Analysis Of The Funerary Statue Of Cardinal Rampolla

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The Funerary Monument of Cardinal Mariano Rampolla

Cardinal Mariano Rampolla del Tindaro was the titular of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere from 1887 until his death in 1913. He was also the Archpriest of St. Peter’s and almost declared pope in 1903, but was vetoed on suspicion of being a freemason and promoting views against the triple alliance. His funerary monument was commissioned in 1913, possibly by Pope Pius X. The piece was sculpted in Neo-Baroque design by Enrico Quattrini, and sits in the Cappella Rampolla, one of the side chapels in Santa Cecilia. Cardinal Rampolla’s body was transferred to the tomb in 1929, from his initial burial location in Campo Verno cemetery. Cardinal Rampolla greatly improved Santa Cecilia in many ways, the …show more content…

However, the piece doesn’t have the same amount of drama that is seen within sculptures by Bernini, such as The Ecstasy of St. Teresa. Understandably, this may be because the two are not the same exact style, but they are still based off the same ideals. Like Rampolla’s tomb, Bernini’s Ecstasy of St. Teresa is located in a side chapel, depicting Saint Teresa having a vision. The sculpture shows Teresa lying on a cloud like structure, while the angel from her vision stands before her holding an arrow, ready to pierce her heart. Similarly, Rampolla’s monument represents a vision taking place, as the angel is pulling away the curtain to reveal the new crypts. The two sculptures also follow the same structure; as the angel appears on the left, while the saint or cardinal appear on the right, taking in what the angel is telling them. Though both pieces represent the same idea, there is a distinct difference in style. Bernini’s sculpture is much more dramatic, as he used detailed facial expressions and body movements. The funerary monument on the other hand appears more static. The folds of the curtain mimic the folds of St. Teresa’s cloak, though the actual statue of Cardinal Rampolla stands quite still. The piece still holds drama as the presentation of it appears like a show on stage, but it lacks the same amount of movement found in the Baroque

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