Sacrestia di Solimena, Baroque fresco cycle in San Paolo Maggiore Basilica, Naples, Italy

The Sacrestia di Solimena is the sacristy of the Basilica di San Paolo Maggiore in Naples, its walls and vault covered by Francesco Solimena's frescoes of about 1689. On the two end walls hang signed, dated panels, 8 by 4 metres: the Fall of Saint Paul (1689) and the Fall of Simon Magus (1690). Lorenzo Vaccaro made the gilded stucco frames in 1687.

The frescoes were begun in 1689, commissioned by the Carafa family, descendants of Pope Paul IV, founder of the Theatine order. Tommaso Carafa was superior of the basilica and Giovanni Pietro Carafa appears in the payments to Solimena. Archbishop Antonio Pignatelli, later Pope Innocent XII, paid the first 1,000 ducats to bind the painter to the commission; the total came to about 6,000 ducats.

The four founders of the Theatine order appear in gilded stucco medallions below the side compartments: Saint Cajetan of Thiene, Paul IV (Gianpietro Carafa), Boniface de' Colli and Paul Consiglieri. The Carafa family, descended from Paul IV, commissioned the cycle, and the painted programme honours Saints Peter and Paul, the order's patrons.

The space is located inside the basilica and requires a careful upward gaze and attention to the walls. Plan time to study the painted details slowly, especially in natural light during the day.

The total fee paid to Solimena came to about 6,000 ducats, and the first 1,000 were advanced by Antonio Pignatelli, then Archbishop of Naples and later Pope Innocent XII, to bind the painter to the project. The Carafa family, descended from Pope Paul IV, commissioned the cycle.