page_title: Pirro Ligorio
section_title: Pope Pius IV (1559-1565)
hierarchical_section_title: Pirro Ligorio / Career at the Vatican / Pope Pius IV (1559-1565)
caption_attribution_description: English: Pontifical Academy of Sciences, located in the Casino di Pio IV in Vatican City.
context_page_description: Pirro Ligorio was an Italian architect, painter, antiquarian, and garden designer during the Renaissance period. He worked as the Vatican's Papal Architect under Popes Paul IV and Pius IV, designed the fountains at Villa d’Este at Tivoli for Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este, and served as the Ducal Antiquary in Ferrara. Ligorio emphasized and showed a deep passion for classical Roman antiquity.
context_section_description: Pius IV rose to the papacy in 1559, already holding a reputation as a strong patron of the arts—architecture especially.   In fact, within the first three years of his pontificate, he spent a million and a half gold scudi on building projects. His approach was unique in that he prioritized finishing incomplete projects, rather than starting new ones.  This aligned well with Ligorio's values, specifically his desire to restore fragmented artifacts and preserve classical antiquities.
  Under Pius IV, Ligorio was once again paired with his assistant, Sallustio Peruzzi.  Their first major project was remodeling the Vatican Library in 1560.  Some records suggest plans to create an entirely new library, but due to lack of funding, these updates likely involved smaller-scale woodworking and masonry by Ligorio.  He was also tasked with smaller projects in this time, such as masonry work and apartment building throughout the palace.
  In May 1560, Ligorio received a commission of great significance: the continuation of Paul's plans for the papal casino.  Located in the woods behind the Belvedere court, Pius' revamped plans for the space included a second story, large fountain, and oval courtyard with arched entryways.  The decorations matched Ligorio's preferred Raphaelesqu style. It was named the Casino of Pius IV in honor of the pope who supported its construction.  Swiss historian Jacob Burckhardt called it "the most beautiful afternoon retreat that modern architecture has created."
  On 2 December 1560, Ligorio was awarded with honorary Roman citizenship for his contributions to the culture and architecture of the city.  This was a major honor, awarded to only three other people during the sixteenth century: Michaelangelo, Titian, and Fra Guglielmo della Porta.  For the remainder of his life, Ligorio identified as both a Neapolitan citizen by birth and a Roman citizen.  This recognition also increased the commissions and projects for which Ligorio was pursued, and made the papacy of Pius IV one of Ligorio's busiest times. 
  This period also marked one of Ligorio's most prominent ventures into engineering.  Papal duties included protecting the cities in its territory, which involved repairing fortifications in those cities. The duties of a Renaissance architect included consideration of engineering concerns, so Ligorio engaged in these renovations during his time as the Architect of the Vatican.  He is particularly remembered for his role in the restoration of the Acqua Vergine, an ancient Roman aqueduct.  Its malfunction was forcing Roman citizens to use the unsanitary water of the Tiber River.  Ligorio demanded its reconstruction, which began in April 1561 and took approximately five years to complete.
  In the early 1560s, the pope turned his attention toward the completion of several projects in the Belvedere Court. Ligorio in particular focused on the Nicchione  built by Bramante in the northern end of the Belvedere Court.  He added a semicircular loggia, which ended up being used in many of Rome's festivals as a fireworks site.  Ligorio's other contribution to the Belvedere Court was an open-air theater on the southern end, which was completed in May 1565.  Unfortunately this theater was torn down in the eighteenth century and replaced by a wall. The Belvedere Court itself was used for a large tournament in March 1565 in honor of the marriage of the pope's nephew.  The Nicchione space was designed to be viewed specifically from a window in the pope's apartment, framed like a painting.
  Another project requested by Pius IV in 1565 was the organization of Vatican archives. Ligorio was tasked with designing a structure to hold these records. Although little remains of this Archivio today, its architectural design suggests a brief departure from Ligorio's typical style (as exemplified by, for example, the extravagant Casino).  Normally his facades were beautifully and intricately decorated in the mannerist tradition. This building, however, was notably utilitarian and modest. Ligorio was staying true to the purpose of the building and
caption: The oval-shaped piazza at the Casino of Pius IV
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