San Sebastiano fuori le Mura

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Church of San Sebastiano fuori le Mura, Rome
San Sebastiano fuori le Mura
The Basilica di San Sebastiano fuori le Mura (St Sebastian Outside the Walls) was founded in the 4th century when it was dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul and known as the Basilica Apostolorum. By the Middle Ages it had been re-dedicated to St Sebastian, who was thought to have been buried in the catacombs below. 

​The church was rebuilt at the behest of Cardinal Scipione Borghese (1577-1633), nephew of Pope Paul V (r. 1605-21), by Flaminio Ponzio (1560-1613). Work began in 1608, but was not complete when Ponzio died in 1613. It was completed by Jan Van Santen (1550-1621), a Dutch-born architect, better known as Giovanni Vasanzio, who spent most of his working life in Rome. The dedicatory inscription on the facade reads: SCIPIO ⋅ CARD ⋅ BVRGHESIVS ⋅ S ⋅ R ⋅ E ⋅ MAIOR ⋅ POENITENTIARIVS ⋅ AN ⋅ DOM ⋅ MDCXXII. 
Interior of church of San Sebastiano fuori le Mura, Rome
Nave
The interior comprises a nave of five bays. There are no aisles, only arched recesses containing side chapels.
Sanctuary, San Sebastiano fuori le Mura, Rome
Sanctuary
The high altar is dedicated to Pope St Stephen I, whose relics are enshrined here. The altarpiece depicts Calvary and is by Innocenzo Tacconi (1575-1623). The two busts depict St Peter and St Paul and are by the French sculptor Nicolas Cordier (1567-1612), who was also known as Il Franciosino.

The altar pro populo is made from a 5th century sarcophagus. It has strigillated decoration and three reliefs featuring The Arrest of St Peter, Christ with SS Peter and Paul and The Raising of Lazarus.
One of the glories of the interior is the beautiful wooden ceiling, which is intricately carved with palm branches (a symbol of martyrdom) and the heraldic dragons and eagles of the Borghese family. It was designed by the Dutch architect Jan van Santen (1550-1621), better known in Italy as Giovanni Vasanzio. 
Wooden ceiling by Giovanni Vasanzio, church of San Sebastiano fuori le Mura, Rome
Central Section of the Wooden Ceiling
The Martyrdom of St Sebastian, in the centre, is the work of Annibale Durante. The ceiling also sports the coat of arms of Cardinal Scipione Borghese and Pope Gregory XVI (r. 1831-46), who ordered its restoration. ​
Saint Sebastian by Giuseppe Giorgetti, church of San Sebastiano fuori le Mura, Rome
Saint Sebastian by Giuseppe Giorgetti
The Chapel of St Sebastian has a very fine statue of the saint by Giuseppe Giorgetti (fl. 1668-82).

The huge marble bust of Christ the Saviour (1678) is a late work by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680). 
Salvator Mundi by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, church of San Sebastiano fuori le Mura, Rome
Salvator Mundi by Gian Lorenzo Bernini
The Cappella Albani (last chapel on the right) is dedicated to Pope St Fabian (r. 236-50). ​​
Memorial to Cardinal Giovanni Maria Gabrielli, San Sebastiano fuori le Mura, Rome
Funerary Monument to Cardinal Giovanni Maria Gabrielli
There is a very fine memorial to Cardinal Giovanni Maria Gabrielli (1654-1711) on the right side of the church.