The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-18
OPEN AFTER CENTURIES.


New York Herald.
The famous Borgia rooms In the vati-
can in Rome are now open TO the public
for the first time In 400 years. The guides
showing visitors through the pope's pal
ace. In passing the door giving access into
that splendid suite Of apartments, have
piousiy crossed themselves and muttered
IN ave. With a wave of the hand they
have passed by the apartments disdain-
fully. giving them the title OF "Chambres
Maudits," and the door la Porte aux
Enters"
Behind the closed door have been hid
den some of the most beautiful frescoes
and specimens Of the masters genius to
be found In Rome. But because the rooms
were built and decorated for the use OF
Alexander Wis daughter Lucretia, they
were accursed in the eyes Of every good
Catholic.
So centuries passed and the frescoes
and works so zealously hidden came to
be looked upon as myths. but history re-
corded the fact that they really did ex-
list, ana Pope Leo XIII. has finally had
them restored and opened to the public.
These rooms were added to the vati-
can and decorated by order Of Pope Al
exander VI. just after Perugfno had nm
ished the execution Of his fresco in the
Ssstine chapel The master to whom the
work was given was Pinturicchio. who
had been a pupil Of Perugino. and had
himself done no inconsiderable portion OF
the decorations In the Sistine chapel.
Pfnturicchio. whose full name was Ber-
nardino 81 Botti. was the son OF a citi-
zen Of Perugia. and vas one OF very
important group Of painters who inner
tied the artistic traditions and developed
the style of the older Perugian painters,
such az Boufgli and Florence dl Lo-
renzo.
Pinturicchio was summoned to Rome In
1892 by Pope Alexander VI and EN-
ployed to decorate q suite Of six rooms In
the vatican. which Alexander had just
built. These rooms were called after
their founder, "Appartamenti Borgia,"
and now form part Of the vatican libra
ry. Five of them still retain the fine
series of frescoes with which they were
decorated by Pinturicchio, the upper part
OF the walls and vaults not only COW
cred with paintings. but further enriched
with delicate stucco work in relief. as
masterpieces of decorative design. They
are considered much better models for
imitation than the more celebrated Stance
OF Raphael, Immediately over the Borgia
rooms.
The main subjects Of these rooms are:
THE Annunciation," 1.-THE Nativity"
''The Maei" and 'The Resurrection
scenes from the lives Of st. Catharine.
st. Anthony. ST. Sebastian and other
saints: aiIegorical figures Of Music, Arith-
metic, ETC.; four figures In half length,
with rich arabesques, and figures of the
planets. the occupations OF the various
months. and other subjects.
Pinturicchio, assisted by his pupils.
worked in these rooms from 1922 until
1893. The models for his Madonnas. St.
Catharine and other female saints were
Lucretia Borzia and the famous Giulia
Farnese. For his male saints Caesar Bor-
gia posed. and one group contains very
fine portrait OF Pope Alexander himself
The models used by Pinturicchio and
the name given TO the rooms by their
designer are to blame for the ostracism
they have suffered. That any pious Cath
ole should be asked to gaze upon and
admire a Madonna or saint whose feat
ures and form perpetuated the features
and form OF Lucretia Borgia or Giuha
Farnese was not to be tolerated for
moment. That the misdceds Of Caesar
Borgia should be constantly recalled by
the ever present speaking likeness OF his
hated features gazing down from group
Of saints was pronounced sacrilegious.
and the clamor became so great after
the pope's death that his successor was
finally forced to close the rooms and seal
up the door leading 10 them.
Pope Leo has now determined that the
masterpieces left so long to the destruc-
ton OF dampaess end mold shall be
opened 10 sunlight and air. ard the
frescoes shall he free 10 the art student,
the artist and the tourist.
All know the history of the Borgias.
and yet no pope ever did more 10 enlarge
the dominion of Rome. 10 enhance the
beauty of her cathedrals. to beautify the
architecture OF her palaces, to extend
her sway over the entire world. than
Rodrigo Borgia, Pope Alexander VI He
was the patron OF Perugiai. Raphael Pin
turicchio, man superior TO his times.
and yet bis death was so iguominious
that his body was barely cold before the
satellites OF Caesar Borgia rushed into