. The Catholic encyclopedia; an international work of reference on the constitution, doctrine, discipline, and history of the Catholic Church . ing, between its columns,the altar-curtains, while from its roof were sus-pended lamps, vases, riclily ornamented crowns,and other altar decorations. The summit was sur-mounted by the altar-cross. The earliest referenceto the baldachinum is foimd in the Liber Pon-tificalis (ed. Duchesne, I, 172, 191, 233, 235) whichdescribed the argenteuvi given by Con-stantine to the Lateran basilica during the pontifi-cate of Sylvester I (314-335) and rep
. The Catholic encyclopedia; an international work of reference on the constitution, doctrine, discipline, and history of the Catholic Church . ing, between its columns,the altar-curtains, while from its roof were sus-pended lamps, vases, riclily ornamented crowns,and other altar decorations. The summit was sur-mounted by the altar-cross. The earliest referenceto the baldachinum is foimd in the Liber Pon-tificalis (ed. Duchesne, I, 172, 191, 233, 235) whichdescribed the argenteuvi 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 sixtn-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 rehquarj- as an adjunct to thealtar, sometimes disappearing altogether, sometimes. taking the form of a canopy over tlie the placing of the altar against the wall, thebaldachinum toot the form of a projecting dais can-opy (v. Altar-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 Urban 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, 316-320. For descriptions of many early baldachina, seeIndex of Liber Pontificalia, ed. Duchesne (Paris, 1892), s. , Fastidium, Ti
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