San Luigi dei Francesi

Map of the Churches of Rome
San Luigi dei Francesi is a 16th century titular church and the national church of France.

Facade

Coat of arms, Facade of Church of San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome
Coat of Arms of France
The design of the facade has been attributed to Giacomo della Porta (1532-1602).  It is crowned with the coat of arms of France, the work of the Flemish sculptor Nicolaus Mostaert, better known as Niccolò Fiammingo (c.1530-1604). ​
Statue of Charlemagne by Pierre de l'Estache, facade of the church of San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome
Charlemagne
King St Louis of France by Pierre de l'Estache, facade of the church of San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome
King St Louis of France
The four statues are by the French sculptor Pierre de l'Estache (c.1688-1774) and depict Charlemagne and King St Louis of France and St Clotilde and St Jeanne de Valois.

The two tondi at the base of the facade depict salamanders, the emblem of King Francois I (r. 1515-47). In times past, it was believed that the salamander was immune to fire. This belief may have originated from a behaviour common to many species of salamander, the tendency to hibernate in, and under, rotting logs. When wood was brought indoors and put on the fire, the salamanders 'mysteriously' appeared from the flames.
An image of a salamander on the facade of the church of San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome
Bas-relief of a Salamander
Fire has a twofold power in that it can both support life and destroy it, and the motto of Francis I, which is inscribed above one of the salamanders, was: NUTRISCO E EXTINGO (I nourish and I extinguish). The second inscription reads: ERIT CHRISTIANORVM LVMEN IN IGNE (It will be the light of the Christians in the fire). 

Nave

Nave, church of San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome
Nave
The church's ornate interior, which is made up of a nave and two aisles, was designed by the French architect Antoine Dérizet (1685-1768) and completed in 1756. 
Nave vault, church of San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome
Nave Vault
The gilded stucco work of the ceiling of the nave contains images of the French fleur-de-lys. The central panel has a painting of the Apotheosis of St Louis, which was executed by Charles-Joseph Natoire (1700-77). 

Sanctuary

Apse, church of San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome
Apse
The sanctuary has a dome, which is coffered in hexagons containing stars and rosettes. 
Stucco statue of Pope St Gregory the Great, church of San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome
Pope St Gregory the Great
Stucco statue of St Jerome, church of San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome
St Jerome
The pendentives sport stucco sculptures of the four Latin Doctors of the Church (St Augustine, St Jerome, St Ambrose and Pope St Gregory the Great).

​The high altar is a painting of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary by Francesco Bassano the Younger (1549-92).

Contarini Chapel

Contarelli Chapel, Paintings by Caravaggio, San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome
Contarelli Chapel
San Luigi dei Francesi is a well-trodden stop on the Caravaggio trail. The Cappella Contarini is home to three beautiful scenes from the life of Saint Matthew, which Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610) painted between 1599 and 1602. This was the artist's first public commission and was executed for the heirs of Cardinal Matthieu Cointrel, who had died in 1585. 

Chapel of St Louis of France

Chapel of St Louis of France, church of San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome
Chapel of St Louis of France
The third chapel on the left is dedicated to King St Louis IX of France (r. 1214-70). 
Vault of the chapel of St Louis of France, church of San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome
Dome
It is the most sumptuously decorated chapel in the church and was designed by Plautilla Bricci (1616 - 1705), a female artist and architect, who also painted the altarpiece. Bricci, who was born in Rome, was the first female architect in Italy! 
King St Louis IX of France by Plautilla Bricci, San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome
King St Louis IX of France by Plautilla Bricci
​The altarpiece, which the artist signed (bottom right), depicts Louis IX (r. 1226-70), the only French king to have been made a saint. King Louis IX was canonised by Pope Boniface VIII (r. 1294-1303) on July 11th 1297. His feast day is August 25th. 

Counter-facade

Organ and Singing Gallery, San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome
Organ Loft and Singing Gallery
The counter-facade is dominated by the spectacular organ loft and singing gallery.

Funerary Monuments

Monument to the French painter Claude Lorrain by Paul Le Moyne, church of San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome
Monument to Claude Lorrain
In the left aisle stands the funerary monument to the French artist Claude Gellée (1600-82), better known as Claude Lorrain, by the French sculptor Paul Le Moyne (1784-1873). Claude Lorrain, who worked for much of his life in Rome, is famous for his paintings of the Roman countryside. He was originally buried in the church of Santissima Trinita dei Monti, but in 1840 his remains were transferred to San Luigi dei Francesi. ​​​
Monument to the French painter Charles François Poerson, San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome
Monument to Charles François Poerson
There are monuments to other French painters in the church, such as Charles François Poerson (1653-1725), who was the director of the French Academy in Rome from 1704 until his death. It was carved by the French sculptor Pierre de L'Estache (c. 1688-1774). 
Monument to Nicolas Vleughels, San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome
Monument to Nicolas Vleughels
His successor as director was Nicolas Vleughels (1668-1737), whose memorial was carved by Rene-Michel Slodtz (1705-64). 
Funerary monument to Louise Guillemin, San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome
Funerary monument to Louise Guillemin
As her epigraph states, Philippe, the son of Louise Guillemin, a Parisian, died prematurely at the age of nine months on February 14th 1859. She herself passed away on October 1st 1859, at the age of thirty-nine.