Official papal privilege, issued to members of the Ambron (Amron) family of Rome on the authority of Pope Benedict XIV; decorated handwritten certificate. Rome, October 30, 1756. Italian.
Ink and paint on parchment.
Elaborate certificate, handwritten and hand-decorated, on a rectangular parchment membrane. Privilege issued to the four members of the Ambron family of Rome and their partners, by the papal authorities.
The certificate is surrounded by a colorful border decorated with vegetal and floral patterns, doves, peacocks, eagles and other decorations. The certificate is headed by the name of Roman Cardinal Girolamo Colonna (1708-1763), topped with three vignettes with heraldic symbols, held by cherubs (putti): the coat of arms of the Apostolic Camera – crossing keys under an umbrella; the Colonna family coat of arms – a pillar [Italian: colonna] headed by a crown; and the coat of arms of Pope Benedict XIV (1675-1758) – crossed keys and vertical stripes in red and gold.
At the bottom of the certificate is the wax seal of Cardinal Colonna, his signature and other signatures (in Latin characters).
This privilege was issued by the Cardinal, on the authority of the Pope, to four members of the Ambron family: Gabriele and his sons Ezechia, Leone and Sabato of Rome, and their partners: Alessandro Rossi and Abram della Vida of Ferrara. The document grants the partners the right to provide uniforms and shoes for the Pope's army, as well as to provide lodging for soldiers of the Papal army, and additionally exempts them from various restrictions, decrees and laws applying to Jews in the Papal States of Bologna, Ferrara, Romagna and Urbino, and granting them freedom from molestation, arrestment and imprisonment at the hands of the authorities.
The Ambron family was one of the most important in the Roman ghetto. The family first immigrated to Rome from Spain soon after the Spanish Expulsion in the 15th century and established a prominent socioeconomic position in the city. Some of them acquired a reputation as rabbis and scholars. The family was also active in trade, and as part of their merchant activity they supplied various goods and services to the papal authorities. From the end of the 18th century, subsequent to a deterioration in the Pope's attitude towards the Jews, they spread out to Livorno and Florence as well.
57.5X44.5 cm. Good condition. Light stains. Folding marks, lengthwise and widthwise. Light fading of ink in several places. Light damage. Matted with acid-free tape. Placed in a new frame.
On the history of the Ambron family, see introductions to Lionella Viterbo Neppi Modona, Le Ketubbòt della famiglia Ambron, Florence, 2016 (Italian); A large collection of official documents relative to the family are found in the JTS collection, most similar in design to the present document, including: privileges, various contracts on supply to the Papal States, passports and more. Some of the documents were exhibited in 'Power and Privilege: Selected Documents from the Ambron Family (October 1994-February 1995)'. For more information on the Ambron family, see enclosed material.
