Uffizio della Settimana Santa : colle rubriche volgari, argomenti de' Salmi, spiegazione delle cerimonie e misterj, con osservazioni, e riflessioni divote dell'abate Alessandro Mazzinelli

Art Historical Context

In the tranquil halls of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Libraries, visitors can discover *Uffizio della Settana Santa*, a lavish 1794 edition of the Catholic Holy Week liturgy, compiled by Abbot Alessandro Mazzinelli. This three-volume work, bound as one (560 pages, 22 cm tall), blends sacred texts—psalms, rubrics, and explanations of ceremonies—with devout reflections and vernacular Italian aids, making complex rituals accessible to the faithful during an era of fervent religious devotion just before the French Revolution's upheavals. What elevates this book artistically are its illustrations, drawn from masters like Annibale Carracci (whose Baroque dynamism endures in engravings) and Giuseppe Passeri, with contributions from engraver Giovanni Battista Pacetti and publisher Luigi Perego Salvioni. Printed in Rome, these images vividly depict Holy Week mysteries, merging Counter-Reformation piety with 18th-century neoclassical precision. Such illuminated liturgical books were treasures for private devotion, bridging elite scholarship and popular worship. Generously gifted by Jayne Wrightsman in 2008, this volume exemplifies the Met's commitment to preserving printed artistry. Leaf through its pages to feel the spiritual weight of Easter traditions, where text and image unite in timeless reverence.

About the Artist

Alessandro Mazzinelli|Giovanni Battista Pacetti|Catholic Church|Giuseppe Passeri (Passari)|Annibale Carracci|Luigi Perego Salvioni (Italian|Italian| |Italian|Italian| ) · 1650 |1693 |0 |1654 |1560 | –1750 |1743 |0 |1714 |1609 |

Italian, active ca. 1700|Italian, 1693–1743| |Italian, Rome 1654–1714 Rome|Italian, Bologna 1560–1609 Rome|