A Roman Chapel for Saint Rose in Lima. The commission of Melchiorre Cafà's sculpture, four paintings produced by the "best European artist", and hundreds of medals to spread her worship

Abstract

In 1668, the festivities for the beatification of Rose of Lima took place in Rome. Its organization was overseen by some Dominican friars who arrived from the Peruvian capital, led by Fray Antonio González de Acuña. The most important piece of art created for this occasion was the famous marble sculpture representing Rose in ecstasy with an angel, made by Melchiorre Cafà. In this article, it is possible to confirm with unprecedented documentation, to whom and why was commissioned this piece of art, and one of a series of paintings of Rose's life probably attributed to Lazzaro Baldi. This article also studies some pieces of goldsmith, which would serve after the beatification for the ornate of the chapel and altarpiece of Rose in the church of Santo Domingo, Lima. Then, the social pretensions of the González de Acuña family as the main patrons of the chapel are also clarifies. Finally, this article serves as a documentation for the petition of hundreds of commemorative medals made for the event in precious metals with the effigy of Pope Clemente IX and the future Saint.