Pius 7 (1742 - 1823)

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Pius 7, original model in plaster crafted between 1824-1825 (A142, A143, A144). This work is housed at the Thorvaldsen Museum in Copenhagen, Denmark. Made with ReMake and ReCap from AutoDesk. Unveiled in marble within St. Peter's Basilica in 1831. Pius VII served as pope from 1800 until his passing in 1823. It underscores Thorvaldsen's stature that he was entrusted to create this monument to Pius VII at the central cathedral of the Catholic Church, despite being a Protestant himself. The aging pontiff sits atop his throne with his tiara firmly in place on his head. Extending one hand, he conveys a gesture of blessing while maintaining direct eye contact. By contrast, the allegorical female figure on the left, Divine Power (A144), gazes upward toward Heaven with a sentimental expression. The woman situated to the right, Heavenly Wisdom (A143), focuses intently upon her Bible, engrossed in its contents. In this arrangement, the Pope at the center emerges as the balanced communicator of a message comprising equal measures of Christian sentiment and Christian wisdom. Follow me on Twitter for more insightful content!