Conclave Broadsheets

The Broadsheet on Display in Special Collections

Nuova et esatta pianta del Conclave con le funtioni e ceremonie per l’Elettione del nuovo Pontefice fatto nella sede vacante di Papa Innocentio. XII. che sedé anni. IX. mesi. II. giorni XV. nel quale entrorno l’eminentissimi Signori cardinali adi IX di Ottobre MDCC.  Rome: Domenico de Rossi, 1700.

This broadsheet (on display in Special Collections) announces the death of Pope Innocent XII and depicts scenes related to the conclave (October 9 – November 23, 1700) convened to elect Giovanni Francesco Albani as Pope Clement XI (r. 1700-1721). The print was published in 1700 by Giovanni Domenico de Rossi and is signed in the bottom R.V.A. Gandense. It, however, was a reissue of a print published in 1691, with the names and dates updated, for the conclave convened after Pope Alexander VIII (r. 1689-1691) died. (See Tozzi, Incisioni, pp. 57, 60-61, 67).

Image_Brochure Download the exhibit guide (pdf)

 

More Conclave Broadsheets

Rare Books and Special Collections (RBSC) at Notre Dame holds four additional conclave prints. Brief descriptions and images are below. RBSC, however, invites everyone to come and view the originals during the week, Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. For contact and location information, please visit the RBSC website. Also on display is RBSC’s main exhibit for Spring 2013, “Hour by Hour: Reconstructing a Medieval Breton Prayerbook.”

 

Click on each image to view larger image.
BPP_1002-003-F2 001 Nuova et esatta pianta del Conclave con le funtioni e cerimonie per l’eletione del nuovo Pontefice fatto in Sede vacante di Papa Innocentio 12 che sede Anni 9 Mesi 2 giorni 15 . . . a de 9 Ottobre 1700.

This broadsheet was also printed in Rome by Domenico de Rossi in 1700 for the conclave of that elected Clement XI. It contains similar images but noticeably missing is the curtain of secrecy held up by the angels.

 

BPP_1002-005-F2 001 Der Grund-Riß des Conclave und die Beschreibung aller Solennitaeten: welche in Rom nach Absterben eines Pabstes, und beÿ der Erwehlung seines Nachfolgers vorzugehen pflegen.  [Nuremberg,  Christoph Weigel the Elder, c. 1720].

Engraved by the German artist, Christoph Weigel the Elder (1654-1725), this undated broadsheet was printed in Rome around 1720. The print, labeled only with sede vacante (“vacant seat”), does not represent a specific conclave; it, rather, provides a general portrait of the rituals conducted during a conclave and may have been used as a teaching device. Surrounding the central scene of the floorplan of the Apostolic Palace are seventeen illustrations of ceremonies and processions held during the election of a pope. The images in this print, including the curtain help up by angels that shrouds the events within the Apostolic Palace, resemble those in the conclave broadsheet printed in 1700 by Domenico de Rossi.

 

BPP_1002-002-F2 001 Nuova et esatta pianta del Conclave con le funtioni che si fanno per la morte del Pontefice e per l‘eletione del nuovo fatto nella Sede Vacante di Papa Clemente XIII che Sede Anni 10 e mesi 6 giorni 27 del Suo Pontificato; entrerano li Emi Cardinali i 15 Febraro del 1769 in Conclave.  [Rome], Westerhout, [1769].

This print depicts the conclave convened after Pope Clement XIII died (r. 1758-1769) that elected Giovanni Vincenzo Antonio Ganganelli as Clement XIV (r. 1769-1774). Although not dated, it is signed by Westerhout.

 

BPP_1002-004-F1 001 Nova pianta del conclave fatta in sede vacante di Papa Clemente XIV per l’elettione del novo pontefice . . . Ottobre 1774.  Rome, Giovanni Bettamini, 1774.

This print was printed for the conclave held in October 1774 after Pope Clement XIV died. After four months, the Cardinal electors elected Giovanni Angelo Braschi as Pope Pius VI (r. 1775-1799 )