The Churchs most spectacular papal tomb restored

In the history of the papacy, this bronze tomb is one of a kind, it was made in 1484 for Pope Sixtus IV. The most important Italian sculptors of the time, Antonio del Pollaiolo, took nine years to finish it. Yet it was never used for as a tomb.

Sante Guido
Restorer
Pope Sixtus IV was a Franciscan and he wanted to be buried in a simple tomb in the earth. But it was his nephew Cardinal Giuliano ella Rovere, or Pope Julius II who had this lovely but expensive tomb made.

Around the popes figure, the artist carved the seven cardinal virtues. He also carved the ten allegories of Art and Sciences, including astronomy, philosophy and dialectics at the base of the monument.

Thanks to the restoration, which lasted two years, restorers discovered the artists challenges, who was not comfortable doing large-scale work. The first two he created, Rhetoric and Grammar, are very different from the last two, Philosophy and Theology.

Sante Guido
Restorer
"The artist sculpted all the elements that humanists had placed at the centre of culture during those times, cause the Pope was very cultured and sensitive."

Next to the sculptures, the artist added two panels. The one that sits at the popes feet tells the life of the pontiff. The other, under the head of Sixtus IV, has his signature. In addition, the sculptor also carved oak branches, which identified the family of the Pope.

The monument, which is also known as the bronze Sistine Chapel can be seen at St. Peters Basilicas Museum.

PVB
FF
-WP -

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[theresemacd]

I can't believe the ignorance of some of these comments. The Catholic church donates more to charity than any other organization on earth. The church is also a champion of the arts, why is that a bad thing?...no, we should just abolish all art and culture... everyone stop painting, sculpting, building, writing music and just destroy all historical artifacts! they're from the devil! and make ugly churches, that pleases God more.

[anaclet]

Veramente un capolavoro! Bellissimo! Bravo!

[cuvinteleluitati]

The pope is the beast of Rev13 and the vatican is the harlot church of Rev17. The pope changed the sabbath day to sunday a pagan satanic day,he gave orders to torture and kill the true christians in the dark ages 50 million in total,he called himself JESUS SUBSTITUE vicarus filii dei which is what the prophet daniel said the anti christ would dare to claim about himself. Rev17 says the harlot church sits with the anti christ on the city which lays on seven hills ROME. Put it together JESUSLOVESU

[Xiansiempre]

@Wieswald1 true, the church does not hold it for its monetary value but for its beauty and artistic value. even if the world considered it worthless the church would hold on to it

[Wieswald1]

Art has monetary value only to the extend that someone is willing to pay something for it. Thus, all the artistic treasures of the Church could have zero financial value. It is therefore not 'wealth' in the monetary sense. Instead, the Church treasures art because it is beautiful and noble, manifesting the genius of the (Divinely created) human spirit. Beauty draws those attuned to it into the heart of Good and Truth. Thus, the Arts are an agent of evangelization.

[thegorn68]

@n419ayg106 So, what you're saying is, if the Church sold EVERYTHING IT OWNED. it would wipe out world hunger. It has nothing to do with natural disasters, wars, agricultural infastructure, poverty traps, over-exploitation of environment, etc. It's only because the Vatican, which is it's own city state mind you, has some works of art. Why doesn't the U.S. Government sell the marble that went into the Lincoln Memorial to help with world hunger?

[Ioannesmartialis]

@theresemacd

Everyone knows that puritanical societies that scoff at things the Church supported produce exquisite music such as rap and Britney Spears, their music mostly about complaining about their First World Problems or bragging about their ill-gotten wealth. They also made fine works of art such as urinals that become artworks when taken out of context and Reality T.V. They glorify the mentally disturbed, criminals, drug addicts, and whores and consider them role models.

[eraser695]

Those who Disliked the Video Must be Illiterate. 

[eraser695]

Its Magnificent.

[RedaSkateboard]

bad

[RedaSkateboard]

@theresemacd

asshole

[5t00g]

@Rao665 not to mention golf courses, the biggest waste of land!