VATICAN MUSEUMS - MUSEUMS OF THE APOSTOLIC VATICAN LIBRARY (second part)

Room of the Papyri
 

Built for Clement XIV Ganganelli (1769/74) in order to accommodate the “Papyri of Ravenna” dating from the sixth to the ninth century AD from various sources, of which however copies are exhibited

On the ceiling “Allegory of History” 1774 Anton Raphael Mengs (1728/79) ornamental decorations and frames Cristoforo Unterberger (1732/98)

“Bust of Alexander VII Chigi (1655/67)”

Models of the “Truth Unveiled by Time” and “Two Charities” by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598/1680) for the Monument of Pope Urban VIII in the Basilica of St. Peter

The model of Charity with four putti was executed for the first version of the monument in about 1627/28, the one with two putti for the second version of the years 1634/39

Models of the “Prophet Habakkuk” and “Daniel in the lions' den” also by Gian Lorenzo Bernini for the Chigi Chapel in S. Maria del Popolo

Model of “St. John the Baptist baptizing Jesus” by Alessandro Algardi (1598/1654) for a group of silver made in 1644 on the occasion of the election of Innocent X Pamphilj (1644/55)

The terracotta models kept in this room belonged to Cardinal Flavio Chigi, nephew of Alexander VII

They passed in 1918 to the Italian state and in 1923 they were donated by Benito Mussolini to Pius XI Ratti (1922/39) as an act of reconciliation between Italy and the Holy See

 

 

Sacred Museum

Designed by Paolo Posi (1708/76) for Benedict XIV Lambertini (1740/58) in order to accommodate early Christian relics

At the sides of the entrance statues: on the right “Lysias” and on the left “Aelius Aristides”

On the ceiling “Triumph of the Church” and “Triumph of Faith” 1757 by the Roman Stefano Pozzi (1699/1768)

Above the precious cabinets in walnut finished with gilded bronze are placed “Twenty-four bronze busts of cardinals librarians” made in 1783 by Luigi Valadier (1726/85)

Precious Christian and non-Christian ancient pieces:

Glass objects from the fourth century AD some from Ostia, amulets, Roman rings, oil lamps in terracotta, Byzantine seals and weights

“Silver plate” with hunting scenes of the fifth century AD

“Reliquary of Algeria” of the sixth century AD

Early Christian and Coptic textiles including “Sheets of the seven Greek martyrs” eighth or ninth century

“Mosaic with St. Theodore” about 1200 icon for traveling similar to those of the monasteries of Mount Athos

“Chest for the Head of St. Sebastian” ninth century, formerly in the church Ss. Quattro Coronati

“Acquamanile” in oriental style used, according to legend, by St. Lawrence to give baptism

VATICAN MUSEUMS - MUSEUMS OF THE APOSTOLIC VATICAN LIBRARY (first part)

MUSEI DELLA BIBLIOTECA VATICANA

Room of the messages to Pius IX

1877, the messages for presents received by Pius IX (1846/78) used to be kept here

Byzantine liturgical vestments and fabrics

“Frontal of altar and elements in silk and golden silver threads” from the mass vestments of Clement VIII Aldobrandini (1592/1605) woven as tapestries by Guasparri di Bartolomeo Papini of the Florentine Grand Ducal Manufactures from cartoons of the years 1593/97 by Alessandro Allori aka Bronzino (1533/1607) a pupil of Agnolo di Cosimo aka Bronzino

“Original artifacts from Pompeii“

Important “Original Greek marble bas-relief of a knight” of the fourth century BC

 

 

Chapel of St. Pius V

For St. Pius V Ghislieri(1566/72)

Frescoes “Stories of St. Peter Martyr” 1570 by Jacopo Zucchi (about 1542/96) designed by his master Giorgio Vasari (1511/74)

Objects of the treasury of the Sancta Sanctorum of the Lateran dating from the fourth to the eleventh century

 

 

Room of the Messages

It used to keep the messages for presents received by Leo XIII Pecci (1878/1903) and St. Pius X Sarto (1903/14)

Early Christian and Roman glass and enamels, ivories and metals from Medieval to Modern times:

“Glass” of the fourth century with scale-like marine animals from Cologne

“Disk” with the oldest depiction of Sts. Peter and Paul

“Enamels of Limoges” with stories of Christ from the old Basilica of St. Peter

“Diptych from Rambona” tenth century, from the Abbey of St. Mary Rambona in the province of Macerata in the Marche region

The name comes from the altar of the Bona Dea, which was replaced at the end of the ninth century with the Abbey

“Ivory pyx” from Milan, sixth century

 

 

Room of the Aldobrandini Wedding

Designed by Flaminio Ponzio (1560/1613) for Paul V Borghese (1605/21)

On the ceiling “Stories of Samson” 1607/08 by Guido Reni (1575/1642) who, during the same period, also the frescoed the ceiling of the HALL OF DAMES with the “Pentecost”

On the floor mosaic “Achilles drags Hector's body” third century AD

The room contains an impressive collection of paintings at least 1,800 years old:

Frescoes

Wedding scene with “The Marriage of Alexander and Roxane” also known as Nozze Aldobrandini (Aldobrandini Wedding) of the Augustan period found in 1605 by the Arch of Gallienus

It was preserved in the Villa Aldobrandini at Magnanapoli and since 1818 in the Vatican

It is one of the most beautiful and best preserved paintings that we have from antiquity

“Heroines of Tormarancia” third century AD found in 1816 in the ruins of a villa. There are various heroines of Greek tragedy represented

“Odyssey Landscapes” first century BC from the frieze of a room discovered in 1848 on the Esquiline Hill

“Cargo Ship with wheat” third century AD found in Ostia in 1865

“Processions of children” third century AD found in Ostia in 1868

“Race of chariots driven by putti and pulled by tigers and deer”

Mosaics

“Garlands of leaves and fruits” from Villa Adriana in Tivoli

“Landscape and animals” from the Aventine Hill