When an ancient sculpture was discovered in Rome in the early 16th century, the new Pope decided to buy it and put it on public display. The year was 1506 and Pope Julius II hired some of the most famous artists in history to produce art for his collection. He also acquired many sculptures and …
There’s hardly a better place to admire ancient sculptures than at the Vatican Museums in Vatican City, the small Papal enclave in central Rome. Considered to be one of the ultimate highlights of the sculpture collection, this ancient work certainly emphasizes the sophisticated nature of artists thousands of years ago. In this article, we’ll take …
Just like many other famous museums in the world, the Vatican Museums started rather humbly. The beginnings can be traced back to the purchase of just one sculpture called “Laocoön and His Sons.” This ancient sculpture was excavated in the year 1506, a time when Pope Julius II employed some of the most famous Renaissance …
If you ever get a chance to roam around the Vatican Museums, then you’ll certainly come across one of the most amazing staircases in the world. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most interesting facts about the Bramante Staircase, an absolute masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. 1. It was designed …
Vatican City is the home of the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church. This City is a sovereign state and with an area of 44 hectares (110 acres) and just 1,000 inhabitants, it’s the smallest in the world. They do however possess an extremely large art collection that has been amassed by the Popes …