Marmble

Adamo Tadolini

• 1836 – 1840

• Erected at foot of basilica steps in 1847

Statue:

• Height: 5.55 m

Sword:

• Length: 2.29 m

Pedestal:

• Height: 4.91 m

St Peter’s Square. Right hand side looking at the Basilica.

    The statue of Saint Paul was sculpted by Adam Tadolini, a Bolognese sculptor, who came to Rome in 1813 and was welcomed by Canova in his studio .

    The work, like that of St. Peter, was commissioned by Pope Gregory XVI (1831-1846) for the new Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, which was rebuilt after the fire of 1823. However it was kept in the Basilica vaults until 1847, when it was placed in St. Peter's Square at the behest of Pope Pius IX ( 1846-1878) . The sculpture replaced a more modest statue on the same subject dating to 1461-1462. The pontiff also had the statue placed on a pedestal, with an inscription that commemorates the transfer of the statue, the papal coat of arms with the insignia within garlands of laurel and the emblem of the Reverenda Fabbrica di San Pietro or Fabric of St. Peter with the indicated letters RFSP

    The apostle holds a sword in his right hand and a book and scroll in his left hand bearing an inscription in Hebrew "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13).
Pius IX donated the plaster model of the statue to the Church of San Carlo ai Catinari.

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