Church of San Luigi dei Francesi
Piazza di S. Luigi de' Francesi Roma Roma
French National Church & Iconic Paintings by Caravaggio of St. Matthew
The church was built in the 16th century to accommodate the large French community present in the city. Construction began under the pontificate of Pope Clement VIII at the end of the 16th century, and bears the signature of the same architects of St. Peter's Basilica: Domenico Fontana and Giacomo della Porta.
It houses the three masterpieces by Michelangelo Merisi, better known by his nickname, Caravaggio. These three images painted by Caravaggio are placed in the Contarelli Chapel at the far left side of the church. They tell the story of the evangelist Matthew: his vocation, the divine inspiration he received in writing Holy Scripture, and finally his martyrdom.
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