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WALKING TOURS OF ROME

Mosaics: Dome of St Peter's Basilica

20/12/2019

 
Map
Interior of the dome of St Peter's Basilica, Rome
Interior of the dome of St Peter's Basilica

The great dome of St Peter's Basilica was completed by Giacomo della Porta in 1590, the fifth year of the pontificate of Sixtus V (r. 1585-90), as the Latin inscription, at the base of the lantern, proclaims. 

The decoration of the interior of the cupola began three years later, in 1593.  The mosaics, which were executed by a variety of artists, are divided into six concentric rings. Starting at the base of the cupola (above the sixteen windows), the mosaics depict: 

1. 16 pope-saints buried in the basilica.
2. Figures of Christ, Virgin Mary, St. Paul, St. John the Baptist and the 12 Apostles.
3. Angels bearing the instruments of Christ's Passion.
4. Heads of cherubim and seraphim in circular medallions.
5. Angels, the custodians of St. Peter's tomb.
6. Heads of angels.

In addition to the inscription to Sixtus V, there are further references to the pope on the exterior of dome. They take the form of a series of lions' heads flanked by bunches of pears, part of the pope's armorial bearings. (His family name was Perretti and pera is the Italian word for pear.)

The long inscription (in letters 2 m high), at the base of the dome, reads (in translation): 'Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven.' (Matthew: 16:18 KJV).

Inscription to Pope Sixtus V, dome of St Peter's Basilica, Rome
Inscription to Pope Sixtus V
Dome of St Peter's Basilica, Rome
Dome of St Peter's Basilica
Cupola of St Peter's Basilica, Rome
Cupola
The lion and pears of Pope Sixtus V, Dome of St Peter's Basilica, Rome
Lion's head flanked by bunches of pears, part of the armorial bearings of Sixtus V

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    Walking Tours For Discerning Travellers

    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
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    of Rome.

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  • Home
  • Private Tours
  • Small-Group Tours
  • Contact
  • Rome
  • St Peter's Basilica
    • Altars >
      • Altar of St Joseph
      • Altar of St Gregory the Great
      • Altar of the Madonna of Succour
      • Altar of St Sebastian
      • Altar of the Lie
      • Altar of the Presentation of the Virgin
      • Altar of St Jerome
      • Altar of the Transfiguration
      • Altar of Pope Leo the Great
    • Monuments >
      • Countess Matilda of Canossa
      • Maria Clementina Sobieska
      • Queen Christina of Sweden
      • Pope Innocent VIII
      • Pope Paul III
      • Pope Gregory XIII
      • Pope Gregory XIV
      • Pope Leo XI
      • Pope Urban VIII
      • Pope Alexander VII
      • Pope Clement X
      • Pope Innocent XI
      • Pope Alexander VIII
      • Pope Innocent XII
      • Pope Benedict XIV
      • Pope Clement XIII
      • Pope Pius VII
      • Pope Leo XII
      • Pope Pius VIII
      • Pope Gregory XVI
      • Pope Pius X
      • Pope Benedict XV
      • Pope Pius XI
      • Pope Pius XII
      • Pope John XXIII
      • The Stuarts
    • Portico >
      • Door of Death
      • Door of Good and Evil
      • Central Door
      • Door of the Sacraments
      • Holy Door
    • Pieta
    • Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament
    • Cathedra Petri
    • Crossing >
      • Baldacchino
      • Confessio
      • Dome
      • St Longinus
      • St Helena
      • St Veronica
      • St Andrew
    • St Peter
    • Chapel of the Choir
    • Chapel of the Baptistery
    • Nave
  • Sistine Chapel
    • North Wall
    • South Wall
    • East Wall
    • Ceiling: Part One >
      • Ceiling: Part Two
      • Ceiling: Part Three
    • The Last Judgement
  • Fountains
    • Trevi Fountain
    • Fontana della Barcaccia
    • Fountain of the Triton
    • Fountain of the Bees
    • Fountain of Moses
    • Fountain of the Four Rivers
    • Fountain of the Acqua Paola
    • Fountain of the Turtles
    • Fountain of the Naiads
    • Fountain of the Cannonball
    • Piazza del Popolo
    • Fountain of the Pantheon
    • Fountains of Piazza Farnese
    • Fountain of Goddess Roma
    • Rioni Fountains
    • Street Fountains
    • Venice Marries the Sea
    • St Peter's Square
    • Fountain of the Moor
    • Fountain of Neptune
    • Fountain of the Porter
    • Fountain of the Seahorses
  • Gallery
    • Piazzas >
      • Piazza del Campidglio
      • Piazza del Quirinale
      • Piazza del Popolo
      • Piazza di Spagna
      • Piazza Navona
      • Piazza S. M. in Trastevere
      • Piazza San Pietro
    • Mosaics
    • Fountains
    • Churches
    • Ancient Rome
    • Palaces
    • Domes
    • Papal Coats of Arms
    • Street Shrines
    • Old Photographs
    • Borromini & the Baroque