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Archbasilica Essay

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The Archbasilica of St. John Lateran is the home of the current Pope and one of the most important buildings in Rome. This Christian cathedral was originally constructed for Pope Miltiades in the early 4th century over the remains of the old fort of the Castra Nova Equites Singualres. Emperor Constantine built this church in 324 AD, making it the oldest basilica in Rome. This cathedral went through many reconstructions throughout its history due to earthquakes and fires. Its façade was designed by architect Alessandro Galilei, and it was completed in 1735. Pope Clement XII held a competition for a new design of the façade in 1732 to replace the mediaeval one, and Galilei was chosen because he was an anti-Baroque forerunner of the neoclassical architectural movement. Galilei had already been involved in the neo-Palladian architectural movement in England and Ireland, and architect Christopher Wren’s work in London was a major influence on him. In designing the new façade, he removed …show more content…

Its characteristics include “its grand scale, dramatic use of columns, and its simplicity of geometric scale.” Its façade is the most well-known part of the building. The two-story portico on the church’s front façade was constructed in the 1700’s. On the very top lies statues of of Jesus, Saint John the Baptist, Saint John the Evangelist, and other Doctors of Greek and Latin churches, made by sculptors of the late baroque era. The central doors are composed of bronze and were previously used at the Roman Senate House within the Roman Forum.
Criticism
Although its façade is the most well-known aspect of the basilica, it is also the most criticized part. It is often said by many critics that the main face of the basilica is more like that of a palace than a church. Many people consider it too palace-like without any of the flourishes expected of the Baroque period in which it was

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