Art In Rome: San Luigi dei Francesi

where: Piazza San Luigi dei Francesi 5

open: Monday to Friday 9:30-12:45 & 14:30-18:30, Saturday 9:30-12:15 & 14:30-18:45, Sunday 11:30-12:45 & 14:30-18:45
getting there: off Corso del Rinascimento near the Piazza Navona, and Via di Salvatore to Piazza San Luigi dei Francesi

information: take coins to light up the Contarelli Chapel, flash photography prohibited

The church of San Luigi dei Francesi was one of the first churches that I ever visited in Rome and one I always return to because inside is one of the most beautiful chapels, the Contarelli Chapel, with three of Caravaggio's masterpiece canvases.
Painted between 1599 and 1600 the Baroque cycle shows scenes from the bible of Jesus calling Matthew to follow him, the angel inspiring him, and finally his martyrdom (Vocation of St Matthew, St Matthew and the Angel, the Martyrdom of St Matthew).

The church website only mentions Caravaggio's paintings, but in second chapel on the right hand side of the church are Domenichino's frescoes of the Life of St Cecilia and the copy of Raphael's St Cecilia over the altar by Guido Reni.

The ceiling frescoes decorating the Contarelli Chapel are by Giuseppe Cesari.

On the left, in the third chapel dedicated to St Louis, is work by the female Baroque architect and artist, Plautilla Bricci and a painting by Ludivico Gimignani.

At the high altar is the 16th century Assumption of the Virgin by Francesco Bassano the Younger.

The nave ceiling by Charles-Joseph Natoire dates from the 18th century.