The Care of Books Part 11

Pamphilus, in centre of picture, is giving orders to porters who are bringing in a basket of books. On his left a large table at which a scribe is writing. S. Jerome, seated in right corner of picture, is apparently dictating to the scribe. Behind them is a large book-case on the shelves of which books lie on their sides; others are being laid on the top by a man standing on a ladder. In the left of the picture is a table covered with a green cloth, on which book-binders are at work. In front of this table a carpenter is preparing boards. In background, seen through a large window, is a view of Caesarea.

X. BIBLIOTHECA APOSTOLORUM.

_S. Peter orders the safe-keeping of books._

S. Petrus sacrorum librorum thesaurum in Romana ecclesia perpetuo a.s.servari jubet.

S. Peter is standing before an altar on which are books and a cross. In front doctors are writing at a low table.

[A small picture between window and west wall.]

XI. BIBLIOTHECA PONTIFIc.u.m.

_The successors of S. Peter carry on the library-tradition._

Romani pontifices apostolicam bibliothecam magno studio amplificant atque ill.u.s.trant.

A pope, his left hand resting on a book, is earnestly conversing with a cardinal, whose back is half turned to the spectator. Another pope, with three aged men, in background.

[A small picture on west wall.]

We will now return to the east end of the room, and take the representations of Councils, painted on the east and north walls, in chronological order.

I. II. CONCILIUM NICAENUM I.

(On east wall.)

_The first Council held at Nicaea_, A.D. 325.

S. Silvestro PP. Constantino Mag. imp. Christus dei Filius patri consubstantialis declaratur Arii impietas condemnatur.

_The burning of the books of Arius._

Ex decreto concilii Constantinus Imp. libros Arianorum comburi iubet.

III. CONCILIUM CONSTANTINOPOLITANUM I.

_The first Council held at Constantinople_, A.D. 381.

S. Damaso PP. et Theodosio sen. imp. Spiritus Sancti divinitas propugnatur nefaria Macedonii haeresis extinguitur.

IV. CONCILIUM EPHESINUM.

_The Council held at Ephesus_, A.D. 431.

S. Caelestino PP. et Theodosio Jun. Imp. Nestorius Christum dividens d.a.m.natur, B. Maria Virgo dei genetrix praedicatur.

V. CONCILIUM CHALCEDONENSE.

_The Council held at Chalcedon_, A.D. 451.

S. Leone magno PP. et Marciano Imp. infelix Eutyches vnam tantum in Christo post incarnationem naturam a.s.serens confutatur.

VI. CONCILIUM CONSTANTINOPOLITANUM II.

_The second Council held at Constantinople_, A.D. 553.

Vigilio Papa et Iustiniano Imp. contentiones de tribus capitibus sedantur Origenis errores refelluntur.

VII. CONCILIUM CONSTANTINOPOLITANUM III.

_The third Council held at Constantinople_, A.D. 680.

S. Agathone Papa Constantino pogonato Imp. monothelitae haeretici vnam tantum in Christo voluntatem docentes exploduntur.

VIII. CONCILIUM NICAENUM II.

_The second Council held at Nicaea_, A.D. 787.

Hadriano papa Constantino Irenes F. imp. impii iconomachi reiiciuntur sacrarum imaginum veneratio confirmatur.

IX. X. CONCILIUM CONSTANTINOPOLITANUM IV.

_The fourth Council held at Constantinople_, A.D. 869.

Hadriano papa et Basilio imp. S. Ignatius patriarcha Constant. in suam sedem pulso Photio rest.i.tuitur.

_The burning of the books of Photius._

Ex decreto concilii Basilius Imp. chirographa Photii et conciliab. acta comburi iubet.

In conclusion I will enumerate the series of eighteen large pictures on the side-walls and in the lunettes at each end of the room, representing, with some few exceptions, the benefits conferred on Rome by Sixtus. The most important of these pictures are above the windows (fig. 16), of which there are seven on each side-wall. A Latin couplet above the picture records the subject, and allegorical figures of heroic size, one on each side, further indicate the idea which it is intended to convey.

The series begins at the east end of the room, over the door.

I. _Procession of Sixtus to his coronation._