Vatican Masterpieces

by Enrico Bruschini

The Vatican Museums contain some of the greatest Western art in the world. Thousands of works of art have been collected by successive popes since the early fifteenth century, and all are housed in a complex of buildings in the papal palace and elsewhere in the Vatican. With several museums, the Library exhibition rooms, and various suites of Renaissance painting of which the most important are Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and the Stanze, decorated by Raphael and others the visitor is admitted to some of the most beautiful rooms in existence. Perhaps most famous for classical sculpture, such as the Apollo Belvedere and the Belvedere Torso , the Vatican Museums also have rich collections of, for example, early Christian art, jewellery and vestments. This selection of 100 masterpieces from one of the richest collections in the world, gives the visitor and reader a privileged insight into the core of the Vatican's incomparable collections. Each resplendent photograph is accompanied by an explan

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Italy, Reference

148 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was purchased at the Vatican over a decade ago. Having just seen a PBS special called "Inside the Vatican", during which I saw a beautifully painted great hall, I resurrected this book to scout out what I may have seen.

The artistry in the Vatican is incredible. The history of the art is incredible. I can never tire of looking at this. And there is no doubt that if I could visit it again, I certainly would. Awe is operational here/there.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise, interesting and attractively published, this book is a collection of 100 Masterpieces to be found in The Vatican Museums. It has a great collection of a photos, and more narrative than your average guide-book-collection of facts and dates - making it significantly more interesting than your average guide book.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the commentary in this was odd and there were some errors that made it difficult to distinguish what areas of the various works were being referenced. Otherwise, it's beautiful and informative and intriguing. It makes me want to go back to the Vatican.