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February 24, 2006

Raphael at San Agostino

I'm discovering that living in Rome has unleashed a new favorite pastime: Going to church. Ok - so Sunday morning "alleluia" isn't really my style, but an afternoon stroll to catch a Renaissance masterpiece is becoming more and more satisfying.

San Agostino is a church just around the corner from Piazza Navona. In 1512, Raphael painted one fresco here depicting the prophet Isaiah. It is said that after seeing Michelangelo's work in the Sistine Chapel, Raphael was inspired.

Another famous work of art located here is "The Madonna of Loreto" by Caravaggio (at right). This is a Baroque painting of 1602 showing the Virgin Mary holding Jesus and opening the door to two pilgrims. Loreto is a town in Italy, and it is believed that angels picked up Mary's house from Nazareth and transported it to Loreto where it still sits today.

Posted by Kelsea  at 7:59 AM | Permalink

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