PRESBITERY

The presbitery - click to enlarge picture

You enter the presbytery through the triumphal arch on top of which we see two angels, attributed to Filippo Carcani, holding the coat of arms of Cardinal Gastaldi. Unfortunately we know very little about Filippo Carcani, it seems he have been a pupil of Ercole Ferrata (1610 - 1686), and was called Filippone.

The gable - click to enlarge picture

The white tripartite apse is decorated with floral garlands.

The design of the high altar was made 1677 by Mattia De Rossi, who gave to the altar the shape of an aedicule framed by four columns of green imperial marble, and topped with a gable on which kneel two angels made by Filippo Carcani who  attended all the decoration of the altar.

On the entablature read in gilt letters the words "ALTAR PRIVILEGIATUM PERPETUUM".

Inside the aedicule see in a frame supported by angels, yet by Carcani, the image of the Virgin of Montesanto, according to tradition red is the robe and blue the mantle of Mary. The author of the painting is unknown but it is plausible to attribute it to the school of Antoniazzo Romano (1430? - 1510?).

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