Cerasi Chapel, Baroque chapel in Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome, Italy
The Cerasi Chapel is a Baroque room with marble details in the left part of Santa Maria del Popolo church. It holds two side paintings by Caravaggio and a central altarpiece by Annibale Carracci, each using different artistic methods.
Monsignor Tiberio Cerasi purchased the chapel rights in 1600 and hired architect Carlo Maderno to rebuild the space. The redesign replaced an older chapel with new Baroque construction.
The chapel displays religious subjects central to Catholic faith through its paintings. Visitors see depictions of Saint Peter, Saint Paul, and the Virgin Mary's Assumption, all arranged so that the theological meaning becomes clear through what is shown.
The chapel is located on the left side of the church and receives daylight through a window high on the wall. This natural light helps viewers see the artworks clearly.
The two side paintings by Caravaggio were intentionally designed to be viewed from an angle rather than straight on. This arrangement creates a deliberate visual path that guides the viewer toward the central altarpiece.
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