Pictorial Decoration of the Wards

The frescoes—comprising 46 main panels and 23 smaller ones—were painted by anonymous artists from the Umbrian-Lazio-Marches schools at the end of the 15th century. They extend over approximately 1,200 meters and rise about 8 meters above the floor, following the entire perimeter of the wards. The scenes, framed by painted pilasters adorned with candelabra motifs, depict the most significant episodes from the lives and works of the two founding popes, Innocent III and Sixtus IV. Below each panel, Latin captions by Bartolomeo Sacchi, known as Platina, provide explanations. In the 16th century, Commander Teseo Aldrovandi had the walls of both wings covered with precious tooled leather hangings, which have since been lost.