A ciborium (altar canopy) sheltered and added focus to the high altar of a church. Here the simple but graceful architectural forms are enhanced with colorful mosaic and gold glass inlays. The Ranucius family of marble workers created this and other works for churches north of Rome.
Credit: Rogers Fund, 1909
c. 1150
Marble (lunense) from carrera with hardstone and gold glass inlay
574.0 x 236.9cm
09.92.3
Image and text © Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2019
Where you'll find this
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Permanent collection