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The history of the popes, from the close of the middle ages : drawn ...

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Il6 HISTORY OF THE POPES.<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> time, but also <strong>of</strong> princes <strong>of</strong> strict Catholic principles<br />

" venerable relics <strong>of</strong> ancient days "^ were ei<strong>the</strong>r matters <strong>of</strong><br />

indifference, or else, as being idolatrous, unsuitable for <strong>the</strong><br />

adornment <strong>of</strong> his palace ;<br />

his point <strong>of</strong> view was very similar<br />

to that <strong>of</strong> Adrian VI.<br />

Even though we may admit a want <strong>of</strong> understanding on his<br />

part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> great educational value <strong>of</strong> such artistic treasures,<br />

Pius V. was by no means indifferent, and still less, hostile,<br />

towards <strong>the</strong> arts. <strong>The</strong>re exists an au<strong>the</strong>ntic document<br />

concerning <strong>the</strong> inventory made after his death <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> objects<br />

which adorned his private apartments ;<br />

this shows that <strong>the</strong>y<br />

were filled with all manner <strong>of</strong> works <strong>of</strong> art, bronzes, intarsia,<br />

cameos, medals, paintings on wood, among <strong>the</strong>m a Last<br />

Judgment by Fra Angelico, miniatures by Giulio Clovio, and<br />

o<strong>the</strong>r precious objects.^ Since Pius V. did not allow himself<br />

<strong>the</strong> smallest luxury—he went so far in his parsimony that<br />

he at first used <strong>the</strong> robes worn by his predecessor before having<br />

new ones made for him.self^—one can only suppose that <strong>the</strong>se<br />

objects <strong>of</strong> art were for <strong>the</strong> most part presents. Some <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong>m, as for example <strong>the</strong> gifts <strong>of</strong> Requesens and Cardinal<br />

Ricci,^ and that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Bishop <strong>of</strong> Portalegre, can even be<br />

^ In <strong>the</strong> *letter <strong>from</strong> Albert V. to his agent, Castellini. dated<br />

Munich, April 27, 1568, we read : " Literas tuas, quarum dies<br />

fuit 27 Martii, accepimus at ex lis pergratum nobis fuit intelligere<br />

quid de statuis ac antiquitatibus illis egeris, nee dubitamus quin<br />

rev. dom. card. Alexandrinus tantum <strong>of</strong>ficii ea in re in nostri<br />

gratiam sit positurus, tu nulli labori parcens omni labore, studio<br />

et diligentia in id totum incumbas, ut tandem etiam aulam<br />

nostram venerandae antiquitatis nionumentis secundum vota<br />

nostra conspicuam havere possimus." Grig, in Cod. B. 34, p. 5,<br />

Library at Faenza. For Castellini and <strong>the</strong> Duke's collection cf.<br />

<strong>the</strong> article <strong>of</strong> Christ in <strong>the</strong> Papers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Academy at Munich,<br />

Phil.-hisi. Klasse, X., 357 seq.<br />

^ See Vol. VII. <strong>of</strong> this work p. 7 seq.<br />

3 See Lanciani, IV., 41 seq.<br />

* See Catena, 27.<br />

^ " *I1 commendator di Castiglia ha dato a S. S^^^ un panno<br />

d' oro et di seta nel quale e ritratta I'historia de tre magi. 11<br />

card^^ di Montepulciano ha donato a S. B, una canna d 'India

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