The Borso d’Este Bible, a 15th-century masterpiece, is on display in Rome until Jan. 16, 2026, as part of the Vatican’s Jubilee celebrations.
Newsroom (13/11/2025 Gaudium Press ) A 15th-century masterpiece, the Borso d’Este Bible, considered one of the most exquisite examples of Renaissance illuminated manuscripts, was unveiled Thursday in the Italian Senate as part of the Vatican’s Holy Year celebrations. The two-volume treasure, adorned with opulent miniature paintings crafted in gold and Afghan lapis lazuli, will remain on public display in Rome’s Capitolare Hall at Piazza della Minerva until January 16, 2026, offering a rare glimpse into a work typically safeguarded in a Modena library vault.
Commissioned by Duke Borso d’Este between 1455 and 1461, the Bible is a testament to both spiritual devotion and Renaissance artistry. Created by calligrapher Pietro Paolo Marone and illustrators Taddeo Crivelli and Franco dei Russi, its 1,200 parchment pages are a dazzling fusion of sacred text and visual splendor. The Italian Culture Ministry hails it as a pinnacle of miniature art, uniting “sacred value, historic relevance, precious materials, and refined aesthetics.”
The Bible’s journey to Rome was a spectacle in itself. Transported under heavy security, the volumes arrived in two large red crates, carefully unloaded from an unmarked van in a televised event. Workers gingerly extracted the bubble-wrapped tomes, which were then placed in a humidity-controlled display case to protect the delicate parchment from environmental fluctuations. To enhance accessibility, ultra-high-resolution digital versions of the Bible are available for visitors to explore via touchscreen displays, allowing a close-up view of its intricate details without risking damage to the original.
Alessandra Necci, director of Gallerie Estense in Modena, where the Bible is typically housed, likened it to the “Mona Lisa of illuminated manuscripts” for its unparalleled artistry and religious resonance. “It’s a work that captures not only the sacred but also the ambition of its patron,” Necci said, noting that Duke Borso d’Este spared no expense, commissioning what was then the most costly book ever produced. The lavish expenditure reflected both his faith and his desire to cement the prestige of his dynasty.
Archbishop Rino Fisichella, overseeing the Vatican’s Jubilee celebrations, spoke at the inauguration, urging visitors to let the Bible’s beauty inspire personal reflection. “This splendor is a provocation,” he said, “inviting us to contemplate not just its artistry but the word of God within.” The event, attended by dignitaries including Senate President Ignazio La Russa and Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli, underscored the manuscript’s cultural and spiritual significance.
The Bible’s history is as storied as its craftsmanship. Originally kept by the Este family, it was taken to Vienna in 1859 by the last duke, Francesco V of Austria-Este, during his exile. After passing into Habsburg hands, it remained with the family until 1922, when Zita of Bourbon-Parma, widow of Archduke Charles I, sold it to a Parisian antiquarian. Italian entrepreneur Giovanni Treccani, later renowned for his encyclopedias, purchased the Bible for 3,300,000 French francs in 1923 and donated it to the Italian state, ensuring its return to its homeland.
The exhibition, a highlight of the Vatican’s Jubilee artistic program, is a collaborative effort between the Italian Senate, the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Culture, Gallerie Estense, the Jubilee’s Special Commissioner, and the Treccani Encyclopedia Institute. Open Monday through Friday from 10:00 to 18:00 with free admission, the display offers a rare opportunity to encounter a work that Necci describes as “a bridge between the divine and the human.”
For scholars, art enthusiasts, and the faithful alike, the Borso d’Este Bible’s Roman sojourn is a fleeting chance to witness a Renaissance jewel that has captivated hearts and minds for over five centuries. As Fisichella hopes, its radiance may inspire visitors to rediscover the timeless power of the scriptures in their own lives.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Crux Now
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