Tomb of Pope Gregory XIII
Giovanni Girolamo Frezza, Italian, 1659 - 1741
1696, printed 1715
Engraving on wove paper
Plate: 11 15/16 × 7 13/16 in. (30.3 × 19.8 cm)
Sheet: 20 9/16 × 15 3/8 in. (52.3 × 39 cm)
Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth: Gift of Robert Dance, Class of 1977
PR.993.42.41
Portfolio / Series Title
Numismata summorum pontificum Templi Vaticani fabricam indicantia
Geography
Place Made: Italy, Europe
Period
1600-1800
Object Name
Research Area
On view
Inscriptions
Inscribed, in plate, lower left: Hieronymus Frezza incidit; inscribed, in plate, upper left: TABVLA 33/SEPVLCHRVM GREGORI XIII. PONT. MAX.; inscribed, in plate, in image, below center: GREGORIVS XIII/P.O.M.; inscribed, in graphite, lower right: 1572-85.
Label
Placed in significant locations in churches, tombs were public monuments that commemorated important leaders, preserving their accomplishments for future generations. Located in St. Peter’s Basilica, the original tomb of Pope Gregory XIII was made at the end of the 16th century, although it was later replaced with a tomb constructed in the 18th century. At the base, allegorical figures of Charity and Faith suggest the greatness of Gregory’s reign. This print belongs to a book of illustrations of the Vatican first published to promote church history in the 17th century, by which point the monuments had become markers for leaders past. Through his sculpted image, Gregory could retain his status for generations to come.
From the 2024 exhibition Living with Sculpture: Presence and Power in Europe, 1400–1750, curated by Elizabeth Rice Mattison, Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Academic Programming and Curator of European Art, and Ashley B. Offill, Curator of Collections
Course History
History 42.01, Women's Gender, and Sexuality Studies 22.01, Gender & European Society, Patrick Meehan, Spring 2024
History 96.39, Saints and Relics, Cecilia Gaposchkin, Spring 2024
Italian 1.01, Introductory Italian I, Noemi Perego, Spring 2024
Italian 11.01, Intensive Italian, Floriana Ciniglia, Spring 2024
Italian 2.01, Introductory Italian II, Floriana Ciniglia, Spring 2024
Italian 3.01, Introductory Italian III, Tania Convertini, Spring 2024
Italian 3.02, Introductory Italian III, Giorgio Alberti, Spring 2024
Exhibition History
Living with Sculpture: Presence and Power in Europe, 1400–1750, Citrin Family Gallery and Engles Family Gallery, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, March 23, 2024–March 22, 2025.
Provenance
Robert Dance, New York, New York; given to present collection, 1993.
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