Sixtus IV | Renaissance Pope, Patron of the Arts

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[{"p":1,"t":547140},{"p":1,"t":497788},{"p":1,"t":546727},{"p":1,"t":623967},{"p":2,"t":372380},{"p":5,"t":441722},{"p":29,"t":507284},{"p":1,"t":74149},{"p":1,"t":623972},{"p":1,"t":380873}], "sequence": 1, "topics": {} }); </script> <article class="article-content container-lg qa-content px-0 pt-0 pb-40 py-lg-20 content " data-topic-id="547140"> <div class="grid gx-0"> <div class="col-auto"> <div class="topic-left-rail md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sixtus-IV">Sixtus IV</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <span class="toc-extra-link selected link-gray-900 mt-15"> Introduction </span> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sixtus-IV/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/Sixtus-IV">Quick Facts & Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sixtus-IV/images-videos">Images & Videos</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/59/9359-050-AC6A0CA3/Sixtus-IV-medallion-Andrea-Guacialoti.jpg" data-href="/media/1/547140/14378" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/59/9359-004-E8EB4489/Sixtus-IV-medallion-Andrea-Guacialoti.jpg" alt="Pope Sixtus IV" height="50" /> </a> <a href="/video/pope-election-papal-conclave/298214" data-href="/media/1/547140/298214" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <div class="position-relative --aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/85/253585-138-D72C201D/pope-election-papal-conclave.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="How is a pope elected?" class="col-100" /> <div class="btn btn-sm btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%)"> <em class="material-icons font-14" data-icon="play_arrow" > </em> </div> </div> </a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-student-links"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> For Students </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/quiz/pop-quiz-19-things-to-know-about-christianity"> <img loading="lazy" 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The female figures are believed to be either Santa Pudenziana and Santa Praxedes or symbols of the Jewish and Gentile churches. Mosaic in the apse of Santa Pudenziana, Rome,A" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/quiz/pop-quiz-19-things-to-know-about-christianity" >Pop Quiz: 19 Things to Know About Christianity</a> </div> </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/summary/Sixtus-IV"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/images/shared/default3.png?v=3.133.9" class="default " height="200" width="200"/> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/summary/Sixtus-IV" >Sixtus IV summary</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-related-quizzes"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> Quizzes </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/quiz/christianity-quiz"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/67/160167-131-98582C51/Easter-Valladolid-Procession-cross-Nazarenos-Spain-Semana.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Holy week. Easter. Valladolid. Procession of Nazarenos carry a cross during the Semana Santa (Holy week before Easter) in Valladolid, Spain. Good Friday" width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/quiz/christianity-quiz" >Christianity Quiz</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-related-questions"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 pb-0 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-15"> Related Questions </div> <ul> <li class="link-gray-900 mb-15"><a class="" href="/question/How-did-the-Spanish-Inquisition-work">How did the Spanish Inquisition work?</a> </li> <li class="link-gray-900 mb-15"><a class="" href="/question/When-did-the-Spanish-Inquisition-end">When did the Spanish Inquisition end?</a> </li> <li class="link-gray-900 mb-15"><a class="" href="/question/Did-anyone-expect-the-Spanish-Inquisition">Did anyone expect the Spanish Inquisition?</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-read-next"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> Read Next </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/list/timeline-of-the-spanish-inquisition"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/22/139522-131-442BD189/Jews-Isabella-Spanish-Tomas-de-Torquemada-expulsion.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop" alt="Tisha be-Av (English Ninth of Av). 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They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sixtus-IV/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="qf-title font-weight-bold font-14 mb-10 text-center"> Quick Facts</div> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Original name: </dt> <dd>Francesco della Rovere</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Born: </dt> <dd>July 21, 1414, Cella Ligure, near Savona, Republic of Genoa</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Died: </dt> <dd>Aug. 12, 1484, <a href="/place/Rome">Rome</a> (aged 70)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Title / Office: </dt> <dd><a href="/topic/pope">pope (1471-1484)</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Founder: </dt> <dd><a href="/topic/Vatican-Apostolic-Library">Vatican Apostolic Library</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Role In: </dt> <dd><a href="/topic/Spanish-Inquisition">Spanish Inquisition</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Sixtus-IV"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> <button class="facts-list-show-more-btn mt-15 p-0 mx-auto btn font-14 d-block font-weight-normal"> <span class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></span> <span class="show-more-label">Show More</span> </button> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref98610"></span>Sixtus IV</strong> (born July 21, 1414, Cella Ligure, near <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Savona-Italy" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Savona</a>, Republic of Genoa—died Aug. 12, 1484, Rome) was the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/pope" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">pope</a> from 1471 to 1484 who effectively made the papacy an Italian principality.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Becoming a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Franciscans" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Franciscan</a>, he subsequently taught and was chosen minister general of his order in 1464. He was made <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/cardinal-Roman-Catholicism" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">cardinal</a> in 1467 by Pope <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Paul-II" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Paul II</a>, whom he succeeded on Aug. 9, 1471.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Neither a crusader nor curial politician, Sixtus aimed at the aggrandizement of his family and of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Papal-States" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Papal States</a>, <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="subordinating" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/subordinating" data-type="EB">subordinating</a> his duties as the church’s spiritual head in a manner characteristic of his era. Concurrently, the ideal of the crusade against the Turks was dying. In 1472, under Cardinal Oliviero Carafa, he sent a fleet that participated in the landing at the important Muslim stronghold of Smyrna, but a new expedition in 1473 failed. Sixtus IV’s relations were strained with France, whose king <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Louis-XI" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Louis XI</a> firmly upheld the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pragmatic-Sanction-of-Bourges" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges</a> (1438), which had established the liberties of the French Church. His efforts in 1474 and 1476 to reunite the Russian Church with <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Rome" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Rome</a> and to gain Russian support against the Turks were unsuccessful.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/pop-quiz-19-things-to-know-about-christianity" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/10/58810-050-09BA4000/Christ-Ruler-Apostles-Evangelists-figures-Santa-Pudenziana-417-ce.jpg" alt="Christ as Ruler, with the Apostles and Evangelists (represented by the beasts). The female figures are believed to be either Santa Pudenziana and Santa Praxedes or symbols of the Jewish and Gentile churches. Mosaic in the apse of Santa Pudenziana, Rome,A" class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Pop Quiz: 19 Things to Know About Christianity</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="298214" data-asm-type="video"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="video" video-id="253585"><a data-id="253585" class="gtm-assembly-link d-flex justify-content-center" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9" href="/video/pope-election-papal-conclave/-298214"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/85/253585-138-D72C201D/pope-election-papal-conclave.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop" alt="How is a pope elected?" loading="lazy"><script type="application/json"> { "sources": [ { "file" : "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/EJYSD1NJ.m3u8" } ], "image": "https://cdn.britannica.com/85/253585-138-D72C201D/pope-election-papal-conclave.jpg" ,"tracks": [ { "file" : "//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/R4qbvBGW.vtt", "label": "English" } ] ,"adfile": "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/PEvRJuFP.m3u8" } </script><div class="btn btn-xl btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%)"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="play_arrow"></em></div></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><span class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mr-5 d-inline font-sans-serif md-video-caption" video-control="253585">How is a pope elected?</span><span>Popes are elected for life. How do they get the job?</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div><a class="font-14 mt-10 d-inline-block" href="/biography/Sixtus-IV/images-videos">See all videos for this article</a></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Sixtus IV soon abandoned universal interests, concentrating on Italian politics and revealing his confirmed nepotism. His beneficiaries were members of his own family, whom he greatly enriched and who involved him in messy disputes, perhaps the worst of which was a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="conspiracy" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conspiracy" data-type="MW">conspiracy</a> against <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Clement-XIV" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Lorenzo</a> (the Magnificent) de’ <span id="ref98611"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Medici-family" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Medici</a>. On April 26, 1478, during mass at <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Florence" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Florence</a> cathedral, the agents of Girolamo Riario, Sixtus IV’s nephew, wounded Lorenzo and killed his brother, Giuliano, in a plot to overthrow the Medici. Although Sixtus <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="endorsed" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/endorsed" data-type="MW">endorsed</a> the plot, he did not approve of assassination. Out of this scandal and its counteraction, he justifiably managed to excommunicate Lorenzo, to put Florence under interdict, and to induce King <span id="ref98612"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ferdinand-I-king-of-Naples" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ferdinand I</a> of Naples, the papacy’s ally, to declare a fruitless and inglorious war that kept <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Italy" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Italy</a> confused for two years. In 1480 Lorenzo boldly made peace with Ferdinand, despite Sixtus, who maintained war between the papacy and Florence. He finally absolved Lorenzo and removed the interdict.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Apart from meddling in feuds between the great Roman families, Sixtus IV committed himself rather scandalously to Venice’s aggression against the duchy of Ferrara, which he incited the Venetians to attack (1482); their combined assault was opposed by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Milan-Italy" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Milan</a>, Florence, and Naples. For refusing to desist from the hostilities that he had instigated and for appearing to be a dangerous rival to the Papal States, Sixtus placed Venice under interdict in 1483.</p><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="ecclesiastical" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ecclesiastical" data-type="MW">ecclesiastical</a> affairs, Sixtus IV instituted for the Roman Church the feast (December 8) of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Immaculate-Conception-Roman-Catholicism" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Immaculate Conception</a> of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-mother-of-Jesus" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Blessed Virgin Mary</a>. He formally annulled (1478) the decrees of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Council-of-Constance" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Council of Constance</a> and condemned (1482) abuses in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Spanish-Inquisition" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Spanish Inquisition</a>. He granted many privileges to the mendicant orders, particularly to his own Franciscans.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Above all, he was a founder or restorer of important institutions and a patron of arts and letters. He established and richly endowed the first foundling hospital and repaired and built numerous Roman churches (including Sta. Maria del Popolo and Sta. Maria della Pace); the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sistine-Chapel" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Sistine Chapel</a> is his principal monument. He commissioned such great artists as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sandro-Botticelli" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Sandro Botticelli</a> and Antonio del Pollaiuolo and pensioned such eminent men of learning as Bartolomeo Platina. From 1471 he was the second founder of the <span id="ref98613"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Vatican-Apostolic-Library" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Vatican Library</a>, which he opened for scholars. During his pontificate Rome was transformed from a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="medieval" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medieval" data-type="MW">medieval</a> to a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Renaissance" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Renaissance</a> city. These outstanding achievements, however, were accomplished with heavy taxation and simony.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Get Unlimited Access</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Try Britannica Premium for free and discover more.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=august-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV></div><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</a></span><span class="md-signature">This article was most recently revised and updated by <a href="/contributor/encyclopaedia-britannica/12989892">Encyclopaedia Britannica</a>.</span><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":547140,"pageLength":574,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.133.9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.133.9' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"B","adLeg":"B","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"BIO_MEDIUM","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Sixtus IV | Renaissance Pope, Patron of the Arts | Britannica