Portraits and sculptures of Popes to be displayed in Rome

Rome, Italy, Nov 21, 2004 / 22:00 pm

The office of the Mayor of Rome announced this weekend that a collection of portraits and sculptures of the Popes by artists such as Rafael and Bernini will go on display in the Eternal City starting November 30.

The showing will take place at the Braschi Palace in Rome, according to Gianni Borgia, cultural advisor of the office of Rome’s mayor.

Some fifty works of art will be included in the showing, including a bronze bust of Pope Gregory XV, made by Baroque master Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and a portrait of Pope Julius II, painted by Rafael.

Borgia explained that the works “will be displayed in chronological order and they will tell the history of the Popes from the Renaissance to the present day.”

Cardinal Francesco Marchisano told reporters that these works of art will enable people “to discover the history of Rome.”

Organizers said a catalogue with information on the history of each Pope will be available, in order to allow people to learn about the history of the pontificates starting from the sixteenth century.