Tomb of Pope Alexander VII, Baroque funerary monument in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City.
The Tomb of Pope Alexander VII is a Baroque artwork made of marble and bronze in the south transept of St. Peter's Basilica. It shows the pope kneeling in prayer, while below a figure of Death holding an hourglass sits beneath, and four allegorical female figures frame the entire composition.
Construction of the tomb began in 1671 and was the last major sculptural commission of the renowned artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini before his death in 1680. This work thus marks the end of an artistic era that had shaped Rome and the art world.
The four female figures surrounding the monument represent virtues that Pope Alexander VII embodied during his papacy. They show which values the Catholic Church emphasized in that era and how these ideals were embedded through artworks inside the basilica.
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.
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