He might have only reigned for a mere 27 days, but Pope Leo XI (r. April 1st to 27th, 1605) was still honoured with a grand marble funerary monument in St Peter's Basilica.
The work of the sculptor Alessandro Algardi (1595-1654), the monument depicts Pope Leo XI with personifications of Fortitude and Munificence. The roses carved on the plinth, and the inscription SIC FLORUI (Thus he Flourished), refer to the brevity of his reign. Comments are closed.
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My name is David Lown and I am an art historian from Cambridge, England. Since 2001 I have lived in Italy, where I run private and
small-group walking tours of Rome. Search Walks in Rome:
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March 2021
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