Martyrology

The perimeter of the church is decorated with 34 scenes that depict the persecution of christian martyrs by roman emperors. The series was commissioned by the Jesuits, to whom the church was entrusted by Pope Gregory XIII, to Niccolò Circignani also known as Pomarancio (he was a student of Cristoforo Roncalli, who had the same nickname) and Antonio Tempesta. The flemish painter Bril may have helped, specializing in landscapes. Pomarancio also painted the Strage degli Innocenti and the Crocifissione. All the sections have inscriptions in either Latin or Italian that explain the subjects for educational purposes.