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flag Rome exhibition celebrates 400th anniversary of St. Peter’s Basilica with focus on Bernini’s bronze canopy and Pope Urban VIII’s role.

flag 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. flag Despite cardinal concerns over disturbing sacred ground, Urban VIII authorized excavations, preserving displaced soil with reverence. flag The nearly 92-foot canopy, overcoming early structural issues likely with input from Borromini, became a centerpiece of Baroque Catholic art. flag The exhibit features drawings, coins, manuscripts, and artifacts like a devotional medal bearing the pope’s image and the canopy’s likeness. flag 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.

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