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

By NICOLE WINFIELD and PAOLO SANTALUCIA ROME AP A th-century Bible which is considered one of the largest part spectacular examples of Renaissance illuminated manuscripts went on display in Rome on Thursday as part of the Vatican s Holy Year celebrations Related Articles Heady odors and sensory overload as cheeses compete for the World Cheese Awards Iran seizes tanker in Strait of Hormuz US official says as tensions remain high in region Hungary to mount court challenge to EU s planned phase-out of Russian capacity Orb n says Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv kills people and injures at least In hurricane-torn Jamaica this couple s climate-resilient breadfruit undertaking offers food and hope The two-volume Borso D Este Bible which is known for its opulent miniature paintings in gold and Afghan lapis lazuli was unveiled in the Italian Senate where it will remain on display until Jan The Bible is usually kept in a safe at a library in Modena and is rarely seen in inhabitants It was transported to Rome under heavy guard and its arrival in the Senate was televised as workers hauled two big red crates from an unmarked van and then extracted the volumes which were covered in bubble wrap The Bible commissioned by Duke Borso D Este was created between and by calligrapher Pietro Paolo Marone and illustrators Taddeo Crivelli and Franco dei Russi The Italian Society Ministry considers it one of the highest expressions of miniature art that unites sacred value historic relevance precious materials and refined aesthetics From right Monsignor Rino Fisichella Rome s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and Italian authorities undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano look at the th century Borso D Este Bible comprising two illuminated manuscripts after its unveiling at the Italian Senate as part of the Vatican s Holy Year celebrations in Rome Thursday Nov AP Photo Alessandra Tarantino It will remain behind humidity-controlled plate glass during its Roman sojourn but visitors can read it digitally via touch screen displays featuring ultra-high-resolution images Alessandra Necci director of Gallerie Estense in Modena where the Bible is usually kept describes it as the Mona Lisa of illuminated manuscripts because of its exquisite artistry and religious inspiration Archbishop Rino Fisichella who is in charge of the Vatican s Jubilee celebrations informed the presentation Thursday he hoped visitors would be inspired to go home and read their own Bibles after seeing the beauty of the Borso D Este version He declared the splendor of the text was a provocation that forces contemplation not just of its beauty but of the word of God contained in the text A detail of the th century Borso D Este Bible comprising two illuminated manuscripts during its unveiling at the Italian Senate as part of the Vatican s Holy Year celebrations in Rome Thursday Nov AP Photo Alessandra Tarantino A detail is photographed from a reproduction of the th century Borso D Este Bible comprising two illuminated manuscripts during its unveiling at the Italian Senate as part of the Vatican s Holy Year celebrations in Rome Thursday Nov AP Photo Alessandra Tarantino A journalist flips through a faithful reproduction of the th century Borso D Este Bible comprising two illuminated manuscripts during its unveiling at the Italian Senate as part of the Vatican s Holy Year celebrations in Rome Thursday Nov AP Photo Alessandra Tarantino Reporters look at the th century Borso D Este Bible comprising two illuminated manuscripts after its unveiling at the Italian Senate as part of the Vatican s Holy Year celebrations in Rome Thursday Nov AP Photo Alessandra Tarantino Show Caption of A detail of the th century Borso D Este Bible comprising two illuminated manuscripts during its unveiling at the Italian Senate as part of the Vatican s Holy Year celebrations in Rome Thursday Nov AP Photo Alessandra Tarantino Expand The Bible was commissioned by Borso D Este as part of his celebration of faith and his own prominence and was kept in the Este family until the last duke Francesco V of Austria-Este took it with him when he fled to Vienna in according to a history of the Bible on the Italian Senate s website Necci disclosed Borso D Este spent what was then an exorbitant amount of money to create the preponderance expensive book of the time By demonstrating such opulence the duke sought to celebrate not only the sacred book par excellence but also the elevated idea he had of himself and his dynasty she reported It remained in the possession of the Habsburgs even after the Austro-Hungarian Empire dissolved after World War I In after Archduke Charles I died his widow Zita of Bourbon-Parma decided to sell it to a Parisian antiquarian Giovanni Treccani an Italian entrepreneur and arts patron learned of the sale and travelled to Paris to buy it in paying French francs Treccani whose name is famous in contemporary times as the publisher of top Italian encyclopaedias then donated it to the Italian state The Bible is being kept in a specially regulated display occurrence that employs a conditioning system that maintains constant humidity to protect the parchment pages which are particularly sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity functionaries mentioned Associated Press religion coverage receives endorsement through the AP s collaboration with The Conversation US with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc The AP is solely responsible for this content