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WALKING TOURS OF ROME

Bernini's Baldacchino

21/3/2020

 
Map
The Baldachin by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, St Peter's Basilica, Rome
The Baldachin by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, St Peter's Basilica

The monumental bronze canopy which towers above the high altar in St Peter's Basilica is known as a baldachin. The baldachinno, as it is called in Italian, was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680) for Pope Urban VIII (r. 1623-44). 

A baldachin, or baldaquin, is a canopy of state, which is typically placed above an altar or throne. The canopy was originally made of cloth and hung above the seat of a personage of standing, as a symbol of authority. 

Bernini's baldachin (1624-35) is sited under the dome, directly above what purports to be the tomb of St Peter. Made of bronze, and standing almost 29 metres (95 ft) high, it is crowned with an orb and a cross.

At the top of the canopy four pairs of putti support, alternately, the papal tiara and keys of St Peter, and the book and sword of St Paul. The baldachin is also embellished with numerous images of bees, the heraldic emblem of the Barberini family to which the pope belonged. Images of a radiant sun, the personal device of Urban VIII, are also on display. 

The marble pedestals on which the columns stand are decorated with the papal coat of arms; they appear twice on each of the four pedestals. In addition to the crossed keys, the papal tiara and the three Barberini bees, the shields depict a small female head. Look closely at her face and you will see that her expression changes quite dramatically on each shield until she is finally replaced by the head of a baby! In other words, the sequence represents a woman in the various stages of labour. (The sequence starts at the south-east pedestal and, proceeding clockwise, ends at the north-east pedestal).  


According to a popular tradition, the series of heads describe a complicated pregnancy of a niece of Urban VIII's and the pope's vow to dedicate an altar in St. Peter's, if the delivery proved successful. This is, of course, nonsense! 

The woman in labour is no ordinary woman and this is no ordinary childbirth. She is, in fact, the personification of Mother Church. 
References to the trials, tribulations and joys of childbirth were understood as the labour and sufferings of Mother Church in bringing about salvation through a healing of the souls by virtue of Christ's sacrifice at the crucifixion, reenacted in the Eucharistic sacrifice of the mass. 

The Original Sin over which the Church triumphs, and from which the repentant sinner is redeemed, is symbolised by the devilish masks which appear at the bases of the shields.

The Baldachin by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, St Peter's Basilica, Rome
The Baldachin (det.) by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, St Peter's Basilica, Rome
Female head, pedestal of the Baldachin by Bernini, St Peter's Basilica, Rome
Coat of arms of Pope Urban VIII

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    Walking Tours For Discerning Travellers

    My name is David Lown and I am an art historian from Cambridge, England. Since 2001 I have lived in Italy, where I run private and
    small-group walking tours
    of Rome.

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  • Home
  • Private Tours
  • Small-Group Tours
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • St Peter's Basilica
    • Altars >
      • Altar of St Joseph
      • Altar of St Gregory the Great
      • Altar of the Madonna of Succour
      • Altar of St Sebastian
      • Altar of the Lie
      • Altar of the Presentation of the Virgin
      • Altar of St Jerome
      • Altar of the Transfiguration
      • Altar of Pope Leo the Great
    • Monuments >
      • Countess Matilda of Canossa
      • Maria Clementina Sobieska
      • Queen Christina of Sweden
      • Pope Innocent VIII
      • Pope Paul III
      • Pope Gregory XIII
      • Pope Gregory XIV
      • Pope Leo XI
      • Pope Urban VIII
      • Pope Alexander VII
      • Pope Clement X
      • Pope Innocent XI
      • Pope Alexander VIII
      • Pope Innocent XII
      • Pope Benedict XIV
      • Pope Clement XIII
      • Pope Pius VII
      • Pope Leo XII
      • Pope Pius VIII
      • Pope Gregory XVI
      • Pope Pius X
      • Pope Benedict XV
      • Pope Pius XI
      • Pope Pius XII
      • Pope John XXIII
      • The Stuarts
    • Portico >
      • Door of Death
      • Door of Good and Evil
      • Central Door
      • Door of the Sacraments
      • Holy Door
    • Pieta
    • Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament
    • Cathedra Petri
    • Crossing >
      • Baldacchino
      • Confessio
      • Dome
      • St Longinus
      • St Helena
      • St Veronica
      • St Andrew
    • St Peter
    • Chapel of the Choir
    • Chapel of the Baptistery
    • Nave
  • Sistine Chapel
    • North Wall
    • South Wall
    • East Wall
    • Ceiling: Part One >
      • Ceiling: Part Two
      • Ceiling: Part Three
    • The Last Judgement
  • Fountains
    • Trevi Fountain
    • Fontana della Barcaccia
    • Fountain of the Triton
    • Fountain of the Bees
    • Fountain of Moses
    • Fountain of the Four Rivers
    • Fountain of the Acqua Paola
    • Fountain of the Turtles
    • Fountain of the Naiads
    • Fountain of the Cannonball
    • Piazza del Popolo
    • Fountain of the Pantheon
    • Fountains of Piazza Farnese
    • Fountain of Goddess Roma
    • Rioni Fountains
    • Street Fountains
    • Venice Marries the Sea
    • St Peter's Square
    • Fountain of the Moor
    • Fountain of Neptune
    • Fountain of the Porter
    • Fountain of the Seahorses
  • Gallery
    • Piazzas >
      • Piazza del Campidglio
      • Piazza del Quirinale
      • Piazza del Popolo
      • Piazza di Spagna
      • Piazza Navona
      • Piazza S. M. in Trastevere
      • Piazza San Pietro
    • Mosaics
    • Fountains
    • Churches
    • Ancient Rome
    • Palaces
    • Domes
    • Papal Coats of Arms
    • Street Shrines
    • Old Photographs
    • Borromini & the Baroque