Art & Architecture Visit to Baroque Churches

The final Art & Architecture on-site class of the Spring '08 semester took place on Wednesday 30 April as students headed to the Quirinal Hill for a visit to three of Rome's most spectacular Baroque Churches.

Study began at the church of Santa Maria della Vittoria, where students, led by Art & Architecture Professor Laura Flusche, made an up-close examination of the Cornaro Chapel, designed by Gianlorenzo Bernini in the middle of the 1600s. In particular, UD students were asked to think about Bernini's sculpture of Saint Teresa in Ecstasy and the ways in which Bernini's work convinces its audience that they are having the extraordinary experience of seeing a saint experiencing transverberation.

From Santa Maria della Vittoria, the group walked down the Quirinal Hill and paid a visit to the church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane. Designed by Bernini's great rival, Francesco Borromini, the church exemplifies the principles of Baroque architecture as well as the fundamental differences between the work of Borromini and that of Bernini.

Then it was back to Bernini! A quick stroll took the group to the church of Sant'Andrea al Quirinale for another view of Bernini's work.

Back to main news page.