The Exemplaria Perfecta project in the Vatican Museums is tied to projects of the Vatican Secret Archives (Exemplaria Praetiosa) and the Vatican Apostolic Library (Codicum Facsimiles) by the specific wish of Pope John Paul II on 7 February 2000 when the new entrance to the Vatican Museums was inaugurated for the Great Jubilee, that calls the Vatican Museums “one of the doors of the Holy See that is open to the world”, with the elevated function of “expressing the renewed desire of the Church to dialogue with mankind through art and culture, making the heritage left by history available to all”.

The Exemplaria Perfecta wants to contribute to the “thirst for knowledge”, a valid way of fulfilling the task assigned to the Vatican Museums, as expressly wished by the Supreme Pontiff. 

The first three works in the collection have been chosen as representative of the artistic current of their type, and are:
 

• The Coronation of the Virgin by Raffaello Sanzio;
   

• Rest during the flight to Egypt by Barocci (Federico Fiori so-called);
   

• San Matteo and the Angel by Guido Reni.
   

The frames
The Exemplaria Perfecta project also highlights the search for the frames on the works, which are of extreme importance in giving the just value and harmony to their contents. The frames have been made by expert framers from Tuscany, using strictly artisan and original techniques.