Reconstruction and Re-consecration of the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls under Pope Pius IX 1865

This bronze medal, created by Giuseppe Bianchi in 1865, commemorates the reconstruction of the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls after a fire in 1823. The medal depicts the basilica's façade, highlighting its classical architecture with a central dome and rows of columns. This piece, part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, provides a tangible record of the rebuilding efforts under Pope Pius IX, a significant moment in the basilica's history.