The Tempietto of Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament Saint Peter’s Basilica

In 1672 Clement X Altieri revived the long-delayed project of the Altar of the Blessed Sacrament in the right aisle of Saint Peter’s. Pietro da Cortona had made the glorious altar painting of the Trinity Adored by Angels all the way back to 1633. Bernini in one of his last works designed the gilded golden circular Tabernacle here, copying in miniature Donato Bramante’s Tempietto at San Pietro in Montorio, as well as the small hemispherical tabernacle at Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, which like the tempietto has a domed roof. The two bronze over life-size angels that guard the tabernacle are breathtaking. One folds her hands in prayer and has her gaze on the Blessed Sacrament, while the other folds her hands to her breast as she looks at the faithful at the altar rail. The draperies of these angels flow in a majestic reverse S that lands gracefully on the supporting plinth. One of Bernini’s crucifixes made under Innocent X Pamphili is on the altar. Note how Bernini lowers the level of the Tempietto and pushes the angels to the sides so that the view of Cortona’s Trinity is not too obscured. The tiny twelve Apostles are on the cornice of the drum, supported by fluted dark bronze columns of composite order. The Resurrected Jesus is on top of the dome. The casting was completed in 1674 using the world’s best copper, from Hungary. The lapis lazuli plaques came from Naples—these were inlaid into the columns and the other surfaces of the walls of the drum and the dome. No expense was spared!!!!