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Bernini's Canopy wthin
St. Peter's: Perspective View Bronze on marble pedestals, height c. 93'6". Bernini held commissions at St. Peter's for half a century. The Baldacchino was his first, that of erecting a towering masterpiece over the tomb, behind the papal high altar of St. Peter himself.The dark metal, columns highlighted with gilt are a sharp contrast to the cool whites of the surrounding marble walls. Work began in the summer of 1624; at the canonization of Elizabeth of Portugal in 1625, for which Bernini designed the ceremonial backdrops, a full-scale wooden model was already in place. Originally the columns were to be crowned by a huge bronze Risen Christ. But because of its insupportable weight, the statue was ultimately replaced by a cross and globe symbolizing Christ's universal victory. According to a memorandum of 1627, Bernini "worked continuously with his own hands for three years ... in sunshine and in rain," supervising the casting at the furnaces "with great risk to his own life." One of the largest items of expense---twice the cost of gold for the gilding---was the vast quantities of beeswax needed for the casting. From top to bottom---from the four huge bronze bees around the globe to the eight Barberini escutcheons at the base of the columns---the Baldacchino proclaims the glory of Peter's Baroque successor, Pope Urban VIII [Maffeo Barberini]. Of all Urban's undertakings, it is held that the aspirations of his reign are most evident in this awesome tower soaring toward Heaven, triumphing over the laws of nature as if to suspend gravity. It was unveiled on June 29, 1633. Photographing the Cathedra Petri beyond the canopy in its panoramic perspective is difficult because of the lighting. There are two windows, one on either side where light pours in. Unless one can gain permission to do so at night the rays of sun drench the far side of the Baldacchino, which then looks faded; the halo light almost always, when captured, detracts, rather than adds to one's appreciation. There is no way to enhance it properly for the web. I do not have any prints that were taken without the sunlight. TO VIEW ANOTHER VIEW OF THIS PERSPECTIVE SO THAT ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST AND ST. HELENA OF THE CROSS CAN BE SEEN ON THE RIGHT, TOP TO BOTTOM, CLICK HERE. TO VIEW THE CATHEDRA PETRI BEYOND THE COLUMNS, CLICK HERE. HOME---------------------------------------GALLERIES |
www.catholictradition.org/Papacy/papal-artifact23.htm