De Rossi’s rare plan of the Conclave after Pope Clement IX’s death

This Pianta del Conclave (plan of the Conclave), created by de Rossi, provides a detailed depiction of the Vatican during the conclave following the death of Pope Clement XI on December 20, 1669. The map chronicles the nine days of mourning that followed the pope’s passing and illustrates the proceedings of the conclave, including the names of all the cardinals in attendance. The print traces the process from the pope’s death to the election of his successor, Pope Clement X, who was chosen after four months of deliberation. Following his election, Pope Clement X commissioned an elaborate tomb for Pope Clement XI in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he was the last pope to be interred until the burial of Pope Francis in 2025.