VATICAN MUSEUMS photos

The Vatican Museums, located within Vatican City, house one of the world’s most significant art collections, spanning thousands of years of history. Founded by Pope Julius II in the early 16th century, they feature masterpieces from the Renaissance, such as Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling, alongside ancient sculptures, intricate tapestries, and stunning frescoes. Visitors can explore the Raphael Rooms, the Gallery of Maps, and numerous other galleries that display works from renowned artists. The museums span over 7 kilometres of halls and corridors. Below photos I made at this remarkable place in 2015 and in 2023.

Vatican Museums | 梵蒂冈博物馆 | Musei Vaticani | Muzea Watykańskie | Museos Vaticanos | Museus do Vaticano

vatican library | biblioteca vaticana | biblioteca vaticana | bibliothèque vaticane | vatikanische bibliothek | 梵蒂冈图书馆 | 바티칸 도서관 | バチカン図書館

John III Sobieski during the Battle of Vienna | ウィーンの戦いでのヤン3世ソビエスキ | 维也纳之战中的扬三世索别斯基 | 빈 전투 중 얀 3세 소비에스키 | Juan III Sobieski durante la Batalla de Viena | Jean III Sobieski lors de la bataille de Vienne | Johann III Sobieski während der Schlacht bei Wien | Jan III Sobieski podczas Bitwy pod Wiedniem

Musei Vaticani. Vatican Museums. Raphael's Rooms.

The Beginnings in the Renaissance: Pope Julius II and Early Acquisitions

The foundation of the Vatican Museums is traditionally traced back to Pope Julius II, who became pope in 1503. Julius II was a fervent patron of the arts. He is best known for commissioning some of the greatest masterpieces of the Renaissance, including Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms. His collection began with a significant acquisition of ancient classical sculptures.

Growth Through the Centuries: Baroque to the Enlightenment

Subsequent popes continued to build on Julius II’s foundation. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the collection expanded under the patronage of Baroque popes who sought to glorify the Catholic Church and Rome as the centre of Christendom. Pope Urban VIII, Pope Innocent X, and Pope Clement XI were instrumental during this period. They enriched the collection with classical antiquities, as well as works by contemporary Baroque artists. Pope Clement XIV and Pope Pius VI officially established the Pio-Clementine Museum in the late 18th century. They focused on acquiring Roman sculptures and classical antiquities, many of which were excavated from sites across Rome and Italy.

19th Century Additions: The Gregorian Museums

The 19th century was a period of further expansion for the Vatican Museums, marked by the establishment of several new museums within the complex. Pope Gregory XVI, a passionate advocate for the preservation of cultural heritage, founded the Gregorian Etruscan Museum in 1837, dedicated to Etruscan artefacts excavated from the ancient city of Etruria, and the Gregorian Egyptian Museum, featuring a range of ancient Egyptian artefacts, including sarcophagi, statues, and mummies.

The Modern Era: Contemporary Collections and Further Expansion

The 20th century saw the Vatican Museums continue to evolve, embracing new forms of art while maintaining their commitment to the classics. Pope Pius XI, recognising the need for a modern repository, founded the Vatican Pinacoteca (Picture Gallery) in 1932 to house an impressive collection of paintings spanning the medieval to the Baroque periods, including works by Raphael, Caravaggio, Leonardo da Vinci, and Titian.

Pope Paul VI further expanded the scope of the collection by creating the Collection of Modern Religious Art in 1973, which houses works by some of the most influential artists of the 19th and 20th centuries, such as Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Marc Chagall, Salvador Dalí, and Henri Matisse. This initiative reflected a desire to bridge the gap between contemporary art and the Catholic Church, showing that spiritual themes and religious devotion could still inspire modern artistic expression.

Ongoing Development: A Living Collection

Today, the Vatican Museums continue to grow and adapt, acquiring new pieces and receiving donations from artists and collectors around the world. The museums also serve as a centre for conservation and restoration, with the Vatican’s own laboratories working tirelessly to preserve and protect its treasures for future generations.