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Tour Santa SusannaThe St. Lawrence Chapel

The Saint Lawrence Chapel

One the two side chapels of Santa Susanna. This was the first part of the Rennaisance renovation completed in 1591. The chapel was constructed through a gift from Princess Camilla Peretti, the sister of Pope Sixtus V and the Peretti coat of arms, a lion holding a bunch of grapes, is found on either side of the altar and the altar railing. The Princess had a specific devotion to Saint Lawrence who is commemorated in a painting over the high altar by Caesare Nebbia. Saint Genesius, the patron saint of actors is interred in a tomb altar to the left of the altar of Saint Lawrence, and Pope Saint Eleutherius, the twelfth pope is interred on the right side. The chapel was completely frescoed by Giovanni Battista Pozzo in 1591. A cycle of frescos surrounding the main altar tell the story of Saint Lawrence. On the left, the frescos tell the story of Saint Genesius and on the right the story of Pope Saint Eleutherius. The side chapel is one of the few places in the church where the original 16th century floor is still in place. Directly below the high altar is a memorial to the actor Hugh O’Connor, the son of Carrol and Nancy O’Connor.