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Memorial to Maria Raggi

Memorial to Maria Raggi is a sculptural monument designed and executed by the Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Work began in 1647 and was completed in 1653. The monument is attached to a pillar in the nave of the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome. It commemorates Maria Raggi, a nun from the island of Chios who lived a life of intense piety, spent much of her day in prayer, and was said to have performed miracles. After her death in 1600, there was some possibility of canonisation, but it did not happen.

Memorial to Maria Raggi with a central medallion, two golden putti, and a cross on a church pillar
The Memorial to Maria Raggi by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, shown on a church pillar with gilded figures and a marble inscription plaque.
1647 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Memorial to Maria Raggi with a gold cross, central medallion, and two putti above an inscription plaque.
The Memorial to Maria Raggi in Santa Maria sopra Minerva, with its dark sculpted drapery, gilded cross, and central portrait medallion.
May 2015 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Memorial to Maria Raggi with gilded medallion, putti, and cross on a marble monument in a dim church interior.
The Memorial to Maria Raggi by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, showing its gilded medallion, putti, and draped marble design.
July 2007 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Memorial to Maria Raggi shows a gilded medallion with a female figure and cherubs mounted on a marble column inside a grand church interior.
The Memorial to Maria Raggi mounted on a column inside Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome.
May 2017 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Memorial to Maria Raggi mounted on a marble pillar inside a church interior with painted ceilings and pews.
The Memorial to Maria Raggi stands on a marble pillar inside the church interior.
April 2016 © · CC BY 2.0

Identification

TitleMemorial to Maria Raggi
TypeCommemorative sculptural monument

Historical context

Date1647–1653

Creator

ArtistGian Lorenzo Bernini
Artist nationalityItalian

Discovery and provenance

Commissioned byThree descendants of Maria Raggi: Ottaviano Raggi, Tommaso Raggi, and Lorenzo Raggi
Commissioned fromGian Lorenzo Bernini

Iconography and meaning

Subject commemoratedMaria Raggi
Maria Raggi's lifeBorn in 1552 and died in 1600; from the island of Chios; forced to marry young and later widowed when her husband was captured by Ottoman Turkish forces in 1570; became a nun in 1571; moved to Rome in 1584 and lived at the palace of the De Marini family near Santa Maria sopra Minerva; was regarded as extremely pious, spent much of her time in prayer, and was reportedly capable of performing miracles
Posthumous canonizationAfter her death in 1600, canonization was considered but did not proceed because of Pope Urban VIII's antipathy toward such cases
Inscribed namesOttaviano, Tommaso, and Lorenzo Raggi
Inscription locationLower part of the memorial

Location and ownership

LocationAttached to a pillar in the nave of the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
CityRome