DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61668#0319
THE TOMBS OF THE POPES 203
hollowed eyes, show every sign of having been -moulded
on the corpse itself.
The four Virtues on either side of the seated statue
are but varied copies of those on the Tomb of Sixtus.
The same designs have served for both, with a few slight
changes in the inclination of the heads and arms, and
in the folds of the draperies. The execution has evidently
been left to assistants, for the figures have less energy,
the draperies are coarser, and the modelling of the nude
parts is not so delicate. The exquisite chiselling and
polish of the others also is lacking in these replicas.
The three Virtues above in the lunette must also have
been left chiefly to assistants, for in execution they are
unworthy of Antonio’s own hand. The design is bold
and original, and as far as is known to me it is the first
time the subject has been so treated—the Charity sur-
rounded by the mandorla, whom Faith and Hope serve
as attendant angels. It will be remarked that these
figures are also but varied repetitions of those on the
Tomb of Sixtus, the Charity of the Justice, the Faith
and Hope of the same Virtues.*
The remains of the Pope were placed in the
Sarcophagus, Jan. 30 1498, as is noted by Burchard in
his Diary. An interesting account of the ceremony is
in existence, written by an anonymous eye-witness.f
He relates that the body was, at the hour of Vespers,
taken out of the coffin, and was found to be almost
* For the Tomb of Innocent Antonio received 4000 ducats.
f The MSS. is preserved in the Vatican Library. For the
original words see Doc. XXII. p. 281).
hollowed eyes, show every sign of having been -moulded
on the corpse itself.
The four Virtues on either side of the seated statue
are but varied copies of those on the Tomb of Sixtus.
The same designs have served for both, with a few slight
changes in the inclination of the heads and arms, and
in the folds of the draperies. The execution has evidently
been left to assistants, for the figures have less energy,
the draperies are coarser, and the modelling of the nude
parts is not so delicate. The exquisite chiselling and
polish of the others also is lacking in these replicas.
The three Virtues above in the lunette must also have
been left chiefly to assistants, for in execution they are
unworthy of Antonio’s own hand. The design is bold
and original, and as far as is known to me it is the first
time the subject has been so treated—the Charity sur-
rounded by the mandorla, whom Faith and Hope serve
as attendant angels. It will be remarked that these
figures are also but varied repetitions of those on the
Tomb of Sixtus, the Charity of the Justice, the Faith
and Hope of the same Virtues.*
The remains of the Pope were placed in the
Sarcophagus, Jan. 30 1498, as is noted by Burchard in
his Diary. An interesting account of the ceremony is
in existence, written by an anonymous eye-witness.f
He relates that the body was, at the hour of Vespers,
taken out of the coffin, and was found to be almost
* For the Tomb of Innocent Antonio received 4000 ducats.
f The MSS. is preserved in the Vatican Library. For the
original words see Doc. XXII. p. 281).