DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.43489#0057
Papieże, nepoci w purpurze
51
Adam Miłobędzki uważał kaplicę-mauzoleum świętego Kazimierza w
Wilnie za najwspanialsze tego typu dzieło zrealizowane u nas w redakcji
rzymskiej. Co więcej, wskazał na zbieżność formalną królewskiej fundacji
w Wilnie z dwiema kaplicami papieskimi przy bazylice Santa Maria Maggio-
POPES, NEPOTISTS IN THE SCARLET DRESS AND THEIR MAUSOLEUMS
IN THE POST-TRIDENTINE ROME
Summary
Two Popes Sixtus V Peretti and Paul V Borghese initiated the erection of two
tomb chapels at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica. The size, localisation and artistic
class of architecture, together with the current contents concerning, among other
things, the time and place of their erection, are regarded by scholars as the most
important works of the Roman times of the Counterreformation. Sixtus V was from
the Franciscan order and was elected Pope in a rivalry with Cardinal Alessandro
Farnese. The earlier candidature of Cardinal Farnese to the papal throne had been
blocked by the election of Dominican Pius V, supported by Charles Borromeo. The
Sistine chapel, which Pope Sixtus V built for himself and Pius V with a view to
make it a mausoleum, resulted from a consolidation of two Italian orders, Francis-
cans and Dominicans, under the patronage of the popes. It was set against the rising
importance of the new order of Jesuits in Rome, supported by Cardinal Farnese. In
the same time, as a protector of the Jesuits, he was building the del’ Gesu church
for them, a church that was supposed to be play the role of the cardinal’s
mausoleum.
The erection of the second chapel Paolina at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica
was a natural link to the earlier Sistine chapel and the activity of Sixtus V. Paul V
erected the chapel Paolina also with a view to make it a mausoleum for himself and
for his predecessor Clement VIII Aldobrandini. The Sistine chapel symbolised the
relationship between the two popes who came from the Italian orders - Franciscans
and Dominicans. Now Paolina - the relationship of two aristocratic families - was
sealed with a marriage between Paola Borghese and Olimpia Aldobrandini.
Tombs and chapels or church mausoleums, erected by popes and cardinals, were
important inspirations for the building or modernisation of the Roman churches in
the post-Tridentine period. Various religious congregations solicited for support and
material care from influential Roman families. The two papal mausoleums at the
14
A. Miłobędzki, Architektura polska XVII wieku, Warszawa 1980, s. 188-190.
51
Adam Miłobędzki uważał kaplicę-mauzoleum świętego Kazimierza w
Wilnie za najwspanialsze tego typu dzieło zrealizowane u nas w redakcji
rzymskiej. Co więcej, wskazał na zbieżność formalną królewskiej fundacji
w Wilnie z dwiema kaplicami papieskimi przy bazylice Santa Maria Maggio-
POPES, NEPOTISTS IN THE SCARLET DRESS AND THEIR MAUSOLEUMS
IN THE POST-TRIDENTINE ROME
Summary
Two Popes Sixtus V Peretti and Paul V Borghese initiated the erection of two
tomb chapels at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica. The size, localisation and artistic
class of architecture, together with the current contents concerning, among other
things, the time and place of their erection, are regarded by scholars as the most
important works of the Roman times of the Counterreformation. Sixtus V was from
the Franciscan order and was elected Pope in a rivalry with Cardinal Alessandro
Farnese. The earlier candidature of Cardinal Farnese to the papal throne had been
blocked by the election of Dominican Pius V, supported by Charles Borromeo. The
Sistine chapel, which Pope Sixtus V built for himself and Pius V with a view to
make it a mausoleum, resulted from a consolidation of two Italian orders, Francis-
cans and Dominicans, under the patronage of the popes. It was set against the rising
importance of the new order of Jesuits in Rome, supported by Cardinal Farnese. In
the same time, as a protector of the Jesuits, he was building the del’ Gesu church
for them, a church that was supposed to be play the role of the cardinal’s
mausoleum.
The erection of the second chapel Paolina at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica
was a natural link to the earlier Sistine chapel and the activity of Sixtus V. Paul V
erected the chapel Paolina also with a view to make it a mausoleum for himself and
for his predecessor Clement VIII Aldobrandini. The Sistine chapel symbolised the
relationship between the two popes who came from the Italian orders - Franciscans
and Dominicans. Now Paolina - the relationship of two aristocratic families - was
sealed with a marriage between Paola Borghese and Olimpia Aldobrandini.
Tombs and chapels or church mausoleums, erected by popes and cardinals, were
important inspirations for the building or modernisation of the Roman churches in
the post-Tridentine period. Various religious congregations solicited for support and
material care from influential Roman families. The two papal mausoleums at the
14
A. Miłobędzki, Architektura polska XVII wieku, Warszawa 1980, s. 188-190.