Exterior view
by CORTONA, Pietro da, Photo
The church Santi Luca e Martina is situated between the Roman Forum and the Forum of Caesar in Rome. From 1577 it belonged to the Accademia di San Luca, the academy of painters, sculptors and architects in Rome. In 1635 Cardinal Francesco Barberini, protector of the church, ordered the rebuilding of the church from Pietro da Cortona’s plan. In 1644 the building was completed and the interior was finished in 1650.
While the other sides look like the cut edges of a prism and give only a rough indication of the interior space, the entrance fa�ade seems to be shaped exactly like the interior, curving parallel to the apse behind it.
The picture shows the main fa�ade of the church.
View the section and ground plan of Santi Luca e Martina, Rome.