Audio File length: 2.30
Author: STEFANO ZUFFI E DAVIDE TORTORELLA
English / USA Language: English / USA

If you want to truly understand the spirit of the Baroque reconstruction of St. Peter's, you must concentrate on the bronze baldachin above the altar: all the basilica's magic starts from there. Without being intimidated by Michelangelo's immense dome, Bernini conceived a tall but agile structure supported by four helical, grooved columns. The form of these columns is together a tribute to and reconstruction of the basilicas from Emperor Constantine's era. The baldachin adds a note of movement and vivacity to the vast, solemn, but potentially static basilica atmosphere. The animation of the helical columns is enhanced by their dense grooves, clever gilding, and the effect produced by the baldachin's fringes on the top, which seem to be moved by the wind.

FUN FACT: the cost of the baldachin was no concern for Pope Urban VIII Barberini: to obtain all the metal Bernini needed to make it, he even took the ancient bronze sculptures down from the Pantheon and had them melted. This act met a lot of criticism and gave rise to a famous motto: "That which the barbarians didn't do, Barberini did".

Scarica MyWoWo! La Travel App che ti racconta le meraviglie del mondo!

Share on