Published in one volume for the first time, a vast selection of artworks from the Vatican Museums and the Vatican City state. The book has the same format as the book Louvre (almost 600 pages for 80 euro) and contains all the paintings from the Pinacoteca, frescoes, a selection of finest tapestries, sculptures and other artifacts. The Vatican, one of the wonders of the world, is visited by more than 5 million visitors every year.
The Vatican, one of the wonders of the world, is visited by more than 5 million visitors every year.
Leaf through the book and admire the masterpieces of the Vatican’s pinacoteca, from Giotto to Leonardo, from Raphael to Caravaggio, or the paintings from the collection of modern sacred art, including works by such artists as Francis Bacon, Marc Chagall, Salvador Dalí, Giorgio de Chirico, Paul Gauguin, Kandinsky, Matisse and Van Gogh. The book also includes all the works from the other galleries, not to mention the Vatican’s most famous treasure, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel.
The book contains 22 sections on the museums of the Vatican City, including the Pinacoteca, the Sistine Chapel, the Raphael Rooms, the Borgia Apartments, the Vatican Palaces and St Peter’s Basilica.
The 976 artworks reproduced here – including 661 paintings on display in the permanent collection and 315 other masterpieces – are accompanied by the name of the artist, the date when he/she was born and died, the title of the work, when it was painted, the material used, the dimensions and, where possible, the catalogue number. The most important paintings, 180 in all, and the other works of art are accompanied by critical essays compiled by art historian Anja Grebe, describing the salient features of the work, the sources of inspiration and the techniques used by the artist, as well as biographical and art historical information. In other words, an extraordinary journey through the world’s largest sacred art collection.