Death of Pope Sixtus IV

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Funerary monument to Pope Sixtus IV by Antonio del Pollaiuolo

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On August 12th 1484, Pope Sixtus IV died in Rome.

The beautiful bronze funerary monument to Pope Sixtus IV (r. 1471-84), the work of Antonio del Pollaiuolo (1433-98), is on display in the Treasury Museum (Museo Storico Artistico Tesoro), in St Peter's Basilica. 

The monument (1484-93) was commissioned by Sixtus IV's nephew, Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, who would later become Pope Julius II (r. 1503-13). The recumbent pope is surrounded by reliefs of the Virtues and the Liberal Arts. 

One of the greatest achievements of Sixtus IV was the rebuilding of the chapel that bears his name, the Cappella Sistina. 

Antonio del Pollaiuolo also created the funerary monument to the pope's successor, Innocent VIII (r. 1484-92).