Artist: Bernini

Date: 1624-1633

 

• It was Pope Urban VIII (1623-1644) who asked Bernini to create this baldachin over the papal altar of Clement VIII. To get enough bronze, Urban VIII used the trusses and beams from the Pantheon porch. It was thus said at the time: "What the barbarians did not do, the Barberini did." Pope Urban VIII was of the Barberini family

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• At the top, two putti hold a papal tiara. Four angels stand at the top of each column. The spiral columns are intended to match the old columns that were on the altar in old St. Peter's. These old columns have been reused on the four piers in the balcony areas. Note also the bees which are the heraldic device of Urban VIII

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• In each of the eight coat of arms of Urban VIII at the base of the pillars is found a sequence of a woman going through the stages of labor. At the final stage, replacing the woman, is a baby putti!