The Borgia Apartments by Pinturicchio
This restoration project was completed by the Michigan Chapter; a significant portion of the funding was provided by Michigan Chapter co-directors and board members, John and Kristan Hale and Tony and Suzanne Rea.
The Borgia Apartments, downstairs from the Raphael Rooms and near the entrance to the Sistine Chapel, were painted (decorated!) by Bernado di Betto, called il Pinturicchio, and occupied by the infamous Spanish Borgia pope, Pope Alexander VI (1492-1503). A co-pupil of Raphael’s under the master Perugino, Pinturicchio created lavish and colorful frescos on the upper walls and vaulted ceilings of the apartment. Pinturicchio enriched his frescos with delicate stucco work in relief. The works are found in six rooms of the apartment and depict events in lives of saints, the Resurrection of Christ, and current events of the time. Some believe the depicted events and characters were recreated from the life of Pope Alexander VI and the Borgia family.
Pinturicchio had a penchant for embedding fake jewels and things like metal studs in his frescos, creating a sort of 3-D effect. The frescos have a distinct Spanish affect, reflecting the culture of the Spanish Pope. A frequent icon in the frescos is the Borgia family symbol of the bull.
The Borgia Apartment suite was closed off by Pope Julius II in 1504 following the death of Pope Alexander VI. Pope Julius II refused to live in rooms once occupied by his unprincipled predecessor. The frescos were covered by black crepe and remained this way for 386 years. The apartments were reopened and frescos unveiled in 1889 by Pope Leo XII. The reputation of the previous inhabitant having faded, the genius of Pinturicchio could be revealed and appreciated.
The most famous fresco is the one shown above: The Disputation of Saint Catherine. It is found in the room that contains many images of the Borgia family, and is the room restored with the support of the Michigan Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums. The image of Saint Catherine is said to be modeled after the infamous Lucrezia Borgia. Saint Catherine is shown arguing against the Pagan emperor.
This entire room’s fresco is full of imagery; in the center is seen triumphal arch based on the Arch of Constantine, a symbol of Christianity. Many other figures are modeled after members of the Borgia family, with most dressed in Turkish fashion.
The restoration of the room containing The Disputation of Saint Catherine fresco took several years to complete. First of all, the complexity of the work, that included frescos, stucco relief, jewels, studs, etc. presented the restorers with a real challenge because of the artistic skills required. The restoration was complicated further because the work to be restored was on the upper walls and vaulted ceiling of the Apartment. The restorations laboratory staff erected elaborate scaffolding, a temporary floor, and special air handling to support the workers. This, of course, was all part of the cost of the restoration. The Michigan Patrons were treated to a rare visit to the site and a reception in the scaffolded-workplace while on a chapter-sponsored pilgrimage to Rome and the Vatican in 2012.
Photos of Work-In-Progress
Click on any photo to launch a slideshow. Photos provided courtesy of Patrons and taken during private tours.
