THE CHURCH OF SAN CALLISTO IN ROME AT THE FIRST OF SEPTEMBER: ARCHITECTURAL INTERVENTIONS AND NEW DECORATION OF NUCCI, SPADARINO AND BILIVERT

In 1608, the Benedictines of St. Paul Outside the Walls obtained the old church of San Callisto in Trastevere, in place of other property transferred to Pope Paul V. Given the condition of decay of the sacred building, attested by a description from that time, they immediately undertook the work for its restoration and decoration which are reconstructed and described here, based on unpublished archival documents. The restoration was led by Orazio Torriani, who designed the new facade and, with a small number of significant actions, changed the entire spatiality of the building. As in other similar cases, the interior was completely reorganized with a new carved and painted ceiling and with new three altarpieces. The Benedictines chose artists with simple modes of expression that would attract the faithful; the main works - the high altarpiece and ceiling - were entrusted the experienced Nucci, while the young artists Bilivert and Spadarino were engaged for the paintings of the side altars, which appear perhaps the most innovative.