San Pantaleo

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Map of the Churches of Rome

San Pantaleo

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The convent church of San Pantaleo was designed by the Roman architect Giovann Antonio de' Rossi (1616-95) and built in 1681. Its facade was added by Giuseppe Valadier (1762-1839) in 1807; the curious relief, which depicts liturgical and sacred items, is the work of Pietro Aurelj.

Bas-relief

The church is dedicated to Saint Pantaleon, a fourth century martyr from Nicomedia, who was a popular saint in Venice, where he was known as San Pantaleone or San Pantalone.

One of the principal characters in the Commedia dell'arte, an Italian theatrical form that flourished from the 16th to the 18th century, was named after him. Pantalone, Shakespeare's 'lean and slippered Pantaloon' (As You Like It), was often portrayed wearing trousers rather than knee breeches. The trousers came to be known as pantaloons, which in turn became pants. ​

Nave

San Pantaleo belongs to the Order of Poor Clerks Regular of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools (Ordo Clericorum Regularium Pauperum Matris Dei Scholarum Piarum), better known as the Scolopi or Piarists, which was set up by St Joseph Calasanz (1557-1648), a Spanish priest (also known as St Joseph Calasanctius), who had settled in Rome. The Order was created to provide free education for poor boys. 

Vault Fresco

San Pantaleo has a single nave flanked by side chapels. The nave vault sports a grand fresco of The Glory of the Name of Mary (1692), the work of Filippo Gherardi (1643-1704). 

High Altar

The high altar is made up of a small icon of the Virgin and Child, which is set in a marble relief. The relief, the work of the sculptor Luigi Acquisiti (1745-1823), depicts St Joseph Calasanz presenting a pair of schoolboys to the Mother of God. The saint is interred beneath the altar.

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