Rome, the defacement of Beato Angelico's tomb, a 15th century monument

In Rome, last April 7, the tomb of Blessed Angelico was scarred: as yet unknown vandals broke into the basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, where the great painter, whose real name was Guido di Pietro (Vicchio, c. 1395 - Rome, 1455), later entered the convent under the name of Fra’ Giovanni da Fiesole, rests, and struck the artist’s tomb slab, scarring it near the head. The slab, struck in several places, is a 15th-century work by sculptor Isaia da Pisa (documented from 1447 to 1464), who specialized in making similar monuments: Also his are the sarcophagus of St. Catherine of Siena (also in the basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva), the funeral monument of Pope Eugene IV in San Salvatore in Lauro (1447-1453), and the funeral monument of the Cardinal of Portugal, Antonio Martínez de Chávez, in the basilica of St. John Lateran.

“A very serious disfigurement that denotes a total lack of respect for the place and for the object itself,” Arianna Cajano, an official of the Rome Superintendency in charge of drawing up the restoration project, told Repubblica. “Fortunately,” the official added, “the damage is contained.” The Superintendency has already made the inspections and is drafting the restoration project: funding will come from the Fondo Edifici di Culto (FEC) of the Ministry of the Interior, which owns the building.

Pictured: Isaiah of Pisa, the tomb of Blessed Angelico (before the defacement). Ph. Credit Miguel Hermoso Cuesta

Rome, the defacement of Beato Angelico's tomb, a 15th century monument

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