Santi Luca e Martina

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Church of Santi Luca e Martina, Rome
Santi Luca e Martina
The church of Santi Luca e Martina (Saints Luke and Martina), which overlooks the Forum, was founded in the early 7th century, when it was dedicated simply to Saint Martina. In 1577 the Accademia di San Luca, the academy of painters, sculptors and architects, was created, and in 1588 it was given the church, which was re-dedicated to both St Luke (patron saint of artists) and St Martina. 
Dome, church of Santi Luca e Martina, Rome
Dome
In 1634, the painter Pietro Berrettini (1596-1669) was elected president of the academy. Pietro da Cortona, as he was better known, immediately embarked on rebuilding the church. Funding came from Cardinal Francesco Barberini, the nephew of Pope Urban VIII (r. 1623-44). It was completed in 1679, ten years after Cortona's death.

The facade bears a dedicatory inscription: S · VIRG · ET · MARTIRI · MARTINAE · VRBANVS · VIII · P · MAX (Urban VIII, Pontifex Maximus, to St Martina, virgin and martyr).
'Upper' church, Santi Luca e Martina, Rome
'Upper' church
The design of Santi Luca e Martina follows a Greek-cross plan, the centre of which is crowned by a beautiful dome. 
Interior of dome, church of Santi Luca e Martina, Rome
Dome
The interior decoration of the dome has been attributed to Cortona's pupil and collaborator, Ciro Ferri (1634-89). The beautiful stucco reliefs in the pendentives depict the symbols of the four evangelists and were designed by Camillo Rusconi. However, he died in 1728 before he could start work. They were executed by Giuseppe Rusconi (St Matthew), Filippo della Valle (St Mark & St Luke) and Giovanni Battista Maini (St John). 
St Martina by Niccolò Menghini (1610-65), church of Santi Luca e Martina, Rome
St Martina by Niccolò Menghini
The marble effigy of St Martina, under the high altar, is the work of the Roman sculptor Niccolò Menghini  (1610-65). The work is clearly influenced by Stefano Maderno's sculpture of St Cecilia in Santa Cecilia in Trastevere. ​
Funerary monument to the artist Pietro da Cortona (1596-1669), church of Santi Luca e Martina, Rome
Funerary Monument of Pietro da Cortona
Pietro da Cortona is interred in the 'lower church'. The bust on his funerary monument is by Bernardo Fioriti.  ​​
The symbol of the Academy of St Luke, church of Santi Luca e Martina, Rome
The Symbol & Motto of the Academy of St Luke
The motto of the Accademia di San Luca is AEQVA POTESTAS, a reference to a line by the Latin poet Horace (65 - 8 BCE): 'Pictoribus atque poetis quidlibet audendi semper fuit aequa potestas' ('Painters and poets have always enjoyed the right to take liberties of almost any kind').