The Catholic encyclopedia (Volume 2); an international work of reference on the constitution, doctrine, discipline and history of the Catholic Church . pporting, between its columns,the altar-curtains, while from its roof were sus-pended lamps, vases, richly ornamented crowns,and other altar decorations. The summit was sur-mounted by the altar-cross. The earhest referenceto the baldachinum is found in the Liber Pon-tificalis (ed. Duchesne, I, 172, 191, 233, 235) whichdescribed the Fastidium argenteum given by Con-stantine to the Lateran basilica during the pontifi-cate of Sylvester I (314-335)
The Catholic encyclopedia (Volume 2); an international work of reference on the constitution, doctrine, discipline and history of the Catholic Church . pporting, between its columns,the altar-curtains, while from its roof were sus-pended lamps, vases, richly ornamented crowns,and other altar decorations. The summit was sur-mounted by the altar-cross. The earhest referenceto the baldachinum is found in the Liber Pon-tificalis (ed. Duchesne, I, 172, 191, 233, 235) whichdescribed the Fastidium argenteum given by Con-stantine to the Lateran basilica during the pontifi-cate of Sylvester I (314-335) and replaced, after theravages of Alarics Gothic hordes, by another erectedduring the pontificate of Sixtus III (432-440). Theoldest representation in art is the early sixth-centurymosaic in the church of St. George in Thessalo- BALDE 218 BALDERIC nica; while the oldest actual specimen is that in thechurch of St. Apollinare in Classe at Ravenna (). The use of the baldachinum was general upto the twelfth century, when it yielded to the growingimportance of the reliquary as an adjunct to thealtar, sometimes disappearing altogether, sometimes. Baldachinum in St. , Rome taking the form of a canopy over the the placing of the altar against the wall, thebaldachinum took the form of a projecting dais can-opy (v. Allnr-Canopy under Altar: In Liturgy) orbecame the ciborium-like superstructure of the taber-nacle or central tower of the altar. Italy was lessaffected by this evolution than were the centres ofGothic art, and the use of the older form is commonthere to-day. The most magnificent baldachinum inthe world is that in St. Peters in Rome designed byBernini for Pope Irban VIII. Bishop, History of the Christian Altar (Downside, 1906);Id. in Downside Review (July, 1905); Nesbitt in Diet. s. v. Altar: Rock-Weale, Hierurgia (London, 1900),II, 31G-320. For descriptions of many early baldachina, seeInderof Liber Pontificalis, ed. Duchesne (Pari
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