Bernini’s Baldacchino: A Masterpiece in St. Peter’s Basilica

Bernini’s Baldacchino in St. Peter’s Basilica

A Fusion of Architecture, Sculpture, and Symbolism

The Baldacchino of St. Peter in the Basilica of St. Peter’s is a monumental work by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Commissioned by Pope Urban VIII, a member of the Barberini family, it refocused attention on the main altar area, a crucial architectural and symbolic point within the temple. Its execution took nine years, from 1624 to 1633, and presented numerous challenges.

Challenges and Controversies

One major issue was the procurement of materials. Bernini, with the Pope’s approval, decided to repurpose bronze from the Pantheon. This decision sparked widespread criticism, including a satirical couplet from the papal physician G. Mancini: “Quod non fecerunt barbari, fecerunt Barberini” (“What the barbarians did not do, the Barberini did”).

Another challenge was the design of the structure itself. Bernini aimed to create a dynamic piece that would blend the drama of temporary altars with the grandeur of Constantine’s Pergula. He envisioned a structure that would be monumental in scale, fitting for the vast space beneath Michelangelo’s dome.

Design and Innovation

Bernini surpassed conventional canopy designs, which often resembled temple architecture. He designed a dynamic structure that seamlessly integrated architecture, sculpture, and painting. He incorporated twisted columns reminiscent of those in the former Pergula, believed to have originated from the Temple of Solomon. This design choice symbolized the continuity of Christianity.

The Baldacchino, despite its gigantic size, appears transparent due to its dynamic design. It draws the eye and interacts with the surrounding space. The dark bronze and gold create a striking contrast with the white pillars supporting the dome, and the contoured shafts of the columns challenge the pillars’ rigidity.

Collaboration and Coronation

The Baldacchino’s innovative design culminates in its coronation, a fusion of architectural, natural, and fantastical forms. Here, Bernini’s creative genius is allied with the ingenuity of Borromini, who conceived the crowning element.

Symbolism and Iconography

The Baldacchino is not only a celebration of the historical continuity between biblical Jerusalem and papal Rome, triumphant over the Reformation, but also a glorification of the new Solomon, Pope Urban VIII. The Barberini family crest, featuring bees, is prominently displayed on the lambrequins, and the sun, another family symbol, shines on the entablature of the columns.

A Celebration of the Barberini and the Catholic Church

The Baldacchino is a giant canopy in the middle of a procession, compelling the faithful as if moved by the wind. The illusion of movement is so perfect that the finials of the crowning element seem to flutter in the air. This effect is not surprising, as it is said that Bernini’s design mimics the ephemeral apparatus built for the canonization of St. Elizabeth of Portugal.

Key Details

• Patron: Pope Urban VIII (Barberini)
• Artist: Gian Lorenzo Bernini
• Period: Baroque
• Start Year: 1624
• End Year: 1633