News

by Assunta Di Sante, Scientific Manager of the School of Arts and Crafts of the Fabbrica di San Pietro

For the first edition of the St. Peter’s Factory School of Arts and Crafts (January-June 2023), half of the applications were submitted by girls, all between the ages of 18 and 25. It is probably surprising to imagine young women aspiring to perform trades that have always been considered the exclusive preserve of men, if only because of the physical commitment required.
However, since the sixteenth century, in the construction site of St. Peter’s Basilica the presence of female workers employed in this kind of work is anything but episodic.
In fact, among the “sanpietrine” of the past, exemplary for their tenacity, resourcefulness, entrepreneurial spirit, courage and family love, we find master masons, carters, pozzolaniere, fabbre, fornaciare, vetrare, mosaicists, wood and stone carvers, who enjoyed substantial economic parity and consideration compared to their male colleagues.
Paola, Giovanna, Francesca, Lucia, Anna Teresa, Vittoria, Maria Angela, Agnese, and Maria Felice are some of the names of female artists and artisans who worked for the Fabbrica di San Pietro with the opportunity to practice their craft independently and draw a livelihood from their artistic qualities.