Church of Saint-Sulpice Benitier de droite by Jean-Baptiste Pigalle - A holy-water basin made from a giant clam shell. The giant clam shells were pre

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Church of Saint-Sulpice Benitier de droite by Jean-Baptiste Pigalle - A holy-water basin made from a giant clam shell. The giant clam shells were presented to King Francis I of France by the Republic of Venice at the beginning of the sixteenth century, at a time when the creature was unknown in Europe. King Louis XV, perhaps having no use for them, donated them to the Church of Saint-Sulpice in 1745 which commissioned Jean-Baptiste Pigalle to design their pedestals.

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Size: 2400px × 3900px
Location: Church of Saint-Sulpice, Paris, France
Photo credit: © Todd Strand / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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