in Vaticano.
Bight Bank. 371
St. Peter, a good example of Giotto's dramatic power; Martyrdom of
St. Paul ; on the back, St. Peter enthroned ; SS. Andrew, John, Paul, and
James ; on the predella (by the window), Madonna and Apostles. 'This
work alone would entitle Giotto to be regarded as the founder of a new
school of painting' (C. & C). This Stanza also contains fragments of
the *Frescoes by Melozzo da Forlì from the former dome of Santi Apostoli
(p. 241) : angels with musical instruments and several heads of apostles.
On the right, the —
Sagrestia de' Benefiziati (61), with a ciborium by Donatello (con¬
taining a ruined painting by Menimi) and an altar-piece by Muziano, the
Delivery of the Keys. Contiguous is the Treasurt (62) of St. Peter's,
containing jewels, an altar-cross and two candelabra by Ant. Gentili of
Faenza (1582; exquisite works, executed under the influence of Michael
Angelo), the cross of the Emp. Justinus (6th cent.), the dalmatica worn
by Charlemagne at his coronation, etc. — Over the sacristy are the Archives
of St. Peter's (shown by special permission only).
The Grotte Sacre (or crypt), dating in part from the old
church on this site but altered and extended in the 16-17th cent.,
are visible by special permission of the papal Maggiordomo only.
The crypt is lighted by electricity.
The Grotte Nuove, situated under the dome (p. 366), consist of
the Confessio or sepulchral chapel, a corridor in the form of a horseshoe,
and various other chapels. In the four great piers which support the
dome, steps descend to as many Chapels : a. St. Veronica, k. St. Helena,
i. St. Longinus, d. St. Andrew. — In the Chapel of Santa Maria de
Porticu (b), to the right by the entrance, is St. Matthew, on the left,
St. John, two statues in relief, from the tomb of Nicholas V. (p. 372) ;
over the aitar a Madonna (retouched) by Simone Menvnii, from the portico
of the old church ; to the right and left are statues of angels by Mino
da Fiesole and Giov. Dalmata, from the tomb of Card. Eroli (d. 1479).
Bust of Benedict XII., by Paolo da Siena (1341). The marble statue of
St. Peter is the restored torso of a seated consular statue. On the walls
are drawings of the old church of St. Peter. Outside the chapel, on the
right, a mosaic : Christ between SS. Peter and Paul (the first holding
three keys), from the tomb of Emp. Otho II. (end of the lOth cent. ; p. 372),
in the fore-court of the old church of St. Peter. — In the Chapel of
Santa Maria Pregnantium (c), at the entrance, the two SS. James, reliefs
from the tomb of Nicholas V (p. 372) ; God the Father, relief from the
tomb of Card. Eroli (see above) ; half-figure of Boniface Vili. ; Paul be¬
fore Nero, relief from a ciborium of Sixtus IV. that adorned the high-
altar of St. Peter's until 1592. — The adjoining chamber contains frag¬
ments from John VII.'s Lady Chapel (see p. 324) and scenes from the
old church of St. Peter. — Corridor. Martyrdom of SS. Peter and Paul,
reliefs from Sixtus IV.'s ciborium (see above); statues of the twelve
Apostles, some by Mino da Fiesole; remains of the canopy of St. Andrew,
by Isaia da Pisa and Paolo Bomano; remains of the ciborium of the
Holy Lance, by Andrea Bregno; Reliefs from the tomb of Paul II. (see
p. 372) : The Fall, Last Judgment, Faith and Charity (by Mino da Fiesole),
Hope (signed), Resurrection of Christ, Creation of Ève (by Giov. Dalmata).
Statues of SS. Peter and Paul in relief from Card. Eroli's tomb, also by
Giov. Dalmata. Madonna enthroned with Nicholas III. and Card. Gaetano
Orsini (relief ; probably from the studio of Paolo Bomano). — Opposite
the entrance to the Confessio : Sarcophagus of the city-prefect Junius
Bassus (A. 359), one of the most brilliant examples of early-Christian
funereal sculpture. The Confessio (m) or sepulchral chapel, an inner
room adjoining the outer Confessio (p. 367), is dedicated to SS. Peter and
Paul and is richly decorated with stucco, gold, and jewels. Over the
aitar, which encloses an ancient aitar consecrated in 1122, are two modern
mosaic reproductions of portraits of SS. Peter and Paul painted upon
Silver in the 13th century.
24*
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