San Nicola dei Lorenesi

The Church of Saint Nicholas of the Lorrainers (Italian: San Nicola dei Lorenesi, French: Saint-Nicolas-des-Lorrains) is a Roman Catholic church dedicated to Saint Nicholas and the apostle Saint Andrew. It is one of the national churches in Rome dedicated to France (since the Duchy of Lorraine became part of France in 1766). Given to the Lorrainers by Pope Gregory XV in 1622, the pre-existing church of St. Nicholas was redesigned by Lorrainer architect François Desjardins (also called "Du Jardin" and italianized in "Francesco Giardini"), in 1632.[1]

Church of Saint Nicholas of the Lorrains
San Nicola dei Lorenesi (in Italian)
Saint-Nicolas-des-Lorrains (in French)
Façade of San Nicola dei Lorenesi, National Church in Rome of France (Duchy of Lorraine).
Religion
AffiliationRoman Catholic
ProvinceRome
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusNational Church in Rome of France
Year consecrated1636
Location
Location Rome
Geographic coordinates41°53′59.6″N 12°28′20.7″E
Architecture
Architect(s)François Desjardins
TypeChurch
StyleBaroque
Completed1632
Website
Official website

The church was thoroughly renovated in 2006 and entitled to the Community of Saint John.

Interior
Interior of the church with frescoes by Corrado Giaquinto

The architecture of the interior is characterized by a quite sober but evident baroque style with decorative effects based on the use of white and pink marbles.

Many frescoes and paintings by Lorrainer painters of the 17th and 18th centuries also decorate the interior. In particular, two works by Nicolas de Bar: "Saint Catherine" and "The Visitation".

In 1731, Corrado Giaquinto was commissioned to execute the frescoes: "Saint Nicholas water gush from cliff", "The three Theologic Virtues", "The three Cardinal Virtues" and in the cupola "The Paradise".

The French painter Nicolas Mellin is buried in San Nicola.

Notes
  1. "Saint Nicolas des Lorrains" (in French). Ambassade de France près le Saint-Siège.

References
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