Memorial to Ippolito Merenda explained

Memorial to Ippolito Merenda
Artist:Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Catalogue:43
Type:Sculpture
Material:Marble relief
Subject:Ippolito Merenda
Dimensions:Life-size skeleton
City:Rome
Museum:San Giacomo alla Lungara
Preceded By:Memorial to Alessandro Valtrini
Followed By:Memorial to Maria Raggi

The Memorial to Ippolito Merenda is a funerary monument designed by the Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini between 1636 and 1638. Along with the similar monument for Alessandro Valtrini, this artwork was a startling new approach to funerary monuments, incorporating dynamic, flowing inscriptions being dragged by a moving figure of death. It is in the church of San Giacomo alla Lungara in Rome.

Merenda was from Cesena in Emilia Romagna. He left a bequest to San Giacomo della Lungara (of 20,000 Roman scudi) on his death in 1636. One of the nephews of the then pope Urban VIII, Cardinal Francesco Barberini, then commissioned the monument from Bernini in recognition of Merenda's contribution.

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