THE VATICAN MUSEUMS LOCATED IN VATICAN CITY, ITALY BY DAVID OCHOA

SECTIONS AND EXHIBITS In the Vatican Museums, there are multiple exhibits ranging from 18 th century mosaic artworks and collections of contemporary artworks to uniforms of the papal guard and apartments of notorious popes such as that of Pius V and Alexander VI. Despite being a Catholic dominated museums the museums offer sections such as Greek, Egyptian, and ancient Roman statues and busts.

HISTORY The Museums began as a mere collection of sculptures and statues collected by Pope Julius II. Under popes Clement XIV and Pius VI the Vatican Museums became a complex of different pontifical museums and galleries. Pope Pius VII significantly expanded the collections of “Classical Antiques” and added another gallery. Many new museums have been added including an automobile and carriage museum totaling 29 museums.

THE SISTINE CHAPEL Part of Pope Julius II’s renovations to the state he had Michelangelo, a renowned artist who worked with Julius’s predecessors, to paint the chapel as part of renovations. In October of 1512 Michelangelo finished arguably his greatest masterpiece, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

EGYPTIAN MUSEUMS Pope Gregory XVI had a Egyptian museum made in 1839 and had many hieroglyphics and statues brought in to be seen. The museums take up 9 rooms and hold pieces from all of Egypt’s history, ranging from the Old Kingdom to Roman controlled Egypt.

THE GREGORIAN ETRUSCAN MUSEUM This is the only museum in the entire collection of the Vatican Museums that will cease to be expanded. The museum holds the treasures of excavation sites within the Pontifical states (or Papal States, these existed before Italy was unified). Once Italy was unified in 1870 and the Pontifical States no more the museum had no territorial authority to continue excavations.

THE CLASSICAL ANTIQUES MUSEUMS These museums were the first to be opened to the public, They primarily hold works of stone by Greek and Roman artists, but include some bronze statues. Two more museums have been added to it since its opening, the last being in 1970 under Pope Paul VI.

REFLECTION I had a lot of fun exploring this museum. I didn’t even know that the Catholic Church had a museum let alone 29. The museum is truly a sight that one must see in real life within their lifetime because it holds some of the world’s most renowned, well- known, and beautiful artworks ever created. The museums were originally created as a means to educate the citizens of the world with the art and wonder of what the human mind can create. Some of the artwork in these museums can’t even be found in other museums but seeing as how the church has an overwhelming extension of its power it has access to some of the world’s greatest pieces of art.

MUSEUM WEBSITE

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