The Vatican: Its History – Its Treasures

Written in 1914

Being born and raised a Roman Catholic I had to buy this book when I saw it at our local Friends of the Library shop.   The book is physically huge 12.5″ x 9.5″ x 2″.  It is full of photographs (unfortunately black & white).   Since the book was written in 1914 you get a sense of the unique political landscape at the time.  The Pope (Pius X) is known as the “Prisoner of the Vatican”.  The four Popes before him never set foot outside the Vatican to step on Italian soil.  This was a result of political relations between Italy and the Vatican in1870.  It is a little hard to imagine when we think of the modern Popes and how they travel so much. 

The book had four major parts.  Part one covered the history and a general description of the Vatican palaces and gardens.  Part two covered the state apartments and chapels.  Part three the Vatican museums, collections, and mosaic factory.  Part four was the administration.

At times I felt like I was reading a brochure for a museum.  Which by the way, the Vatican IS an excellent museum.  So why did the Popes think it necessary to collect all the artwork and manuscripts?  If one does not understand the past, how can someone appreciate where we are now.  To understand a religious organization that traces back to the time of the Romans, you have to understand who the Romans were. 

The Sistine Chapel, Egyptian Museum, Vatican Library all declare a dedication to safeguarding civilizations progress.  Having this available for future generations to study and understand is very important. 

I am aware that there are newer publications with full color pictures that might give better justice to the art of the Vatican, but this book does have a lot of value for a look on how the Vatican was viewed in 1914, before two world wars and and a century of technological advances.