Lunetta della Nicchia dei Palli

National Museum of Palazzo Venezia

This extraordinary work was created during the period of Pope Innocence III (1198-1216) for the  Nicchia dei Palli of Saint Peter's Basilica. Placed under the main alter, this was in the space where the palls of the Archbishop were placed during the ceremony to consecrate new members of the priesthood – the so-called ceremony of “vestizione”. The bronze is decorated with busts of the apostles, prophets and at the center is the symbol of the Bishop, the faldstool (the bishop's throne) and mitre.