Artist: Bernini

Date: 1627 ca.

 

• Each of the four piers are dedicated to an important relic that is housed in the balcony area above each statue. The decorations were designed by Bernini for Pope Urban VIII (1623-1644). Thus Urban's VIII's coat of arms is at the base. The spiral columns are from the altar of old St. Peter's

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• The relic for this pier is the veil of St. Veronica. The veil is recorded to have been in old St. Peter's around the year 1000. According to the story, St. Veronica miraculously had the imprint of Jesus' face remain on her veil during the passion of Jesus