A rare Renaissance treasure is drawing attention in Rome as part of the Holy Year calendar: the Borso D’Este Bible, a 15th-century illuminated masterpiece normally kept out of public view in Modena. Presented in the Italian Senate, the two-volume work is available to visitors through January 16, offering a close encounter — digital and in person — with one of the most celebrated manuscripts of its era.
Created between 1455 and 1461, the Bible was commissioned by Duke Borso D’Este and produced by the calligrapher Pietro Paolo Marone along with illustrators Taddeo Crivelli and Franco dei Russi. Its pages feature extensive miniature painting in gold and Afghan lapis lazuli. Each folio demonstrates the intense labor and artistic skill characteristic of high Renaissance manuscript production, with decoration that highlights the centrality of Scripture in courtly and civic culture.
For decades, the Bible has been stored in secure conditions at the Gallerie Estensi in Modena and shown only on rare occasions. Transporting it to Rome required heavy security, and its installation at the Senate was televised as staff carried two large crates into the building and carefully unpacked the bubble-wrapped volumes. Because the parchment is highly sensitive to environmental shifts, the Bible now rests in a humidity-controlled case designed to maintain stable conditions throughout the exhibition.
Visitors are not able to turn the pages directly, but they can explore the manuscript through ultra-high-resolution digital displays. These screens provide access to the vibrant colors and precise brushwork that define the manuscript’s reputation. According to America Magazine, Alessandra Necci, director of the Gallerie Estensi, has described the Bible as the “Mona Lisa of illuminated manuscripts,” pointing to the exceptional quality of its design and its enduring cultural significance.
The Vatican’s lead organizer for the Jubilee, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, spoke at the unveiling and encouraged viewers to approach the exhibition with an openness to Scripture itself. He noted that the manuscript’s beauty can prompt engagement with the biblical text, urging visitors to consider reading the Bible at home. His invitation echoes the Catechism’s teaching that “Sacred Scripture is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit” (CCC 81), a reminder that the physical artistry serves a deeper purpose.
This exhibition offers a rare window into the devotion, artistic ambition, and political identity that shaped Renaissance Italy. For many visitors, the chance to view the Borso D’Este Bible—whether through the glass of its case or on a touchscreen—adds a distinctive cultural moment to the Holy Year experience.
