(a) Chrysostom.
S. Io. Chrysostomus litterarum Armenicarum auctor.
(b) Vlphilas.
Vlphilas Episcopus Gothorum litteras invenit.
(c) Cyril.
S. Cyrillus aliarum Illyricarum litterarum auctor.
(d) Jerome.
S. Hieronymus litterarum Illyricarum inventor.
On the cornice of the presses:
(a) Scientia inflat charitas vero ædificat. Cor. viii. 1.
(b) Sapere ad sobrietatem. Rom. xii. 3.
(c) Vir sapiens fortis et vir doctus robustus. Prov. xxiv. 5.
(d) Ubi non est scientia animæ non est bonum. Prov. xix. 2.
8. PILASTER AGAINST WEST WALL.
Christ.
Our Lord is seated. Over His Head Α, Ω; in His
Hand an open book: Ego sum Α et Ω; principium et
finis. At His Feet: Iesus Christus summus magister, cælestis doctrinæ
auctor.
On Christ's right hand is a Pope, standing, with triple cross and tiara.
Christi Domini vicarius.
On Christ's left hand is an Emperor, also standing, with crown, sword,
blue mantle.
Ecclesiæ defensor.
I will now pass to the decoration of the walls. On the south wall, between the windows, are representations of famous libraries; on the north wall, of the eight general Councils of the Church. Each space is ornamented with a broad border, like a picture-frame. In the centre above is the general title of the subject or subjects below: e.g. Bibliotheca Romanorum; and beneath each picture is an inscription describing the special subject. Above each window, on the vault, is a large picture, to commemorate the benefits conferred by Sixtus V. on Rome and on the world. I will describe the libraries first, beginning as before at the east end of the room.
I. SIXTUS V. AND THE ARCHITECT FONTANA.
(Right of Entrance.)
Sixtus V. Pont. M. Bibliothecæ Vaticanæ aedificationem prescribit.
The Pope is seated. Fontana, a pair of compasses in his right hand, is on one knee, exhibiting the plan of the intended library.