S. Andrea Quirinale

S. Andrea Quirinale Entrance

S. Andrea Quirinale is a Roman Catholic Church built in Rome, Italy and finished in 1670. The Designer was Gian Lorenzo Bernini who was commission in the year 1658 to design the architecture in such a small space. Using the method of a giant order of architecture Bernini hides the fact that the church is relatively small, but creates a large façades that makes you forget that the Church is small. He uses movement on the stairs to prepare who ever is entering and makes the stairs elevate the church up and it leads towards two giant pilaster that are beside the main entrance of the Church. Again this is to make the view or who ever is entering forget the size of the building.

When you enter the church you can notices the church takes an oval shape plan opening more on the left and the right and you can see how much Bernini introduces light in the space.

                                                 

Floor Plan

Looking towards the Altar he does an amazing trick in which he lightens up the space with a light you can’t see. Two columns on the sides that are made out of mottled marble surround the altar. From the ceiling there is an oval shaped opening that brings in natural light or it can be electric that people can’t usually see. With in the space the light goes down and hits against a group of angels that are made out of stucco, gold, and bronze that seems like it’s holding up a painting of the Martyrdom of Saint Andrew. 

The Altar

The illustration/story continues because of a white statue that is placed on top of the Altar that represents Saint Andrew ascending to heaven.

Another amazing feature is how the colors of the columns, pilasters, and stones where more of an earthy color and the colors in the ceiling was mostly white and gold; which represents the color of paradise. In the middle of the church’s ceiling light (lantern) emulates brightly to show the representation that the Holy Spirit is present in the church.

Around the lantern there are white figures (men and boys) made out of stucco who look down upon to give the special moment of how; we the viewer are being observed by the angels above as we the viewer are observing them.

[1]http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/rome-sant-andrea-al-quirinale

[2]Huerta, S. Nexus Netw J (2007) 9: 211. doi:10.1007/s00004-007-0040-3