Bible described as the ‘Mona Lisa of illuminated manuscripts’ goes on display in Rome

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By NICOLE WINFIELD and PAOLO SANTALUCIA

Associated Press

Published: November 14, 2025 astatine 3:48 AM

ROME (AP) — A 15th-century Bible which is considered 1 of the astir spectacular examples of Renaissance illuminated manuscripts went connected show successful Rome connected Thursday arsenic portion of the Vatican’s Holy Year celebrations.

The two-volume Borso D’Este Bible, which is known for its opulent miniature paintings successful golden and Afghan lapis lazuli, was unveiled successful the Italian Senate, wherever it volition stay connected show until Jan. 16.

The Bible is usually kept successful a harmless astatine a room successful Modena and is seldom seen successful public. It was transported to Rome nether dense information and its accomplishment successful the Senate was televised, arsenic workers hauled 2 large reddish crates from an unmarked van and past extracted the volumes, which were covered successful bubble wrap.

The Bible, commissioned by Duke Borso D’Este, was created betwixt 1455 and 1461 by calligrapher Pietro Paolo Marone and illustrators Taddeo Crivelli and Franco dei Russi. The Italian Culture Ministry considers it 1 of the highest expressions of miniature creation “that unites ineffable value, historical relevance, precious materials and refined aesthetics.”

It volition stay down humidity-controlled sheet solid during its Roman sojourn, but visitors tin “read” it digitally via interaction surface displays featuring ultra-high-resolution images.

Alessandra Necci, manager of Gallerie Estense successful Modena, wherever the Bible is usually kept, describes it arsenic the “Mona Lisa of illuminated manuscripts” due to the fact that of its exquisite artistry and spiritual inspiration.

Archbishop Rino Fisichella, who is successful complaint of the Vatican’s Jubilee celebrations, told the presumption Thursday helium hoped visitors would beryllium inspired to spell location and work their ain Bibles aft seeing the quality of the Borso D’Este version.

He said the splendor of the substance was a “provocation” that forces contemplation not conscionable of its quality but of the connection of God contained successful the text.

The Bible was commissioned by Borso D’Este arsenic portion of his solemnisation of religion and his ain prominence, and was kept successful the Este household until the past duke, Francesco V of Austria-Este, took it with him erstwhile helium fled to Vienna successful 1859, according to a past of the Bible connected the Italian Senate’s website.

Necci said Borso D’Este spent what was past an exorbitant magnitude of wealth to make the astir costly publication of the time. By demonstrating specified opulence, the duke “wanted to observe not lone the ineffable publication par excellence but besides the elevated thought helium had of himself and his dynasty,” she said.

It remained successful the possession of the Habsburgs adjacent aft the Austro-Hungarian Empire dissolved aft World War I. In 1922, aft Archduke Charles I died, his widow Zita of Bourbon-Parma decided to merchantability it to a Parisian antiquarian.

Giovanni Treccani, an Italian entrepreneur and arts patron, learned of the merchantability and travelled to Paris to bargain it successful 1923, paying 3,300,000 French francs. Treccani, whose sanction is celebrated contiguous arsenic the steadfast of apical Italian encyclopaedias, past donated it to the Italian state.

The Bible is being kept successful a specially regulated show lawsuit that employs a conditioning strategy that maintains changeless humidity to support the parchment pages, which are peculiarly delicate to changes successful somesthesia and humidity, officials said.

Associated Press religion sum receives enactment done the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with backing from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely liable for this content.

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