DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.71557#0115
COMPLETION OF ST. PETER'S.
97
Michael Angelo died in 1563, in the exercise of
his great talents up to the day of his death. His
successors in carrying on the works of St. Peter's
were the most learned artists of their day. Vignola
and Piero Ligorio till 1573; Jacopo a Porta and
Domenico Fontana till 1591 ; and, finally, Carlo
Maderna completed the work in 1615, with the
prolongation of the nave, under the idea, among
others, of including within the precincts of the edi-
fice the entire sacred site of the antique church of
Constantine. Thus the period of one hundred and
three years was occupied in its complete erection.
The beautiful circular colonnades which flank the
extremities of the church were designed by Ber-
nini, and the matchless fountains in front of them
are generally attributed to Michael Angelo.
The honour of completing the cupola was re-
served for Sixtus V. In the year 1591 the top-
stone was elevated to its proud position, after
receiving the papal benediction, amidst choral
symphonies and the sound of trumpets. The
lantern, with the ball and cross, were attached to
the cupola in the reign of Clement VIII.
St. Peter's is chiefly indebted to Paul V. for its
ricli and exquisite marbles; but his memory is
loaded with the reproach of having authorised the
first signal departure from the plan of Buonarroti,
by the elongation of the entrance nave, the con-
sequences of which are justly deplored. Had our
great artist's scheme of the Greek cross been
VOL. II.
Η
97
Michael Angelo died in 1563, in the exercise of
his great talents up to the day of his death. His
successors in carrying on the works of St. Peter's
were the most learned artists of their day. Vignola
and Piero Ligorio till 1573; Jacopo a Porta and
Domenico Fontana till 1591 ; and, finally, Carlo
Maderna completed the work in 1615, with the
prolongation of the nave, under the idea, among
others, of including within the precincts of the edi-
fice the entire sacred site of the antique church of
Constantine. Thus the period of one hundred and
three years was occupied in its complete erection.
The beautiful circular colonnades which flank the
extremities of the church were designed by Ber-
nini, and the matchless fountains in front of them
are generally attributed to Michael Angelo.
The honour of completing the cupola was re-
served for Sixtus V. In the year 1591 the top-
stone was elevated to its proud position, after
receiving the papal benediction, amidst choral
symphonies and the sound of trumpets. The
lantern, with the ball and cross, were attached to
the cupola in the reign of Clement VIII.
St. Peter's is chiefly indebted to Paul V. for its
ricli and exquisite marbles; but his memory is
loaded with the reproach of having authorised the
first signal departure from the plan of Buonarroti,
by the elongation of the entrance nave, the con-
sequences of which are justly deplored. Had our
great artist's scheme of the Greek cross been
VOL. II.
Η