Santa Maria dell' Orto

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Map

Santa Maria dell' Orto

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Santa Maria dell' Orto (St Mary of the Garden) is a 16th century guild church. It has its origins in a chapel that was erected in the 15th century to celebrate a much-venerated image of the Virgin and Child, which had been removed from the wall of a garden (orto). The lavish stucco and gilded decoration of the interior dates back to the 18th century. 

The church is still supervised by the Venerabile Archconfraternita di Santa Maria dell' Orto, a confraternity which was set up during the reign of Pope Alexander VI (r. 1492-1503). Given the status of an archconfraternity by Pope Sixtus V (r. 1585-90), it comprised a number of guilds. (A guild in Rome was known as a università.) The guilds financed the decoration of the church, their names proudly embedded in the fabric of the building.
 
The inscription on the facade reads: AEDICVLAM  · DIRVPT  · VIRG · DEIPAR · HORTENSISQVE · IN · HANC · AEDEM · MVTARVNT · SOCII · DEDICAR · HOSPITIO · AUXER · AD · EGENOS · ALEN · SVO · SVMPTV · ET · RELIG  (The brothers transformed the ruined chapel of the Virgin Mother of God and of the Garden into this church, dedicated it, and added a hospice to feed the poor, at their own expense and with devotion).  

Nave

The prosperity of the archconfraternity allowed it to commission an ambitious makeover project for the interior, which was drawn up in 1699 by Luigi Barattone and completed by 1706. This involved the apse, transept and side aisles. The Roman architect Gabriele Valvassori (1683-1761) continued work on the nave, which was completed in 1730. Simone Giorgini and Leonardo Retti were responsible for the stucco figures and Nicolangelo Aldini with Giuseppe Bilancioni were responsible for the garlands of fruit and flowers, which are such a prominent feature of the church's interior. The frescoes were added by Giuseppe & Andrea Orazi, Giacinto Calandrucci, Andrea Procaccini and Giovanbattista Parodi. Valvassori was also responsible for the floor, which was laid in 1747.

The Immaculate Conception by Giuseppe and Andrea Orazi

Atop the arch leading to the transept are two putti holding a ribbon; the inscription reads: DEIPARA TRIVMPHANTI (To the triumphant Mother of God). The putti are accompanied by two female figures. The figure on the right holds the Rod of Aaron and has the sun-disc on her breast, while the one on the left holds a musical instrument and is accompanied by a lamb. The assemblage is by Leonardo Retti.

Above these figures is a large tablet proclaiming: VNIVERSITA DI PIZZICAROLI DI ROMA FECE FARE A SVE PROPRIE SPESE (The shopkeepers of Rome had this made at their own expense). 

​The main fresco in the vault crossing depicts the Immaculate Conception (1706) and is the work of Giuseppe and Andrea Orazi, while the pendentives illustrate the virtues of the Virgin Mary.

Inscription to the Fruit Sellers, 1747

In the floor below, there is a large and beautiful inscription to the Guild of the Fruit Sellers (Università dei Fruttaroli), dated 1747.         

The frescoes in the end wall of the apse, which depict scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary, were added by Federico Zuccari and Taddeo Zuccari in 1556. The frescoes on the side walls are by the Roman painter (and art historian) Giovanni Baglione (c. 1573-1643). ​​

Nave Vault

The central fresco in the vault of the nave is the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (1707) by the Sicilian painter Giacinto Calandrucci (1646-1707). 

High Altar

The high altar, which was designed by Valvassori and completed in 1755, comprises the original 15th century image of the Virgin and Child. The frieze of the entablature ascribes the funding of the altar to the fruit-sellers. 

Apse

Vault of the Crossing

POMA NOVA ET VETERA SERVAVI TIBI

Above the apsidal arch there is a quotation from the Song of Solomon (7:13): POMA NOVA ET VETERA SERVAVI TIBI (Fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee), which was also added by the Università dei Fruttaroli.

Universita de Pizzicaroli (Guild of Grocers)

Guild of the Cobblers

Holy Water Stoup

​The holy water stoup in the left aisle, which has an image of the Madonna and Child on the bowl, dates back to the end of the 15th century. It is thought to have come from the original devotional chapel, which the church replaced.

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