Sixtus IV Appointing Platina as Prefect of the Vatican Library
Encyclopedia
Sixtus IV Appointing Platina as Prefect of the Vatican Library is a fresco
transferred on canvas
by the Italian Renaissance artist Melozzo da Forlì
, once decorating the Vatican Library
, now housed in the Pinacoteca Vaticana in Rome
.
The fresco was executed in 1477 as the central scene of the decoration of the Vatican Library, founded by Sixtus IV two years before, including works by Antoniazzo Romano
and the brothers Davide
and Domenico Ghirlandaio
.
The scene shows the pope, seen from below, faced by the kneeling humanist Bartolomeo Platina
, together with a series of characters wearing luxurious clothes, who are members of Sixtus' family: the two cardinals Pietro Riario
, standing in the middle, and Giuliano della Rovere, behind him, and his nephews Girolamo Riario
and Giovanni della Rovere
on the left. The figure behind the pope's throne had been previously identified as Raffaele Riario
.
The background is a perspective representation of a classic architecture with arcades and a gilted coffer
ceiling. Platina is pointing to an inscription, written by himself, which boasts Sixtus' deeds.
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
transferred on canvas
Canvas
Canvas is an extremely heavy-duty plain-woven fabric used for making sails, tents, marquees, backpacks, and other items for which sturdiness is required. It is also popularly used by artists as a painting surface, typically stretched across a wooden frame...
by the Italian Renaissance artist Melozzo da Forlì
Melozzo da Forlì
Melozzo da Forlì was an Italian Renaissance painter and architect. His fresco paintings are notable for the use of foreshortening. He was the most important member of the Forlì painting school.- Biography :...
, once decorating the Vatican Library
Vatican Library
The Vatican Library is the library of the Holy See, currently located in Vatican City. It is one of the oldest libraries in the world and contains one of the most significant collections of historical texts. Formally established in 1475, though in fact much older, it has 75,000 codices from...
, now housed in the Pinacoteca Vaticana in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
The fresco was executed in 1477 as the central scene of the decoration of the Vatican Library, founded by Sixtus IV two years before, including works by Antoniazzo Romano
Antoniazzo Romano
Antoniazzo Romano, born Antonio di Benedetto Aquilo degli Aquili was an Italian Early Renaissance painter, the leading figure of the Roman school during the 15th century.-Biography:...
and the brothers Davide
Davide Ghirlandaio
Davide Ghirlandaio , also known as David Ghirlandaio and as Davide Bigordi, was an Italian painter and mosaicist, active in his native Florence....
and Domenico Ghirlandaio
Domenico Ghirlandaio
Domenico Ghirlandaio was an Italian Renaissance painter from Florence. Among his many apprentices was Michelangelo.-Early years:Ghirlandaio's full name is given as Domenico di Tommaso di Currado di Doffo Bigordi...
.
The scene shows the pope, seen from below, faced by the kneeling humanist Bartolomeo Platina
Bartolomeo Platina
Bartolomeo Platina, originally named Sacchi was an Italian Renaissance writer.-Biography:Platina was born at Piadena , near Cremona....
, together with a series of characters wearing luxurious clothes, who are members of Sixtus' family: the two cardinals Pietro Riario
Pietro Riario
Pietro Riario was an Italian cardinal and Papal diplomat.-Biography:Born in Savona, he was the son of Paolo Riario and Pope Sixtus IVs' sister, Bianca Della Rovere. Sixtus nominated him in 1471 bishop of Treviso and cardinal, and, in 1473, archbishop of Florence. He was entrusted with Sixtus'...
, standing in the middle, and Giuliano della Rovere, behind him, and his nephews Girolamo Riario
Girolamo Riario
Girolamo Riario was Lord of Imola and Forlì in the 15th century.- Biography :Born in Savona, Riario was the son of Paolo Riario and Bianca della Rovere...
and Giovanni della Rovere
Giovanni della Rovere
Giovanni della Rovere was an Italian condottiero and member of the Della Rovere family. He was a nephew of Pope Sixtus IV, and the brother of Giuliano della Rovere , elected to the papal throne as Pope Julius II in 1503....
on the left. The figure behind the pope's throne had been previously identified as Raffaele Riario
Raffaele Riario
Raffaele Sansoni Galeoti Riario was an Italian Cardinal of the Renaissance, mainly known as the constructor of the Palazzo della Cancelleria and the one who invited Michelangelo to Rome. He was a patron of the arts...
.
The background is a perspective representation of a classic architecture with arcades and a gilted coffer
Coffer
A coffer in architecture, is a sunken panel in the shape of a square, rectangle, or octagon in a ceiling, soffit or vault...
ceiling. Platina is pointing to an inscription, written by himself, which boasts Sixtus' deeds.