Lion on the Bookcase
Room of the Immaculate Conception
Vatican City
Rome Italy
2016

https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/sala-dell-immacolata/sala-dell-immacolata.html

Following the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception by Pius IX, which took place on 8 December 1854, the pontiff decide to celebrate the event with a cycle of frescoes.
The large room adjacent to the Raphael's Rooms was chosen, and the task was assigned to Francis Podesti (1800-1895), a painter originally from Ancona but rooted in the Roman artistic and academic panorama. The artist, along with his team of workers, worked on the commission from 1856 to 1865, planning it and following its execution in all its aspects: the wooden doors and window frames and the inlaid marble work, as well as the installation of the Roman mosaic from Ostia Antica, purchased specifically for this space.
The pictorial decoration proceeds from the ceiling, with allegorical scenes alluding to the virtues of the Virgin; it continues along the northern wall with the homage of the continents to the Church enthroned; it continues on the west wall, devoted to the Discussion of dogma in St. Peter’s Basilica, and concludes on the east wall, with the Coronation of the Image of Mary, an event following the Proclamation, which took place in St. Peter’s. Podesti, who was present, included a self-portrait here.


Bookcase in the Room of the Immaculate Conception
In 1867 it was decided to commission a bookcase to be positioned in centre of the Room of the Immaculate Conception, to hold the translations of the Papal Bull proclaiming the dogma Ineffabilis Deus.
The work is a work of refined craftsmanship from the Parisian Maison Christofle, which produced it between 1874 and 1878, upon request by the Abbot Marie-Dominique Sire. Thanks to his commitment to the project the monumental structure was financed largely through donations.
It was produced according to design by the architect-decorator Emile Reiber (1826-1893), director of the Maison Christofle design workshop, by a team of artists and craftsmen – ivory workers, sculptors, masters of metal chasing, painters, mosaic artists, ceramic workers and goldsmiths – each of whom was engaged in the production of a specific type of item.
The 110 volumes containing the manuscript text, accompanied by miniatures, are now conserved in the Vatican Apostolic Library and have been substituted in the bookcase by facsimiles.


The feast of Mary, the Immaculate Conception, is celebrated on December 8th. Sometimes, when people hear “the Immaculate Conception,” they confuse Mary for Jesus. This, however, would not make sense since Jesus was conceived on the feast of the Annunciation (March 25th).

Mary as the Immaculate Conception was proclaimed dogma on December 8, 1854 by Pope Pius IX. On the day of the announcement, the weather was rainy and dreary. So, at first, the Cardinals were against proclaiming it that day. But, when the Pope went out to proclaim the dogma, the clouds parted and it was sunny. Thus, the Immaculate Conception was made known. Later, this room was dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. The painting on the wall depicts the announcement of the Immaculate Conception as dogma.


In the middle of the Room of the Immaculate Conception is a large piece of furniture, which holds facsimiles of the documents for the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. This large piece of furniture is a bookcase. On top of this bookcase is a statue of Mary, the Immaculate Conception.

https://www.walksinrome.com/blog/room-of-the-immaculate-conception-vatican-museums-rome

Following the proclamation of the dogma (Ineffabilis Deus) of the Immaculate Conception by Pius IX (r. 1846-78), which took place in St Peter's Basilica on December 8th, 1854, the pope decide to immortalise the event with a series of grand frescoes.

The frescoes (1856-65) in the Sala dell' Immacolata Concezione were executed by Francesco Podesti (1800-95), who had been present at the proclamation.

The fresco of the Proclamation of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception occupies an entire wall in the room. Pius IX, by his own request, is depicted standing rather than seated. During the ceremony the pope had been obliged to stand up when a ray of sunlight unexpectedly shone in his face. As the day was overcast, the sunbeam was interpreted as heavenly confirmation of the dogma. In the fresco the sunbeam emanates from the cross in the top left corner.

Directly above the pope is the Virgin Mary and the Holy Trinity. Although Mary is in the centre, she is not on the same level as the Father and the Son, but a little lower. She may be the immaculate mother of God, but she is also human.

On the right-hand side of the fresco, Adam opens his arms to Mary, while Eve bows her head in shame. The faces of Eve and Mary are identical, for, according to the teaching of the Fathers of the Church, Mary is the new Eve.

The Immaculate Conception is the belief that the Virgin Mary was conceived free from the stain of original sin.


The Vatican Museums are the public museums of the Vatican City. They display works from the immense collection amassed by the Catholic Church and the papacy throughout the centuries, including several of the most well-known Roman sculptures and most important masterpieces of Renaissance art in the world.


Feisty and strong, lions have been important symbols in many cultures for centuries. Here’s what lion symbolism may mean, whether you consider the lion your spirit animal—or lion imagery seems to be everywhere you turn.

Known to be fierce and protective, lions are the kings and queens of the jungle. In many cultures, they're an important figure representing strength, bravery, and family. According to Johanna Aúgusta, a numerologist and owner of the Ministry of Numerology, the lion's body is "used to represent deathless courage,” from a mythological perspective.

Lions are also associated with the sun—vibrant and full of energy—in astrology, representing the sign of Leo in the zodiac. “In astrology, Lion represents the regal King or Queen energy,” says Kathy Harmon-Luber, a certified reiki and sound healing practitioner and author of Suffering to Thriving.

And according to cultural symbolism expert and founder of Typically Topical, Charlotte Kirsten, “Lions are true symbols of courage, power, strength, inner wisdom, leadership and self-actualization,” who adds, “They venture into our lives when we’re on the verge of making all-important leaps of faith, imploring us to trust not only in ourselves and our direction but our capabilities too.”