St. Peter's Baldachin, Bronze canopy in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
The baldachin is a bronze canopy over the high altar in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City. Four twisted columns support the roof and are covered with laurel leaves and other ornamental details.
Gian Lorenzo Bernini created the baldachin between 1623 and 1634 at the request of Pope Urban VIII. The work took eleven years and was meant to mark the tomb of Peter directly beneath the high altar.
The bees scattered across the bronze columns represent the Barberini coat of arms and recall who commissioned the work. Gilded angels stand watch at each corner, giving the structure a ceremonial presence that pilgrims notice immediately.
You can view the structure from several spots in the basilica, with the best angle coming from the central nave. The columns appear different depending on where you stand, as light from the dome windows shifts the visible detail.
Some of the bronze came from the roof of the Roman Pantheon, which had rested there for over a thousand years. This reuse sparked heated debate at the time, as an ancient monument had to be altered to supply the material.
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