzeichnung nach Turco, Il Titulus 1997)
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Rom, SS. Nereo ed Achilleo, Altar (Foto Racz 2016)
© Rácz, Alexander
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Rom, SS. Nereo ed Achilleo, südliche Schranke (Foto Klein 2016)
© Klein, Almuth
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Rom, SS. Nereo ed Achilleo, südliche Schranke, Kapitell (Foto Racz 2016)
© Rácz, Alexander
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Taf. 45-NereoedAchilleo_005.jpgDownload
Rom, SS. Nereo ed Achilleo, südliche Schranke, Säulchen (Foto Racz 2016)
© Rácz, Alexander
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Taf. 46-NereoedAchilleo_010.jpgDownload
Rom, SS. Nereo ed Achilleo, Kathedra (Foto Racz 2016)
© Rácz, Alexander
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Taf. 47-NereoedAchilleo_013.jpgDownload
Rom, SS. Nereo ed Achilleo, Kanzel (Foto Racz 2016)
© Rácz, Alexander
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Taf. 48-NereoedAchilleo_014.jpgDownload
Rom, SS. Nereo ed Achilleo, Kanzel, Mosaikfragment an der Treppenwange (Foto Klein 2016)
© Klein, Almuth
BY-NC-SA 4.0
Number in map
87
Church name
SS. Nereo ed Achilleo
Existing
Coordinates
41.88016, 12.49481
Address
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 28
Rione
Ripa (XII)
Nolli's map #
1061
Chronology
12th and 13th centuries (remains of 13th-century Comatesque liturgical furnishings from other churches)
Keywords
Three-aisled basilica, Pope Leo III, Pope Sixtus IV, Cesare Baronio, post-Tridentine modernisation, cosmatesque fragments, opus sectile, fenestella confessionis, lions, pulpit, presbytery plutei, altar frontal, opus sectile, throne, cathedra, mosaic incrustations, pastiche
Research status
Completed
Authors
Rácz, Alexander
PDF download
2D