St. Peter's in the Vatican

St. Peter's in the Vatican has a long and turbulent history. First constructed in the fourth century to honor the tomb of St. Peter, the Early Christian edifice was gradually torn down and replaced by the current structure. The history of the design and construction of this new building spans several centuries and involved several of the most brilliant architects, including Bramante, Michelangelo and Bernini, of the early modern period. This volume presents an overview of St. Peter's history from the late antique period to the twentieth century.
This volume presents an overview of St. Peter's history from the late antique period to the twentieth century.
William Tronzo is Professor of Art History at Tulane University where he also directs the Medieval Studies Program and the Program in Italian Studies. A scholar of Italian medieval art, he is the author of The Cultures of his Kingdom: Roger II and the Cappella Palatina in Palermo.
If portions of this material will be familiar to some readers, the trade-off is a volume of real scholarly authority, with a depth not found in generalist studies of St. Peter's and a range absent from specialized histories of the basilica. Chapters are writen in lively, engaging prose, and most include ample endnotes containing a wealth of primary and secondary bibliographical sources and suggesting fruitful avenues for future research. The book will be a valuable resource to scholars of architectural, art, and papal history at every point along this spectrum. - Suzy Ford, Rutgers University
"It is rare to find a book that deals with both Old St. Peter's and New St. Peter's. Tronzo's welcome collection of eight scholarly articles, some newly written for this book and some revised and republished, ranges from the possibility of Constantine's patronage in the fourth century, to the building of New St. Peter's, to the use of the monument as model and symbol in the 20th century."
Choice