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A series of six engravings depicting the events surrounding election of new pope. He is adored in the Sistine Chapel (top right), he is adored at thealtar of St. Peter (top left), he witnesses the burning of flax, which represents the fleeting nature of earthly glory (middle right), he is crowned (middle left), he receives a Torah scroll from the Jewish people (bottom right) and receives the keys symbolizing the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.

A series of six engravings depicting the events surrounding election of new pope. He is adored in the Sistine Chapel (top right), he is adored at thealtar of St. Peter (top left), he witnesses the burning of flax, which represents the fleeting nature of earthly glory (middle right), he is crowned (middle left), he receives a Torah scroll from the Jewish people (bottom right) and receives the keys symbolizing the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.

This view of the Belvedere Gardens and Courtyard at the Vatican is particularly important since it shows the courtyard as it was originally designed by Donato Bramante in 1505. Bramante's design offered an unobstructed prospect from the papal apartments (at left) through the length of the courtyard to the exedra, the semi-circular structure at the right of the image. This perspectival view was later blocked by the construction of a library for Pope Sixtus V in 1587-89.

This view of the Belvedere Gardens and Courtyard at the Vatican is particularly important since it shows the courtyard as it was originally designed by Donato Bramante in 1505. Bramante's design offered an unobstructed prospect from the papal apartments (at left) through the length of the courtyard to the exedra, the semi-circular structure at the right of the image. This perspectival view was later blocked by the construction of a library for Pope Sixtus V in 1587-89.

A pair of engravings depicting the dome atop St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Library, both of which were parts of Pope Sixtus V's urban reform program.

A pair of engravings depicting the dome atop St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Library, both of which were parts of Pope Sixtus V's urban reform program.

A woodcut floorplan depicting the building complex in the Vatican where the Papal conclave is held. Buildings in this area include St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Palace.

A woodcut floorplan depicting the building complex in the Vatican where the Papal conclave is held. Buildings in this area include St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Palace.

An engraved frontispiece of Histoire des conclaves depuis Clement V. jusqu'à present, augmentée, depuis la première édition, de plusieurs mémoires concernans le pape & les cardinaux d'aujourdhui, & les principales familles de Rome : où l'on apprend quantité de particularitez de cette cour. Avec un discours qui explique, suivant le taille douce, toutes les cérémonies qui s'observent depuis la mort du pape, jusqu'après l'élection de son successeur.

An engraved frontispiece of Histoire des conclaves depuis Clement V. jusqu'à present, augmentée, depuis la première édition, de plusieurs mémoires concernans le pape & les cardinaux d'aujourdhui, & les principales familles de Rome : où l'on apprend quantité de particularitez de cette cour. Avec un discours qui explique, suivant le taille douce, toutes les cérémonies qui s'observent depuis la mort du pape, jusqu'après l'élection de son successeur.

A pair of woodcuts with captions depicting the formal procession of food for the Cardinals (top) and the delivery of dishes to the Cardinals (bottom).

A pair of woodcuts with captions depicting the formal procession of food for the Cardinals (top) and the delivery of dishes to the Cardinals (bottom).

An engraving depicting the interior of the Sistine Chapel.

An engraving depicting the interior of the Sistine Chapel.

A series of six engravings depicting a conclave, the process by which Roman Catholic cardinals elect a new pope. The rules of the conclave, in which the cardinals are locked in seclusion, were established to prevent political interference and long delays. Food was delivered through a window; after three days, they only received one meal a day and after five days, only bread and water.

A series of six engravings depicting a conclave, the process by which Roman Catholic cardinals elect a new pope. The rules of the conclave, in which the cardinals are locked in seclusion, were established to prevent political interference and long delays. Food was delivered through a window; after three days, they only received one meal a day and after five days, only bread and water.

A series of six engravings depicting papal funeral rituals including the recognition of the pope’s body (top left), the procession of the body to Saint Peter’s basilica (second row), the body lying in state for three days at Saint Peter’s (third row left), the pope’s catafalque (a raised bier used to support the coffin) (third row right) and the funeral procession (bottom).

A series of six engravings depicting papal funeral rituals including the recognition of the pope’s body (top left), the procession of the body to Saint Peter’s basilica (second row), the body lying in state for three days at Saint Peter’s (third row left), the pope’s catafalque (a raised bier used to support the coffin) (third row right) and the funeral procession (bottom).

The lower third of Falda's plan shows the Belvedere Court designed in 1505 by Donato Bramante for Pope Julius II (1503-1513) to link the palace with a fifteenth-century villa on the grounds. The small courtyard (no. 9 on the plan) at the lower right housed the incomparable collection of ancient sculpture begun by Pope Julius which included such works as the Laocoon.

The lower third of Falda's plan shows the Belvedere Court designed in 1505 by Donato Bramante for Pope Julius II (1503-1513) to link the palace with a fifteenth-century villa on the grounds. The small courtyard (no. 9 on the plan) at the lower right housed the incomparable collection of ancient sculpture begun by Pope Julius which included such works as the Laocoon.

An engraving depicting St. Peter's Basilica and surrounding buildings and monuments, including the Papal Palace, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Obelisk, the Sacristy, and St. Peter's Square.

An engraving depicting St. Peter's Basilica and surrounding buildings and monuments, including the Papal Palace, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Obelisk, the Sacristy, and St. Peter's Square.

An engraving depicting Jesus leading the Apostles, with a hand on Peter's back, towards St. Peter's Basilica. Below the image is a passage from Matthew 16, "Super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam" (On this rock I will build my church).

An engraving depicting Jesus leading the Apostles, with a hand on Peter's back, towards St. Peter's Basilica. Below the image is a passage from Matthew 16, "Super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam" (On this rock I will build my church).

A pair of woodcuts with captions depicting the newly elected Pope being carried from the Sistine Chapel to St. Peter's Basilica (top) and the recognition of the new Pope as he sits upon the High Altar in St. Peter's Basilica (bottom).

A pair of woodcuts with captions depicting the newly elected Pope being carried from the Sistine Chapel to St. Peter's Basilica (top) and the recognition of the new Pope as he sits upon the High Altar in St. Peter's Basilica (bottom).

A woodcut depicting the newly elected Pope being crowned befored the gathered Cardinals.

A woodcut depicting the newly elected Pope being crowned befored the gathered Cardinals.

A pair of woodcuts with captions depicting the cardinals entering the conclave (top) and two examples (one complete and one with the framing) of the temporary rooms set up to house the cardinals during the conclave (bottom).

A pair of woodcuts with captions depicting the cardinals entering the conclave (top) and two examples (one complete and one with the framing) of the temporary rooms set up to house the cardinals during the conclave (bottom).

A pair of woodcuts with captions depicting the two-day election process by the Cardinals (top) and the initial process of the Cardinals formally recognizing and paying tribute to the new Pope (bottom).

A pair of woodcuts with captions depicting the two-day election process by the Cardinals (top) and the initial process of the Cardinals formally recognizing and paying tribute to the new Pope (bottom).