Daily
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| Gian Lorenzo Bernini |
| Luigi Vanvitelli |
| Luigi Poletti |
| Carlo Maderno |
Your answer was: Luigi Poletti. |
Answer: Luigi Poletti 
 After the devastating fire of 1823 that nearly destroyed the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, the Vatican faced the monumental task of rebuilding one of Christianity’s most sacred sites. The responsibility for this ambitious project ultimately fell to Luigi Poletti, a prominent 19th-century Italian architect known for his neoclassical sensibilities. Poletti’s vision was not merely restorative but transformative: he sought to preserve the basilica’s ancient dimensions while reimagining its structure in a neoclassical idiom that honored both tradition and the aesthetic ideals of his time. Poletti’s work culminated in the third and current basilica, consecrated by Pope Pius IX on December 10, 1854. His design retained the basilica’s original footprint but introduced a harmonious blend of early Christian, Byzantine, and neoclassical elements. The 2024 Vatican stamp, issued for the 170th anniversary of this rededication, celebrates this architectural achievement by featuring the preserved 13th-century apse mosaic. The accompanying postmark, with its symbols of the book and sword, further underscores the continuity of Saint Paul’s mission and the enduring legacy of the basilica’s reconstruction. The 2024 Vatican stamp, issued on November 4 to commemorate the 170th anniversary of the rededication of the Basilica of Saint Paul, features the stunning 13th-century apse mosaic commissioned by Pope Honorius III and crafted by Venetian masters in the Byzantine style. At its center is Christ Pantocrator, flanked by Saints Paul and Luke, symbolizing the apostolic mission and scriptural legacy of the basilica. The accompanying circular postmark, used at the “Arco delle Campane” post office on November 4–5, 2024, includes a stylized depiction of the book and sword—traditional emblems of Saint Paul—alongside the inscriptions “170° RIDEDICAZIONE DELLA BASILICA DI SAN PAOLO,” “POSTE VATICANE,” and the date of issue Reference • Wittman, Richard. “History.” Basilica Papale di San Paolo Fuori le Mura, • “Luigi Poletti and the Challenge of Rebuilding San Paolo.” Rebuilding St. Paul's Outside the Walls: Architecture and the Catholic Revival in the 19th Century, Cambridge University Press, 2024, pp. 207–245 |
