Pius 7 (1742 - 1823)

Pius 7 (1742 - 1823), original model in plaster from 1824-1825 (A142, A143, A144). Thorvaldsen Museum (Copenhagen, Denmark). Made with ReMake and ReCap from AutoDesk. Unveiled in marble in St. Peter's Basilica in 1831. Pope Pius VII was pope from 1800 until his death in 1823. It is a telling testament to Thorvaldsen's fame that he received the commission to produce this monument to Pius VII in the main cathedral of the Catholic Church even though he was a Protestant. The aging pontiff sits on his throne with his tiara on his head. With his outstreched hand, he makes a gesture of blessing, while looking straight ahead. By contrast, the allegotical femal figure on the left, Divine Power (A144), gazes sentimentally up toward Heaven, while the woman on the right, Heavenly Wisdom (A143), looks down, engrossed in the Bible. The Pope at the center thus becomes the balanced communicator of a message consisting of equal parts of Christian sentiment and Christian wisdom. Please consider follow me on Twitter!