Description:

Pope Pius VI Issues "Il Breve di Oratorio Privato" to Italian Noble

Two eighteenth-century religious documents, in Italian and Latin, announcing papal decrees issued by Pope Pius VI (1717-1799) in April 1777. Both documents are signed by Cardinal Rezzonico as "j. h. Card: Rezzonico." The main texts are inscribed in gorgeous secretarial script. Docketed in Latin. The two documents are folio sized but folded in halves and fastened shut by two embossed seals. On watermarked wood and rag pulp paper. Each half measures 7.75" x 10.75". Expected paper folds and minor discoloration to areas around seals, else near fine. Accompanied by extensive research prepared by Italian scholar Maria X. Wells (see below).

In the two documents dated April 11, 1777 and April 21, 1777 respectively, Cardinal Rezzonico (1724-1799) petitioned Pope Pius VI to grant a special breve, or concession, to Paolo Livizzani, the Marquis of Mantua. Cardinal Rezzonico was acting on behalf of Livizzani, who could not directly apply to the pope. Livizzani requested that Pope Pius VI grant him permission to celebrate Mass and other holy services at the former's summer palace at Campo Santo, located near Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region. Wells speculated that the permission was necessary on a technical basis because Livizzani's summer palace was not located in his personal diocese.

Pope Pius VI was the fourth longest reigning Pope in history, serving as Bishop of Rome between 1775 and 1799. Pope Pius VI took a moderate stance on many hot-button ecclesiastical issues, like the disbanding and discrediting of the Jesuits. He encouraged the expansion of Catholicism in America, establishing the first episcopal see in Baltimore in 1789. The French Revolution and Napoleon Bonaparte's empire-building buffeted his papacy. After Bonaparte besieged the Papal States in 1796, Pope Pius VI was imprisoned and died in France.

Cardinal Rezzonico (1724-1799) was a nephew of Pope Clement XIII. He served as the camerlegno, or chief financial officer, of the Holy See for the entirety of Pope Pius VI's reign. Cardinal Rezzonico also served as Secretary of the Roman Inquisition during Pope Pius VI's tenure.

Maria X. Wells (nee Zevelchi), a specialist in post-1600 Italian history, was solicited for her scholarly opinion about the documents. She provided extensive analysis of both. See below for excerpts; occasional spelling errors have been silently corrected.

"A Breve was a decree by a Pope announcing a privilege and concession. In this case it was a permission to celebrate Mass and all holy services in his summer place of Campo Santo which was located in the District of Modena but in the Diocese of Nonantola (a famous Monastery nearby)'…

Cardinal Rezzonico was writing to the Pope for Marchese Livizzani of Mantua, who could not present the petition directly to the Pope.

The seal at the bottom of the leaf (l) is that of Cardinal Rezzonico's family in Venice. The Latin text confirms that permission has been presented and had been brought to the attention of Pope Pius VI in 1777, to be confirmed at that date...

The second text differs slightly in the way the matter is presented but both texts indicate request and receipt and bear the same date. This date must refer to the time the letter was written not to the question involved since a petition and a concession could not have been handled in the same day'…

On ms 2 the watermark represents a Coat of Arms: it suggests that this particular piece of paper might come from a noble family's paper working shop. Perhaps the Livizzani but I cannot identify the Coat of Arms..."

In addition to her 3pp of handwritten notes, Wells also provides background information about the historical personages discussed. She also discusses paper composition and watermarks, and hazards a guess at to retail value.

Major works by Wells include:

(1980) The Ranuzzi Manuscripts

(1992) Italian Post-1600 Manuscripts and Family Archives in North American Libraries

(1993) The Italian Collections across the Centuries: Literature, Art, and Theatre

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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