Vasari Art Codex

museum exhibitions schedule Nov 17, 2025 visibility 1 link 1 artist

borso deste bible on view in rome 2713488

The Borso d'Este Bible, a lavishly illuminated 15th-century manuscript often called the 'Mona Lisa of Illuminated Manuscripts,' has gone on public display at the Italian Senate in Rome. The two-volume Bible, commissioned by Duke Borso d'Este between 1455 and 1461, features gold and Afghan lapis lazuli illustrations and is usually kept in a safe at a Modena library. Its rare public showing is part of the Vatican's Holy Year celebrations, which are expected to draw 32 million visitors to Rome. The Bible was transported under elaborate security and is presented in a humidity-controlled case with a touch-screen digital experience.

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museum exhibitions schedule Nov 17, 2025 link 1 artist

borso deste bible on view in rome 2713488

The Borso d'Este Bible, often called the 'Mona Lisa of Illuminated Manuscripts,' has gone on rare public display at the Italian Senate in Rome as part of the Vatican's Holy Year celebrations. The two-volume manuscript, commissioned by Duke Borso d'Este in the mid-15th century and created by calligrapher Pietro Paolo Marone and illuminators Taddeo Crivelli and Franco dei Russi, is usually kept in a safe at a library in Modena. It was transported with elaborate security and is now showcased behind humidity-controlled glass with a digital touch-screen experience for visitors.

newspaper Artnet News open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Nov 18, 2025 visibility 1

‘Mona Lisa of illuminated manuscripts’ goes on show in Rome

A lavishly illuminated Renaissance Bible, hailed as the 'Mona Lisa of illuminated manuscripts,' has been placed on public display in Rome. The Borso d'Este Bible, created between 1455 and 1461 for the first Duke of Ferrara, features over 1,000 gold-adorned miniature paintings by artists including Taddeo Crivelli and Franco dei Russi. Normally kept in a secure safe at the Gallerie Estensi in Modena, the two-volume manuscript was transported under heavy security to the Italian Senate, where it is exhibited in a humidity-controlled case as part of the Vatican's Holy Year celebrations through January 2026. Visitors can explore high-resolution digital reproductions via touch screens.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original

museum exhibitions schedule Nov 18, 2025

‘Mona Lisa of illuminated manuscripts’ goes on show in Rome

A lavishly illuminated Renaissance Bible, hailed as the 'Mona Lisa of illuminated manuscripts,' has gone on display in Rome. The Borso d'Este Bible, created between 1455 and 1461 for the first duke of Ferrara, features over 1,000 gold-adorned miniature paintings by a team of artists led by Taddeo Crivelli and Franco dei Russi. Normally kept in a safe at the Gallerie Estensi in Modena, the two-volume manuscript was transported under heavy security to the Italian Senate, where it is exhibited in a humidity-controlled case as part of the Vatican's Holy Year celebrations until January 16, 2026. Visitors can explore digital reproductions via touch screens.

newspaper The Art Newspaper open_in_new Read original