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Skriven 2006-03-09 08:20:00 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
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                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                               VIS-Press releases

EXHIBITION TO COMMEMORATE 500 YEARS OF THE SWISS GUARD

VATICAN CITY, MAR 8, 2006 (VIS) - "The Pontifical Swiss Guard, 500 years of
history, art and life" is the title of an exhibition due to be inaugurated on
March 29 in the Charlemagne Wing at the left colonnade of St. Peter's Square.
It will commemorate the five centuries of life of the world's oldest active
military force.

The exhibition will present, together for the first time, a series of documents
and objects from other museums and institutions reconstructing the history of
the corps founded by Julius II. In 1505, that pontiff sent a Bull to the Swiss
Confederation communicating the fact that he had entrusted the prelate of the
papal court Peter von Hertenstein to recruit 200 Swiss soldiers and lead them
to Rome to guard the person of the Pope and the pontifical palaces. The Bull
itself forms part of the exhibition, as do the flags that the Holy Father gave
to Switzerland in gratitude for the arrival of the soldiers. They, after
crossing the Alps, reached Rome on January 22, 1506 and marched to St. Peter's
Square where they were solemnly blessed by the Pope.

Other objects of great historical and artistic value include the helmet and
breastplate of Emperor Charles V, a sword with the motto of Julius II, and a
large number of miniatures representing the most important moments in the life
of the Swiss Guard during their service to the Successors of Peter. These
depictions include the "Feast on the Capitol for the 'Possesso' of Alexander
VII" by Piranesi, "Bernini's machine for the Forty Hours in the Vatican," and
"Pius IX in the 'sedia gestatoria'."

One of the most dramatic incidents in the history of the Swiss Guard and of the
city of Rome is the famous "Sack of Rome," organized by the troops of Emperor
Charles V to "punish" the people of the city and Pope Clement VII. The Pope
saved himself by taking refuge in Castel Sant'Angelo, but 147 Swiss Guards
perished while defending him. The exhibition recalls this episode with the work
"The defense of the Swiss during the Sack of Rome," painted by Giuseppe
Rivaroli in 1927. The painting is interesting for its historical "errors," such
as the fact that the Swiss Guards are represented wearing their modern
uniforms, designed in 1915, and not those in use in 1527.

The numismatic section of the exhibition includes two extraordinary
commemorative medals by Benvenuto Cellini: one produced to commemorate the
Peace of Cambrai, and the golden medal of Clement VII with "Ecce Homo."

The exhibition also includes a series of portraits, including that of Clement
VII by Sebastiano del Piombo, property of the Kunsthistorisches Museum of
Vienna, Austria. Also in this section is the triptych kept by the Pope in his
private apartments and stolen during the Sack. The work, which is currently
kept in the cathedral of Cagliari, Italy, is being returned to Rome for the
first time in five centuries.

From the Swiss Guard's own armory and archives, and here displayed for the
first time, are portraits of all the commanders of the Guard over the last 500
years, uniforms, and arms and equipment for the parade ground and the field,
both ancient and modern. Of particular interest and beauty are the two-handed
swords from 1584, used to accompany the pontiff on his "sedia gestatoria" and
last adopted during the pontificate of Paul VI.

The exhibition, promoted by Command of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, is being
held under the patronage of Bishop Mauro Piacenza, president of the Pontifical
Commission for the Cultural Patrimony of the Church, and of various Swiss
cultural institutions. It will be open from March 29 to July 30, 2006.
.../SWISS GUARD EXHIBITION/... VIS 060308 (630)

SUMMARY

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