San Giovanni in Laterano:
The Transepts & Sanctuary

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Transepts

The transepts were substantially remodelled by Giacomo della Porta (1532-1602), who was commissioned by Pope Clement VIII ( r. 1592-1605) to do the work, in celebration of the Jubilee of 1600. ​

Left Transept

The frescoes were the responsibility of Giuseppe Cesari (1568-1640), better known as the Cavalier d'Arpino, who was in charge of a talented team of  artists. 

Pope Sylvester Baptises Constantine by Pomarancio

The frescoes in the lower register of the left transept are:
West wall:  The Dream of Constantine by Cesare Nebbia and The Triumph of Constantine by Giuseppe Cesari.
East wall: Constantine Donates Liturgical Vessels to the Basilica and The Miraculous Appearance of the Holy Face in the Basilica, both by Giovanni Baglione.

Altar of the Blessed Sacrament

​The Altar of the Blessed Sacrament, at the end of the left transept, was designed by Pietro Paolo Olivieri (1551-99) for Pope Clement VIII.

Tabernacle by Pompeo Targone, Altar of the Blessed Sacrament

The beautiful tabernacle, the work of Pompeo Targone (1575-1630), takes the form of a gilded bronze octagonal domed temple. 

Funerary Monument to Pope Leo XIII

The funerary monument to Pope Leo XIII, in the left transept, is the signed work of Giulio Tadolini (1849-1918). Leo XIII was ninety-three years old when he died on July 20th 1903, making him the longest-living pope in the history of the papacy. 

The monument was commissioned by the cardinals that Leo XIII had created, as the inscription above the door states: CARDINALES AB EO CREATI. The monument depicts Pope Leo XIII, St Joachim (?) and an allegorical figure of Religion. The base sports two inscriptions: AD PATREM / FILI EX OMNI REGIONE / VENERATVRI CONVENIVNT (To the father, come sons from all regions that he might be venerated); and ECCLESIA INGEMVIT / COMPLORANTE / ORBE VNIVERSO (The Church groaned, lamenting with the whole world).

Main Organ

The main organ is over the side entrance at the right end of the transept, leading in from under the Loggia of Benedictions. It was constructed in 1598 by Luca Blasi from Perugia, and the ornate case was constructed by Giovanni Battista Montano to a design by Giacomo Della Porta.

There are two busts of biblical musicians in niches, with a pair of friezes displaying contemporary musical instruments above them. To the left is King David  by Francesco Aldini, and to the right is King Hezekiah by Ambrogio Buonvicino (1552-1622). 

Funerary monument to Pope Innocent III

The right transept is home to the funerary monument of Pope Innocent III (r. 1198-1216), which was made by Giuseppe Lucchetti, at the behest of Pope Leo XIII. Pope Innocent III was originally buried at Perugia, but Pope Leo had his remains brought here in 1891. The monument shows the pope's effigy reclining on a draped sarcophagus. The tympanum of the arch contains sculptures of Christ accompanied by St Francis and St Dominic; the pope had authorised both the new Orders.

The frescoes in the lower register of the right transept are:
West wall: The Baptism of Constantine by Pomarancio and Pope Sylvester Receives the Envoys of Constantine on Mount Soracte by Paris Nogari. 
East wall: The Consecration of the Basilica by Giovanni Battista Ricci and The Building of the Basilica by Paris Nogari.

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Sanctuary

Sanctuary

At the behest of Pope Leo XIII (r. 1878-1903), who is interred in the basilica, the apse was rebuilt by the Roman architect Virginio Vespignani (1808-82). It was moved twenty metres further back to create room for the new choir. The splendid wooden coffered ceiling sports the pope's coat of arms as does the pavement. 

Choir ceiling

Sadly, the 13th century mosaic in the apse, the work of Jacopo Torriti and Jacopo da Camerino, was destroyed and replaced by the one we see today.

Apse

The episcopal throne stands on a flight of five steps. The last step has the inscription: HIC EST PAPALIS SEDES ET PONTIFICALIS (This is a papal and pontifical seat). 

Throne

The throne stands on a white marble plinth, which sports, in relief, an adder, a lion, a dragon and a basilisk. ​

Apse Mosaics

The mosaic, which was executed in 1878, is thought to be a fair copy of the one that was destroyed. 

The mosaic is divided into three registers. The upper register is dominated by the bust of Christ flanked by flying angels. The central motif of the middle register is the True Cross, which is being venerated (on the left) by the Virgin Mary, Pope Innocent III (kneeling), St Francis of Assisi, St Peter and St Paul. To the right are St John the Baptist, St Anthony of Padua, St John the Evangelist and St Andrew. In the lower register are the remaining nine Apostles, with the two original Franciscan mosaicists at the feet of the outermost trios. ​

The long inscription below the mosaic reads: LEO XIII CELLAM MAXIMAM VETVSTATE FATISCENTEM INCENTI MOLITIONE PRODVCENDAM LAXANDAMQVE CVRAVIT/VETVS MVSIVVM MVLTIS IAM ANTEA PARTIBVS INSTAVRATVM AD ANTIQVVM EXEMPLAR RESTITIVI /ET IN NOVAM ABSIDEM OPERE CVLTVQVE MAGNIFICO EXORNATAM TRANSFERRI AVLAM TRANSVERSAM /LAQVEARI ET CONTIGNATIONE REFECTIS EXPOLIRI IVSSIT ANNO CHR MDCCCLXXXIV SACRI PRINC VII (Leo XIII saw to it that the Great Hall, crumbling with age, was extended and enlarged through a bold undertaking; he ordered the ancient mosaic—already restored in many sections—to be returned to its original design, transferred to a new apse adorned with magnificent workmanship and decoration, and the transverse hall to be refurbished and refined with a new coffered ceiling and flooring. In the year of Christ 1884, the seventh year of his sacred principate).

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Continue Reading:

• The Nave
• The Facade & Portico 
• The Aisles