Papal Patronage of San Cosimato
Title
Papal Patronage of San Cosimato
Description
In the 1230’s, just 25 years after the foundation of the Franciscan orders, the convent of San Cosimato was formed when Pope Gregory IX gave a male Benedictine house to the Clares. The convent was one of three female Franciscan convents in Rome. The others are San Silvestro in Capite and San Lorenzo in Panisperna which were founded in the late 13th and early 14th century.
In the middle of the 15th century, each of these Roman Franciscan convents were reformed and re-staffed with nuns from Observant Clarissan convents in Perugia and expanded from 12 nuns to 70 nuns between 1451 and 1521. It was common for nuns to move from convent to convent when personnel was needed.
Regarding patronage and the activities within San Cosimato, Lowe’s main source is a chronicle written in the late 16th century by a nun named Suor Orsola Formicini. Formicini, as a chronicler, also served as a historian and looked to past chronicles in her writing. Lowe notes that convent chronicles were uncommon enough to be considered precious but common enough to comprise a genre of writing. From Formicini and other primary sources like papal and convent transactional records we can get a sense of how papal patronage looked in the 15th and 16th centuries.
In 1439 Pope Eugenius IV issued a bull that brought all Clarissan convents under protection of papacy rather than episcopal jurisdiction. In 1475, Franciscan Pope Sixtus IV, a lover of art and scholarship who was known for restoring Roman buildings and structures took on a large project at San Cosimato, adding a new church, campanile, cortile (courtyard), and well. He also would send money to the nuns whenever they sent him figs or peaches from their property. Sixtus’ fondness for San Cosimato might have due to his Franciscanism and his interest in developing the area of Trastevere. Sixtus’ sister, Franchetta, might have also been a patron of San Cosimato suggested by her request to be buried there.
Popes after Sixtus IV also patronized San Cosimato. In 1492 right before his death Pope Innocent VIII wanted to send two nieces to be educated in good manners at the convent. After Pope Innocent VIII, Pope Alexander VI created subsidies of foodstuffs for convents and his mistress, Vannozza Catanei might have also been a patron, suggested by a portrait of her with other benefactors. In the 15th and 16th century, Popes employed a “patriarchal munificence” in their patronage of San Cosimato, where they provided building works, female patrons, long term subsidy programs, and waived taxes. What Lowe calls ”gendered helplessness” allowed for mutual gains– Popes were able to boost their reputation and nuns received practical help and monetary aid.
In the middle of the 15th century, each of these Roman Franciscan convents were reformed and re-staffed with nuns from Observant Clarissan convents in Perugia and expanded from 12 nuns to 70 nuns between 1451 and 1521. It was common for nuns to move from convent to convent when personnel was needed.
Regarding patronage and the activities within San Cosimato, Lowe’s main source is a chronicle written in the late 16th century by a nun named Suor Orsola Formicini. Formicini, as a chronicler, also served as a historian and looked to past chronicles in her writing. Lowe notes that convent chronicles were uncommon enough to be considered precious but common enough to comprise a genre of writing. From Formicini and other primary sources like papal and convent transactional records we can get a sense of how papal patronage looked in the 15th and 16th centuries.
In 1439 Pope Eugenius IV issued a bull that brought all Clarissan convents under protection of papacy rather than episcopal jurisdiction. In 1475, Franciscan Pope Sixtus IV, a lover of art and scholarship who was known for restoring Roman buildings and structures took on a large project at San Cosimato, adding a new church, campanile, cortile (courtyard), and well. He also would send money to the nuns whenever they sent him figs or peaches from their property. Sixtus’ fondness for San Cosimato might have due to his Franciscanism and his interest in developing the area of Trastevere. Sixtus’ sister, Franchetta, might have also been a patron of San Cosimato suggested by her request to be buried there.
Popes after Sixtus IV also patronized San Cosimato. In 1492 right before his death Pope Innocent VIII wanted to send two nieces to be educated in good manners at the convent. After Pope Innocent VIII, Pope Alexander VI created subsidies of foodstuffs for convents and his mistress, Vannozza Catanei might have also been a patron, suggested by a portrait of her with other benefactors. In the 15th and 16th century, Popes employed a “patriarchal munificence” in their patronage of San Cosimato, where they provided building works, female patrons, long term subsidy programs, and waived taxes. What Lowe calls ”gendered helplessness” allowed for mutual gains– Popes were able to boost their reputation and nuns received practical help and monetary aid.
Creator
Simón Gutkin (2018)
Source
Lowe, Kate. "Artistic Patronage at the Clarissan Convent of San Cosimato in Trastevere, 1400-1600." Papers of the British School at Rome 69(2001):273 – 297.
Date
1230-1240
Identifier
sancosimatopapal_2017
Spatial Coverage
Piazza di S. Cosimato, 3214, 00153 Roma RM, Italy
Description
In the 1230’s, just 25 years after the foundation of the Franciscan orders, the convent of San Cosimato was formed when Pope Gregory IX gave a male Benedictine house to the Clares. The convent was one of three female Franciscan convents in Rome. The others are San Silvestro in Capite and San Lorenzo in Panisperna which were founded in the late 13th and early 14th century.In the middle of the 15th century, each of these Roman Franciscan convents were reformed and re-staffed with nuns from Observant Clarissan convents in Perugia and expanded from 12 nuns to 70 nuns between 1451 and 1521. It was common for nuns to move from convent to convent when personnel was needed.
Regarding patronage and the activities within San Cosimato, Lowe’s main source is a chronicle written in the late 16th century by a nun named Suor Orsola Formicini. Formicini, as a chronicler, also served as a historian and looked to past chronicles in her writing. Lowe notes that convent chronicles were uncommon enough to be considered precious but common enough to comprise a genre of writing. From Formicini and other primary sources like papal and convent transactional records we can get a sense of how papal patronage looked in the 15th and 16th centuries.
In 1439 Pope Eugenius IV issued a bull that brought all Clarissan convents under protection of papacy rather than episcopal jurisdiction. In 1475, Franciscan Pope Sixtus IV, a lover of art and scholarship who was known for restoring Roman buildings and structures took on a large project at San Cosimato, adding a new church, campanile, cortile (courtyard), and well. He also would send money to the nuns whenever they sent him figs or peaches from their property. Sixtus’ fondness for San Cosimato might have due to his Franciscanism and his interest in developing the area of Trastevere. Sixtus’ sister, Franchetta, might have also been a patron of San Cosimato suggested by her request to be buried there.
Popes after Sixtus IV also patronized San Cosimato. In 1492 right before his death Pope Innocent VIII wanted to send two nieces to be educated in good manners at the convent. After Pope Innocent VIII, Pope Alexander VI created subsidies of foodstuffs for convents and his mistress, Vannozza Catanei might have also been a patron, suggested by a portrait of her with other benefactors. In the 15th and 16th century, Popes employed a “patriarchal munificence” in their patronage of San Cosimato, where they provided building works, female patrons, long term subsidy programs, and waived taxes. What Lowe calls ”gendered helplessness” allowed for mutual gains– Popes were able to boost their reputation and nuns received practical help and monetary aid.