Valier's Castle

Lore & Background

The sculpture was commissioned by Pope Urban VIII from Bernini in 1633 and was destined for St. Peter's, Rome, where it still sits now. The sculpture took a decade to create, with its final parts completed in 1644. The sculpture commemorates Matilda of Canossa (1046–1115) as a defender of the church throughout the eleventh and twelfth centuries against the forces of the Holy Roman Emperor. Matilda had been buried in the Abbey of San Benedetto di Polirone in Mantua in the twelfth century, but Pope Urban negotiated for her remains to be transported to Rome. It is speculated that this was to celebrate Pope Urban's roots in Tuscany as well as Matilda's support for the pope.

In Their Own Story

The full sculpture has a base of a sarcophagus carved with the Submission of the emperor Henry IV to Pope Gregory VII at Canossa Castle, supported by two cherubs, topped by a statue of Matilda holding the keys of St Peter and the papal crown in her left arm and a sword in her right hand. The historical event commemorated is known variously as the Road to Canossa, the Humiliation of Canossa (Italian: L'umiliazione di Canossa), or the Walk to Canossa (German: Gang nach Canossa/Kanossa). It was the journey taken by the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV to Canossa Castle in 1077, and the ritual submission he was made to undertake there to Pope Gregory VII, seeking absolution and the revocation of his excommunication by the Pope. The castle was owned by Matilda of Tuscany, who was hosting Pope Gregory VII.

Reader's Guide

Harvard Museums have a bronze statuette which was cast from Bernini's clay model for this sculpture. This statue is likely to have been intended as a model and possibly as a present for the pope as it is well finished. On the back of the statue are Bernini's tool marks which indicate that the design was always intended to be in a niche at Saint Peters. The Bode Museum in Berlin also holds a model.

Did You Know?

• The monument was commissioned by Pope Urban VIII from Bernini in 1633 and took a decade to complete, with final parts finished in 1644.
• Matilda of Tuscany ruled the March of Tuscany from 1055 to 1115 and was buried in the Abbey of San Benedetto di Polirone in Mantua before Pope Urban negotiated her remains' transfer to Rome.
• The sarcophagus base is carved with the Submission of Emperor Henry IV to Pope Gregory VII at Canossa Castle in 1077.
• Harvard Museums hold a bronze statuette cast from Bernini's clay model, with tool marks on the back showing the design was always intended for a niche at St. Peter's.
• The Bode Museum in Berlin also holds a model of the sculpture.

Commission and Historical Context

In 1633, Pope Urban VIII commissioned Bernini to create the monument for St. Peter's, Rome. The sculpture took a decade to create, with its final parts completed in 1644. It commemorates Matilda of Canossa (1046–1115) as a defender of the church throughout the eleventh and twelfth centuries against the forces of the Holy Roman Emperor. Matilda had been buried in the Abbey of San Benedetto di Polirone in Mantua in the twelfth century, but Pope Urban negotiated for her remains to be transported to Rome. It is speculated that this was to celebrate Pope Urban's roots in Tuscany as well as Matilda's support for the pope.

Sculptural Composition and Symbolism

The full sculpture has a base of a sarcophagus carved with the Submission of the emperor Henry IV to Pope Gregory VII at Canossa Castle, supported by two cherubs, topped by a statue of Matilda holding the keys of St Peter and the papal crown in her left arm and a sword in her right hand. The historical event commemorated is known variously as the Road to Canossa, the Humiliation of Canossa (Italian: L'umiliazione di Canossa), or the Walk to Canossa (German: Gang nach Canossa/Kanossa). It was the journey taken by the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV to Canossa Castle in 1077, and the ritual submission he was made to undertake there to Pope Gregory VII, seeking absolution and the revocation of his excommunication by the Pope. The castle was owned by Matilda of Tuscany, who was hosting Pope Gregory VII.

Preparatory Models and Artistic Process

Harvard Museums have a bronze statuette which was cast from Bernini's clay model for this sculpture. This statue is likely to have been intended as a model and possibly as a present for the pope as it is well finished. On the back of the statue are Bernini's tool marks which indicate that the design was always intended to be in a niche at Saint Peters. The Bode Museum in Berlin also holds a model.

Legacy of Canossa and Papal Authority

The monument commemorates Matilda of Canossa (1046–1115) as a defender of the church throughout the eleventh and twelfth centuries against the forces of the Holy Roman Emperor. The historical event commemorated is the journey taken by the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV to Canossa Castle in 1077, and the ritual submission he was made to undertake there to Pope Gregory VII, seeking absolution and the revocation of his excommunication by the Pope. The castle was owned by Matilda of Tuscany, who was hosting Pope Gregory VII. Pope Urban negotiated for Matilda's remains to be transported to Rome, speculated to celebrate his Tuscan roots and Matilda's support for the pope.