The Chapel of Guido Reni: A Hidden Artistic Jewel
In'the palace's east wing, there is a small secret chapel, hidden behind the mirrored door of the Tapestries Room. It is the Cappella dell'Annunziata, or the chapel consecrated to the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary
View of the Chapel of the AnnunciationQuirinale Palace
Conceived of as a secret chapel dedicated to devotion to the Our Lady of the Annunciation, it was installed as a private chapel on the request of Pope Paul V.
Today, the chapel is an isolated testimony to that era, which appears by surprise, and, in all its splendor, simply by opening the mirrored door of the Tapestries Room.
Seventeenth century door with the emblem of Pope Urban VIII Barberini on top (First half of the 17th century)Quirinale Palace
The private nature of Paul V's chapel is shown in the space to the right of the altar, reserved for the pontiff, who was able to access the chapel unobserved directly from two back rooms by means of a small passage, that was inserted inside the right wall of the presbytery.
In the first half of the 17th century, Urban VIII separated the space reserved for the pontiff with a double door with grates painted as fake marble surmounted by the Barberini crest.
The door, which was later removed, was renovated in 2006 and repositioned.
Pius VII Coat of Arms (1815)Quirinale Palace
The only part of the chapel that is not original is the floor, replaced in 1815 on the request of Pope Pio VII Chiaramonti, whose coat of arms is at the center of the geometric design made of splendid colored marble.
Tap to explore
The cappella dell’Annunziata is one of the artistic jewels of the Quirinal Palace. The Pope commissioned Guido Reni, the most respected painter of the time, to produce this splendid series of paintings. Considering the urgency of the task, the painter availed of the help of other artists.
The work was certainly finished by 1611, which was the year when the first religious service took place.
Announcement to Joachim (1609/1611) by Antonio CarracciQuirinale Palace
The frescoes in the chapel are dedicated to stories about the Virgin Mary's life. The large lunettes are filled with illustrations of three stories leading up to the Annunciation, painted on the altarpiece.
The first story is the Annunciation to John.
Nativity of Mary (1609/1611) by Guido ReniQuirinale Palace
The second fresco shows the Virgin Birth.
Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple (1609/1611) by Giovanni LanfrancoQuirinale Palace
The third portrays Presentation of Mary to the Temple.
Annunciation (1609/1611) by Guido ReniQuirinale Palace
The central theme of the iconographic series is set out on the altarpiece: it is the Annunciation of Guido Reni.
The canvas is of intimate beauty, as well as profound and complex theological significance.
The ray of light of the Holy Spirit breaks through the clouds and illuminates Mary's face while she is kneeling down, and she embraces the divine message with her arms folded, while Gabriel places the white lily, symbol of purity on her, pointing to the heavens full of the choir of angels.
Ethernal Father and Angels (1609/1611) by Guido ReniQuirinale Palace
The Annunciation is accompanied by the gesture of God the Father, which preludes the event and is depicted in the vault of the presbytery with a host of angels.
God the Father with the Virgin in glory - dome (1609/1611)Quirinale Palace
The epilog to the series of the pictorial cycle is found in the light-filled cupola, where the fresco of God the Father with the Virgin Mary in Glory, surrounded by choirs of angels.
Madonna Sewing (Madonna del Cucito) (1609/1611) by Guido ReniQuirinale Palace
In reality, before the story of the Annunciation, a hidden fresco tells a story linked to the life of the Virgin Mary.
It can only be discovered by stepping into the presbytery and turning your gaze to the left.
It is the Madonna Sewing the Shirt for the Christ Child, a rare image of an apparently domestic scene, which, in reality, conceals a deeper meaning. Find out about it here!
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.