Notes and Queries, Number 226, February 25, 1854: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.Various
History
Notes and Queries, Number 226, February 25, 1854: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
The bodies, however, of these last representatives of a fallen line are not
buried beneath this monument, but in the crypt under the dome, and in that
portion of it called the "Grotto Vecchie." There, in the first aisle to the
left on entering, against the wall, a tomb about six feet long by three
broad contains all that remains of the ashes of the last of the Stuarts.
Over it is a plain slab of marble, with an inscription to announce that
this is the burial-place of "James III., Charles III., and Henry IX., Kings
of England." Even in death this royal race has not abandoned the claim they
were unable to enforce.
Opposite to this monument is the monument of Maria Clementina, daughter of
James Sobieski, and grand-daughter of John Sobieski, King of Poland, wife
of James III., and mother of Charles Edward and Henry Benedict. She married
on 3rd September, 1719, and died at Rome on 18th January, 1735. The
monument stands against the wall over the door leading to the staircase by
which the public ascend to the cupola. Pietro Bracci carved the monument
from the design of Filippo Barigioni, consisting of a pyramid of porphyry
on a base of Porta Santa marble, the whole relieved by a ground of blue sky
and clouds painted on the wall. Under the elevated pyramid is the
sarcophagus of porphyry, above which are two marble statues, one of
Charity, and the other of an infant, which support a circular medallion
portrait in mosaic, of Maria Clementina, by Cav. Cristofori, from a
painting by Lewis Stern. Drapery of Sicilian alabaster, with a fringe of
gilded bronze, falls in ample folds on both sides of the sarcophagus, which
is flanked by two angels, one holding a crown and the other a sceptre; and
upon it the words are carved "Maria Clementina M. Britann. Fr. et Hibern.
Regina." It was erected by the "Fabbrica di S. Pietro," at the cost of
18,000 scudi. There is another monument in Rome to Maria Clementina, and it
is in the church of the SS. Apostoli, in the nave, upon the second pier on
the right-hand side. It contains her heart, and consists of a circular urn
of verde antico, surmounted by a crown, over which two angels hover, of
white marble; and below, a tablet of rosso antico, bearing an inscription,
thus:
"Mariæ Clementinæ Magnæ Britanniæ
Etc. Reginæ, Fratres Min. Cons. venerabundi pp.
Hic Clementinæ remanent præcordia, nam cor
Cælestis fecit ne superesset amor."
Charles Edward has also another monument in addition to the one in St.
Peter's, namely, at Frascati, fourteen miles from Rome, of which see
Cardinal York was bishop. Its position is to the left of the great entrance
door; the inscription runs thus:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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