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Rome exhibition celebrates 400th anniversary of St. Peter’s Basilica with focus on Bernini’s bronze canopy and Pope Urban VIII’s role.
A Rome exhibition marks the 400th anniversary of St. Peter’s Basilica’s consecration by spotlighting Pope Urban VIII’s 1624 decision to assign 25-year-old Bernini the task of designing the basilica’s towering bronze canopy, completed in 1633.
Despite cardinal concerns over disturbing sacred ground, Urban VIII authorized excavations, preserving displaced soil with reverence.
The nearly 92-foot canopy, overcoming early structural issues likely with input from Borromini, became a centerpiece of Baroque Catholic art.
The exhibit features drawings, coins, manuscripts, and artifacts like a devotional medal bearing the pope’s image and the canopy’s likeness.
It also explores Bernini’s broader role in advancing the Barberini family’s legacy through portraits, monuments, and rare paintings, underscoring his influence in blending religious symbolism with political power during a pivotal era.
La exposición de Roma celebra el 400o aniversario de la Basílica de San Pedro con un enfoque en el dosel de bronce de Bernini y el papel del Papa Urbano VIII.