Carlo Maderno at St. Peter's in the Early 16th Century

A century after Bramante had finished his design for the new basilica of St. Peter, Carlo Maderno became the architect of St. Peter's had was commissioned to add the long fought over nave to the east of the Greek cross.

The plan shows that most of Michelangelo's concept for St. Peter's had been built and was preserved when Maderno added three bays to the length of the east arm and fronted the entire composition with a rather broad narthex.

The east facade shows most of the characteristics of the Gesu typology. The facade is composed of advancing planes that culminate in a central aedicule. A giant order unifies the elements below the entablature. Alternating pediments over entrances and niches relate to a minor order that enframes the entries at ground level. The only element of the Gesu typology missing is a secondary pedimental element stacked on the lower facade in the middle.

This dark view of the interior indicates that Maderno's nave respects the language, scale, and vocabulary of Michelangelo's design.

Go to Bernini and the Completion of the new St. Peter's Basilica