Books in the Cloister, Books in the Cells. The Augustinians of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome and Their Book Collections at the End of the Sixteenth Century

The aim of this paper is to present a description of the book collections of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome (conventual library and friars’ books for personal use) derived from the lists sent in the Jubilee year 1600 in response to requests received from the Sacred Congregation of the Index. The study will begin by placing the creation of these inventories in the historical context of the publication of the Clementine Index of prohibited books (1596) and of the actions promoted by the Sacred Congregation of the Index to verify its application. Subsequently, the communications between the Augustinians of the Observant Congregation of Lombardy (to whom the convent of Piazza del Popolo was entrusted) and the Congregation of the Index regarding the lists of their books will be examined. The enrichment of Santa Maria del Popolo’s library in the sixteenth century will then be related to the history of this Augustinian community, highlighting its religious and cultural role in the city. The work will also present a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the convent library and of the personal collections of the friars of Santa Maria del Popolo, based on the content of the lists sent in June 1600 to the Congregation of the Index. The paper will conclude with a brief overview of the historical events that affected the convent library over the following centuries causing its gradual dispersion.