Restoration Of Churches In Rome.

RESTORATION OF CHURCHES IN ROME .

The charm attaching to Rome ' s ancient basilicas is one felt by the imagination rather than acquiesced in by the judgment or taste . Presenting the only Christian style at all noble or impressive that has ever been originated in this city , these edifices are , for the most part , plain even to sterility , more or less grievouslinjured bpseudo-restoration aud mediocre

y y arfc-Avorks , sombre and forlorn in aspect , sometimes ? hearing the evidence of years of desolation aud neglect ; yet still so marked by a character of their OAVU that , once seen , they cannot be forgotten ; and , as illustrations to Christian history , their importance cannot be overlooked . In several of these old churches have

been carried out , within recent years , works aiming at improA'ement or repair , in some instances ( though not , indeed , ahvays ) directed with more intelligence than the Avretched attempts of reconciling the ancient Avith the modern Italian style , whose results must he deplored in the local architecture of the sixteenth and

seA'enteenth centuries . Since the completion of similar works at the extramural basilica of St . Laurence , the most noticeable of such undertakings still in progress are those at two of the more interesting among this characteristic class of monuments—St . Maria in Trasteverea basilica whose oriin dates from the third

, g century ; and St . Prassede , on the Esquiline Hill , dedicated to the daughter of the Christian senator Pudens , the friend and host of the two apostles Avho founded Christianity in Rome .

lhe more conspicuous of these two churches , on the right bank of the Tiber , is the largest in that curiously-characterised quarter of Rome , ancl occupies the site of a primitive place of worship ( probably but a small chapel ) ascribed to Pope Calixtus I ., who is said to have haditbuiltabout A . D . 222 , afterpermission

obtained from the Emperor Alexander Severus , through that memorable decision mentioned by Lampridius , which determined in favour of the Christians against the suit urged by the popinarii ( tavern-keepers ) for the right of occupation Avith intent , on the part of the former , to consecrate the ground in

question . " Quum Christiani , " says that historian , " quondam locum qui pnblicus fuerat occupassent , contra popinarii dicerent , sibi cum debere , reseripsit , melius esse ut quomodocunqyae illic Leus colatur quam popinariis dedalur . " But it is doubtful Avhether either the founding by Pope Calixtus or the date 222 can be assumed as historical with regard to this primitive edifice . The first authentic notice of a church on its

site occurs in the acts of a council held by Pope Symmachus iu 499 , and under the name titulus , Sancli Julii , ascribing to Pope Julius I . ( 337—35-1 ) the origin of the Transtiberine basilica , afterwards raised to such conspicuous rank . Another tradition that seems , indeed , thoroughly admissible , is that

respecting the preference of the early Christians for this site , under the belief in a legend that , in the time of Augustus , Avhen the taberna ineritoria ( military hospice ) stood here , —a building , perhaps , confounded Avith the taverns of later origin , —took place a miraculous event shortlbefore the birth of Christa

y ; fountain of oil gushing from the ground , and continuing to flow copiously from hence into the Tiber for one day ; this being interpreted , as Ave find in the pages of Eutropius and Orosius , into a heaven-sent prognostic of his coining , who Avas pre-eminently the

" anointed , " from whom new blessings Avere to flow for the consolation of humanity ; and to this day the legend has its written record in the actual church . AVhether or not this was the first church in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Marv , it may be held certain that in the year 340 Julius I . either founded or

rebuilt it ; that that earlier edifice was first restored by Gregory II ., about 707 , and about thirty years later entirely renewed from its foundations by Gregory III ., who adorned its interior with paintings ; still , it seems on a plan limited to a single navefor we read that the two aisles were first added

, later in the eighth century by Adrian I ., the tribune and choir raised on steps , and a confessional , or crypt chapel , below the high altar , formed by Gregory TV . , about S 43 , Avhen the bodies of the Popes Calixtus and Cornelius were transferred hither from the

catacombs . How defective was the masonry of those ancient constructions , we may infer from the report of Anastasius that , by the year 855 , both portico and baptistery had become ruinous , and were rebuilt under Pope Benedict III . The chief restorer of this church was Innocent IL , who , in the year 1139 ,

shortly after the death of his rival , the antipope Anacletus—therefore , during one of the brief periods of repose enjoyed iu his stormy pontificate—undertook the complete rebuilding , which he did not , however , live to see brought to its accomplishment , though so far advanced as to allow him to consecrate

the high altar ; the Avorks being subsequently resumed under Eugenius III . ( 1145—1153 ) , and the entire church for the first time consecrated , perhaps in some details embellished , by Innocent III ., towards the end of the same century ; and it is the structure of this period that still stands , with its distinguishing

features and rich mosaic ornamentation , fortunately preserved from the twelfth century , now undergoing a restoration by the architect , Count Yespignani , Avhose results , seeing what similar enterprises have led to in the present aspects of Rome ' s churches , we cannot but fear may prove prejudieal to the olden dignity hitherto characterising the Transtiberine basilica .

The very interesting mosaics on its apse and facade had suffered much , it is reported , before two successive restorations , one in the year 1702 , the other ordered by Leo XII ., between 1823-1829 , and effected under the superintendence of Camuccini . Under Clement XL had heen carried out other restorations

of architectural details , among which the most conspicuous modern addition was the actual portico , built in 1702 , by Carlo __ ontana , who probably preserved some of the granite columns from the antique compartments corresponding , to re-erect them in their present places .

We may , however , consider those treasures of Mediawal art still left , essentially unaltered , to this fine old church . Below the summit of the gableheaded facade extends a A'ery curious series of mosaics , begun either under Innocent II . or Eugenius III ., and finished in the latter years of the thirteenth century , by the celebrated Pietro Cavallini ;* their sub-