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It was erected over the church of St. Biagio "de
Hospitale" where St. Francis of Assisi found hospitality (of whom there
is an ancient image). The reconstruction begun at the beginning of the
17th century was completed first with Matthia De' Rossi (1681 — 85) then up to 1687 with Fontana. The l8th century wooden furnishings in the sacristy and in the ex
-celI of St. Francis are rare.
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A fter the beatification, in 1671, of the
Franciscan tertiary, Ludovica Albertoni (died in the
convent in1533), Angelo Paluzzi degli Albertoni undertook to
renovate the decoration in the family chapel. The project
was given to Bernini, forced to work without payment
in exchange for the pardon for the brother involved in a
scandal.
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When, in 1701, the wooden drape - lifted
to bring to light the sarcophagus - was replaced by Montauto
alabaster, the original illumination was also changed by
blocking up a window. According to a recent hypothesis, the
Immaculate Conception was hidden in the statue. |
