DOI issue:
Faculty of archeology, history and letters
DOI article:Mann, Horace K.: The portraits of the popes
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70028#0214
194
The British School at Rome.
by the same artist in the Vatican crypt, and various statues in the same
place, and elsewhere) ; and Benedict XI. (tomb at Perugia by Giovanni
Pisano).1 Of the recumbent figures those of Gregory X. and Boniface VIII.
are the most important. That of the former, said to be by Margaritone,
is an exceptionally fine piece of work; and contemplation of its
impressive face serves to deepen our feelings of respect for the saintly
Pope who had so much at heart the glory of God, and who had the
pleasure of seeing the East and the West once again ecclesiastically
united.2
Contemplating the calm and beautiful, though firm, features which
we see not merely on the figure on the tomb of Boniface VIII., but also
on the other numerous statues and frescoes of him that have survived
to this day, one cannot suppress the feeling which at once arises, that,
whatever may have been the outward character of some of his acts, they
must in the main have been the outcome of a lofty motive. Of the
other sepulchral monuments a brief mention must be made of the tomb
and figure of Hadrian V. With its excellent proportions and harmonious
colouring, it is perhaps the finest of all the Cosmati tombs, and the figure
beneath its noble canopy is well cut, showing small regular features in
calm repose.3
A few of the portraits of the Popes of this age have been delicately
traced in miniature, and even delineated by the needle. On the Ascoli
cope, the adventures of which in recent years brought it so strongly to
the public notice, we see the faces of four successive Popes from
Innocent IV. to Clement IV. But a glance at the lovely features given
them is enough to show that they are merely the outcome of the
imagination of some pious nun.4 Just alluding to other existing con-
temporary miniatures of Innocent III., and Innocent IV., as too small
to be of much account as portraits, we would call attention to the
beautiful and striking miniature of Celestine V. which is to be found in
1 Venturi, however, Storia d'Arte, assigns this fine monument to Niccola and Meo di
Nuto.
2 On the question of the sculptor of this and the other statues of Gregory X. at Arezzo,
see the recent work of A. del Vita in his II Duomo d’Arezzo, p. 22if. See also the excellent ■
illustrations of the tomb, etc., there given.
3 Cf. C. Pinzi, I principali mon. di Viterbo, p. 131, Viterbo, 1916.
4 They may be studied in the illustrations given by E. Bertaux, * Tresors d’Eglises,
Ascoli Piceno,’ ap. Melanges d’archiol., 1897, p. 77 ff.
The British School at Rome.
by the same artist in the Vatican crypt, and various statues in the same
place, and elsewhere) ; and Benedict XI. (tomb at Perugia by Giovanni
Pisano).1 Of the recumbent figures those of Gregory X. and Boniface VIII.
are the most important. That of the former, said to be by Margaritone,
is an exceptionally fine piece of work; and contemplation of its
impressive face serves to deepen our feelings of respect for the saintly
Pope who had so much at heart the glory of God, and who had the
pleasure of seeing the East and the West once again ecclesiastically
united.2
Contemplating the calm and beautiful, though firm, features which
we see not merely on the figure on the tomb of Boniface VIII., but also
on the other numerous statues and frescoes of him that have survived
to this day, one cannot suppress the feeling which at once arises, that,
whatever may have been the outward character of some of his acts, they
must in the main have been the outcome of a lofty motive. Of the
other sepulchral monuments a brief mention must be made of the tomb
and figure of Hadrian V. With its excellent proportions and harmonious
colouring, it is perhaps the finest of all the Cosmati tombs, and the figure
beneath its noble canopy is well cut, showing small regular features in
calm repose.3
A few of the portraits of the Popes of this age have been delicately
traced in miniature, and even delineated by the needle. On the Ascoli
cope, the adventures of which in recent years brought it so strongly to
the public notice, we see the faces of four successive Popes from
Innocent IV. to Clement IV. But a glance at the lovely features given
them is enough to show that they are merely the outcome of the
imagination of some pious nun.4 Just alluding to other existing con-
temporary miniatures of Innocent III., and Innocent IV., as too small
to be of much account as portraits, we would call attention to the
beautiful and striking miniature of Celestine V. which is to be found in
1 Venturi, however, Storia d'Arte, assigns this fine monument to Niccola and Meo di
Nuto.
2 On the question of the sculptor of this and the other statues of Gregory X. at Arezzo,
see the recent work of A. del Vita in his II Duomo d’Arezzo, p. 22if. See also the excellent ■
illustrations of the tomb, etc., there given.
3 Cf. C. Pinzi, I principali mon. di Viterbo, p. 131, Viterbo, 1916.
4 They may be studied in the illustrations given by E. Bertaux, * Tresors d’Eglises,
Ascoli Piceno,’ ap. Melanges d’archiol., 1897, p. 77 ff.