Theodoli Chapel (Santa Maria del Popolo)

The Theodoli Chapel or Chapel of Saint Catherine «del Calice» (Italian: Cappella Theodoli, Cappella di Santa Catarina del Calice) in the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome is an important monument of Roman Mannerism. Although less known than some of the other side chapels of the same church it is a major work in the oeuvre of Giulio Mazzoni. The chapel opens at the end of the left arm of transept next to the famous Cerasi Chapel.

The construction of the chapel coincides with the renovation of the whole building in the mid-sixteenth century. On 10 December 1552 the Vicar-General of the Lombard Congregation allowed the Augustinians to assign two empty chapels to new holders: one of them was located „apud cappella Fusari vulgariter nuncupata la Madonina” and it had been requested by Traiano Alicorni, a Milanese nobleman and protonotary apostolic.

On 27 June 1553 the chapel was granted to Alicorni, and re-dedicated to Saints Lucy, Nazarius and Celsus. The dedication to the most important martyrs of Milan is easily explained by the origins of the Alicorni family. After the death of Traiano Alicorni the property was inherited by his sons, Fausto and Giovanni Battista who began to build a tomb in memory of their father. Soon, however, the chapel was returned to the Augustinians, who assigned it to Girolamo Theodoli, the Bishop of Cádiz, on 24 December 1569.

The two families were linked by their common homeland, Romagna. The new owner employed the same artist, Giulio Mazzoni of Piacenza, who had already been entrusted by the Alicorni, and maintained the original dedication of the chapel with the addition of Saints Jerome, Catherine and John the Baptist.

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Wikipedia