The History of the Church through 100 Masterpieces

Art in the Service of God

The History of the Church 150 Art in the Service of God Succeeding Alexander VI—a Spaniard, noble and corrupt—Julius II— an Italian Franciscan from a poor family, honest and pious—ascended to the papal throne. However, they had one point in common: both of them were nephews of popes, which considerably facilitated their careers. Another similarity between the two was the conviction that pontifi cal power must be sustained by uncontested temporal rule. Therefore, the new pope continued the same territorial policies of his predecessor , albeit not to assure his own and his family’s fortune, but to indirectly reinforce his religious authority. While ably maneuvering to keep France and the empire at a distance from Italy and the papal territories, he undertook the reform of the secular and religious clergy, addressing their most glaring shortcomings . Conscious of the importance of the arts in communicating and explaining the faith, he also enlisted the services of Michelangelo, Raphael, Bramante, and many other artists, notably launching the construction of the new Basilica of Saint Peter. Julius II can be considered the father of religious art in modern times, and, in general, one of the most important patrons of the arts in all of history. Anastasio Fontebuoni (1571–1626) Michelangelo and Julius II Casa Buonarroti, Florence ...