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.
This exhibition matters because it brings a rarely seen masterpiece of Italian Renaissance illumination to a wider public, underscoring the artistic and religious significance of manuscript art during the Jubilee year. The Bible's complex provenance—from the Este and Habsburg dynasties to a Parisian dealer and eventual donation to the Italian state—also highlights ongoing interest in the history and market for such works. The display bridges heritage conservation, digital accessibility, and cultural diplomacy, reinforcing the Vatican's Holy Year programming.