Tomb of Pope Alexander VII, Baroque funerary monument in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City.

The Tomb of Pope Alexander VII is a multi-tiered marble and bronze monument in the south transept of St. Peter's Basilica. At the top, a white marble figure of the pope sits in robes, one hand raised in blessing, on a green marble pedestal inscribed "ALEXANDRO VII CHISIO PONT MAX". Below, a veined red and white jasper drape frames white marble figures: Charity with two infants on the left, Truth seated with a child on the right, and a dark bronze winged skeleton holding an hourglass.

Alexander VII commissioned his own tomb early in his pontificate; the papal diary mentions it in 1656, and Bernini's full-scale model was begun in December 1671. After the pope's death in 1667, his nephew Cardinal Flavio Chigi financed the work. Originally planned for the choir of Santa Maria Maggiore, it was moved to St. Peter's, where it was unveiled in 1678. Pope Innocent XI then had the nude Truth and bare-breasted Charity draped.

The four virtues are arranged in pairs: Charity stands before Prudence, and Truth before Justice, so that Prudence is guided by Charity and Justice by Truth. Charity, carved by Giuseppe Mazzuoli, moves joyfully toward the pope rather than mourning. Truth was begun by Lazzaro Morelli and finished by Giulio Cartari; Pope Innocent XI later had her nudity covered with a piece of bronze painted white.

The location is accessible in the south transept and can be viewed during a basilica visit without additional fees. The detailed carvings and color contrast between light stone and dark bronze are best seen from up close.

The monument cleverly incorporates an existing doorway from the basilica and transforms it into a symbolic gateway to eternity. This integration of an everyday architectural element shows Bernini's skill at weaving different parts into one unified message.