Audio tour b. The Church of the Pio Monte della Misericordia

The church as we see it today is the result of  rebuilding in the mid-seventeenth century.  The architecture is classical, with a centrally planned church, confirmed by the very fine terracotta floor inlaid with marble and in the slender dome. The shape is octagonal, with seven altars, each dedicated to one of the works of mercy.  The reconstruction was carried out in 1658 by the vice-regal architect and engineer, Francesco Antonio Picchiatti.  In fact, by 1651, with the growth of the foundation, there was a deeply felt need to build a residence and a larger church, enriching it with splendid decorations. Note the great vivacity of the polychrome frontals of the seven marble altars, which are decorated with the inlay technique known as marmo commesso. In the wall of the entrance, also note the holy water bowl designed by the architect with its unusual and original form: it is a bizarre composition made up of fanciful elements, such as the wings of bats, shells and feathers.  These sculptures, like those in the portico of the entrance, were carved by Andrea Falcone and Pietro Pelliccia in 1668. 

Originally, before the charity built its own church, its members would meet in the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo agli Incurabili. Quite soon it became clear that they needed their own building and for the purpose in 1604 they bought two houses in Via Tribunali for 6530 ducats. This first church was built by the architect Giovan Giacomo Conforto and named Nostra Signora della Misericordia. We know very little of this original church. Leading artists of the age were commissioned to paint the altarpieces, included Caravaggio's great masterwork for the high altar. These paintings are now all that remains of the church designed by Conforto, because they were moved into the new church built by Picchiatti in the mid-seventeenth century. The exception was the painting by Giovanni Baglione on the central altar on the left side, which was replaced by a new work on the same subject, the Deposition, and commissioned  from Luca Giordano. Baglione's painting is preserved in the gallery, among the rich collection of paintings belonging to the Pio Monte.