Dome

Marble altar rail of various colours (note the inlaid marble detail of the Chigi insignia); It was not until 1658 that he had the opportunity to design entire churches, albeit relatively small ones. In that year he began S Tommaso da Villanova (completed 1661) at Castel Gandolfo and S Andrea al Quirinale in Rome. In 1662-1664 he built S Maria dell' Assunzione at Ariccia. All three are variations on a domed, centralized plan. The church at Ariccia is a more interesting scheme based on a circular plan and having a hemispherical dome rising straight from the cornice of the main walls. It is entered through a triple-arched and pedimented portico with pilasters. This remarkably pure combination of cylinder, hemisphere and portico was clearly inspired by Bernini's contemporary involvement with schemes to restore the Pantheon to its 'original' state. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.groveart.com/ (accessed 12/2/2007)