Catalog
Victor-Jean NICOLLE (Paris 1754-1826)
View of one of the arc…
See original version (French)
Victor-Jean NICOLLE (Paris 1754-1826)
View of one of the arc…
See original version (French)
Lot no. 7
Description
Victor-Jean NICOLLE (Paris 1754-1826)
View of one of the arches of the Passetto di Borgo in Rome
Pen and brown ink, watercolour, signed lower left v. j. nicolle
17.5 x 12 cm
The Passetto di Borgo, also known as the Corridoio di Borgo, is a protected passageway linking the Saint Mark Bastion of the Castel Sant'Angelo to the Vatican Apostolic Palace. This 800-metre-long elevated passageway provides a direct, secure link between the Vatican and the ancient fortress of the Mole Adriana.
Today, it is the longest section still visible of the ancient Leonine walls, erected in the mid-ninth century by Pope Leo IV. These walls were designed to defend the Civitas Leonina, a citadel bearing his name, against Saracen incursions.
Originally, this corridor was simply a path, but it was covered when the Vatican walls were restored, so that the popes could travel in safety in the event of danger. It was used both to organise quick escapes and to discreetly transfer prisoners to the gaols of Castel Sant'Angelo.
There is still some debate as to who built this covered passageway. Some historians attribute it to Pope Nicholas III, who is said to have ordered the work in 1278; others believe that it was built later, during the pontificate of Boniface IX, and then completed by Baldassarre Cossa, better known as antipope John XXIII.
Other popes helped to strengthen the Passetto. In the mid-15th century, Nicholas V undertook improvements, followed around thirty years later by Sixtus IV. But it was Alexander VI, at the beginning of the 16th century, who launched a major renovation of the defensive system.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits:
Contact organization
Delivery methods
You may also like