Sixtus V
- Object:
- Place of origin:
Italy (perhaps Rome, made)
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
- Materials and Techniques:
- Museum number:
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Sixtus (Felice Peretti) was born in 1521 and Pope from 1585-1590.
This bust together with A.40-1910 are probably from the same workshop. Both must have been made after the accession of Sixtus in 1585, and possibly still later. The head of the Virgin which is shown on the morse appears on numerous medals, sometimes as a reverse to the head of Christ.
Pope Sixtus V (Felice Peretti) was born in 1521 and Pope from 1585-1590.
Pope from 1585 to 1590. He followed Gregory XIII as Pope, who had left the papal state in disorder. Sixtus when appointed restored order, which he succeeded to do within two years, using ruthless and repressive measures. He also engaged in wide economic and financial reforms, restoring the papal treasury. His legacy lies in the restoration of the church's central administration. He was called the 'iron' pope and was a patron of building and scholarship in the spirit of the Catholic renewal. Through his reconstructions, Rome became a magnificent baroque city with a new layout connecting the seven pilgrimage churches, opening up boulevards and building aqueducts, the 'Acqua Felice'. He also finished the construction of St. Peter's dome and established the Vatican press.
Physical description
The bust of Sixtus V shows him wearing a cope with representations of St. Bartholomew, St. James the Greater, St. Philip and St. Matthias. On the morse is a bust of the Virgin.
Place of Origin
Italy (perhaps Rome, made)
Date
ca. 1600 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Bronze
Dimensions
Height: 82 cm incl. base, Width: 56.5 cm
Object history note
Bequeathed by H.C. Wilkinson, Esq.
Historical context note
Sixtus was born in 1521 and Pope from 1585-1590.
This bust together with A.40-1910 are probably from the same workshop. The head of teh Virgin which is shown on the morse appears on numerous medals, sometimes as a reverse to the head of Christ.
Descriptive line
Bust, bronze, Pope Sixtus V, Italy (perhaps Rome), ca. 1600
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Maclagan, Eric and Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture. Text. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1932, p. 150
Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Volume II: Text. Sixteenth to Twentieth Century. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1964, pp. 622-23
Exhibition History
Builders and Humanists - The Renaissance Popes as Patrons of the Arts (University of St Thomas, Houston, Texas 17/03/1966-22/05/1966)
The Rival of Nature (National Gallery (London) 10/06/1975-28/09/1975)
Labels and date
POPE SIXTUS V (Felice Peretti, b.152; pope 1585-1590)
Italian, Perhaps Rome; about 1600
Bronze
This bust is paired with that of Pope Pius IV (exhibited nearby). Both must have been made after the accession of Sixtus in 1585, or possibly later. On the morse (the clasp used to fasten a cope, the ceremonial cape worn by a priest or bishop) is the head of the Virgin in profile. On the decorative bands of the cope, which were often highly embroidered, are depicted SS. Bartholomew and James the Great, and SS. Philip and Matthias in full length.
[1993 - 2011]
Materials
Bronze
Subjects depicted
Mary (Virgin Mary); Saints; Bartholomew; St. James the Greater; Matthias; St. Philip; Sixtus V (Pope)
Categories
Portraits; Sculpture; Religion; Christianity
Collection code
SCP
