The Shrine of Santa Maria della Vita in Bologna is preparing to host again this year the traditional appointment with the Jewel of the Sun King, a masterpiece of 17th-century French goldsmithing. Tours of the precious jewel will be open to the public on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the exhibition area dedicated to the work. Admission is free of charge, according to historian Charles Caesar Malvasia, who wanted to ensure public enjoyment of the jewel every year on the same date.
The Sun King’s Jewel represents an example of French goldsmith art and a symbol of Bolognese history and cultural ties between the city and the court of Louis XIV. The object was in fact given to Malvasia by the French sovereign himself in recognition of his work Felsina Pittrice, published in 1678, in which the historian documented the artistic life of Bologna. Malvasia, in his correspondence and writings, called the jewel “the most precious thing I have in this world” and entrusted its custody to the Arciconfraternita di Santa Maria della Vita, requiring that it be shown annually to the citizens.
The jewel takes the form of an oval enamel plaque with a miniature of Louis XIV attributed to Jean Petitot, a well-known Swiss painter and miniaturist working in France between the 17th and 18th centuries. The plaque is set in a gilded silver frame and embellished with diamonds, combining fine goldsmith workmanship and pictorial accuracy. The jewel thus constitutes a historical document testifying to the relations between Italian intellectuals and the French court of the time.
The choice of Sept. 10 for the display of the jewel recalls further important episodes in the shrine’s history. In 1614, during cleanup work on the church, the venerated image of Our Lady of Life, to whom Malvasia attributed his own recovery from an illness that had struck him at a young age, resurfaced. The event strengthened the link between popular devotion and historical memory, reinforcing the sanctuary’s importance as a place of worship and custodian of important artistic evidence. In the years that followed, the Sun King’s Jewel became part of the shrine’s permanent collection, preserved in exhibition spaces that allow its daily enjoyment. The September 10 day, however, retains a special character, as it renews the tradition desired by Malvasia, offering the opportunity to take a closer look at an object of historical, artistic and symbolic significance.
 |
| Bologna, the Jewel that the Sun King gave to Malvasia returns to the shrine of Santa Maria della Vita |
Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.
