Author Description

The Ponte S. Angelo, the principal bridge of Rome, was dedicated by the Emperor Hadrian as a link between his mausoleum and the city of Rome in AD 134. From that time until the end of the nineteenth century, it played an important role in the history of the city as the major gateway to the Vatican, a significant point along the routes of pilgrims and processions. The present study considers the history of the bridge from antiquity, with major emphasis on the work of Bernini in decorating the bridge with angels carrying the instruments of Christ's Passion (1667–72). The documents for the decoration are here published for the first time in full, and oeuvre catalogues are given for the various sculptors who participated. An indispensable volume for the study of Roman Baroque sculpture.