Rambles in Rome: An Archæological and Historical Guide to the Museums, Galleries, Villas, Churches, and Antiquities of Rome and the CampagnaForbes, S. Russell
History
Rambles in Rome: An Archæological and Historical Guide to the Museums, Galleries, Villas, Churches, and Antiquities of Rome and the Campagna
Forbes, S. Russell
Art -- Rome; Rome (Italy) -- Guidebooks; Rome -- Antiquities
The chair which was originally assigned as that of S. Peter was
eventually passed on from one chapel to another, till, it is said,
that, when Rome was sacked by the imperialists in 1527, they stripped
it of its ornaments and covering, for the sake of their value; and
that beneath they found an old carved wooden chair, with the
inscription, "_There is only one God, and Mohammed is his
prophet_"--which same formula is engraved upon the back of the marble
episcopal chair in the Church of S. Pietro in Castello at Venice. In
1558, the feast of the chair of S. Peter was fixed in Rome for the
18th of January, and in Antioch for February 22nd; and in 1655 Pope
Alexander VII. placed this chair where it now stands. The present
chair is medieval, ninth century, and is unlike early representations
in art of the chair used by the Apostle Paul, which we may look upon
as episcopal.
The ivory diptych of St. Paul (A.D. 400), the property of Mr. Carrand
of Lyons, engraved by the Arundel Society, represents Paul seated on a
chair, holding in his left hand a roll, the symbol of apostleship,
whilst the right hand is raised in the act of blessing Linus, who
carries a book in his hand. At the back of the chair is S. Mark,
holding a roll in his left hand. The chair is light, and not unlike a
modern library one in shape. Later art agrees with the present chair.
A fresco at S. Clement's, Rome (1050), represents Peter installing
Clement into the Papal chair--a chair, so far as can be seen, not
unlike the present one of S. Peter, which was made after the
coronation of Charlemagne as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (A.D.
800).
Upon our right is the tomb of Urban VIII. His bronze statue is by
Bernini, with Justice and Charity in marble. On our left is Della
Porta's monument to Paul III.; likewise a bronze figure, with Prudence
(the Pope's mother, Giovanna Gaetani) and Justice (his sister, Giulia
Farnese). Justice is a beautiful figure, but the tin drapery put on to
cover its nakedness by Bernini destroys its beauty. It is necessary to
re-paint the tin every now and then. There is a deal of this mock
modesty in S. Peter's.
Turning into the south aisle, on our right, is the tomb of Alexander
VIII. The bronze statue is by Arrigo, and the figures of Religion and
Prudence by Rossi. The relief represents the Pope canonizing five
saints. Opposite is the mosaic of S. Peter at the Gate of the Temple.
It is said that this scene, here represented, gave to President
Lincoln the idea for his proposed motto for the greenbacks. When the
commission applied to him for a motto to put upon the notes, he said,
"I can think of nothing better than what Peter said to the sick man at
the gate of the temple--'Silver and gold have I none, but what I have
that give I unto thee.'"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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