A Fresh Look at the Tomb of Alexander VII

Thorpe, Elizabeth

Item

A Fresh Look at the Tomb of Alexander VII

Thorpe, Elizabeth

Abstract

At the end of his career, Gianlorenzo Bernini was called upon to execute the tomb of Alexander VII Chigi in Saint Peter’s Basilica. Bernini had presented tomb design drawings to the Pope during his lifetime and those drawings became the model for the tomb. But, with eleven years passing since the death of the pope and eighteen years passing since Alexander’s review of the presentation drawings, Bernini made modifications which are evident in the tomb as it was completed in 1678. After considering the writings of Bernini scholars and completing a visual analysis of the tomb, this thesis examines the tomb’s variance from the presentation drawings and identifies the degree to which these changes incorporate elements found in previous works by Bernini. The analysis of these variances provides insight into the tomb’s function as both a tribute to the Pope as well as a final testament to Bernini.