INCTS, FURNITURE, AND ORNAMENTS

OF THE

ALTAR.

n,

e natural belief in the existence of a Supreme Being worshipped and honoured, subsisting in the breasts of , in all ages, and demonstrating itself in every variety gious form, has led to man's devotion of his wealth or self to the worship and honour of that Being; and, Christianity is the noblest and most ennobling form of us belief, we may reasonably suppose that Christians ■f all men most likely to show their devotion to their by the gift to His service of that which was most

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And so we find most marvellous proofs of such crifice throughout the history of Christianity, from the period to the present. Let us note the gifts of mperor Constantine and the Empress St. Helena when, year A.D. 320, the body of St. Peter was deposited in asilica at Rome, and over the shrine was placed a cross e gold weighing 150 lbs. They gave to the Church an f silver enamelled with gold, and ornamented with gems number of 210, and weighing 350 lbs. ; 3 chalices of each ornamented with 45 gems, green and blue, and eighing 12 lbs. ; a paten of pure gold, with a tower and e, and adorned with gems and pearls to the number of nd weighing 30 lbs. ; 2 gold cruets, each weighing ; a vase for incense, of the purest gold, with 51 gems, eighing 15 lbs.; 20 silver chalices, each weighing 10 lbs.; r patens, each of 15 lbs.; 5 silver cruets, each of 3 lbs. ; r measures, weighing 200 lbs. To these we have to add

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a candelabrum 10 feet high, with 4 imitation gold candlestic with silver incrustations representing the Acts of the Apostle a gold corona in the form of a beacon, with 50 dolphi serving as lamps, and of the weight of 35 lbs. ; 32 lamps the choir, with dolphins, and each of 10 lbs.; and at the rig of the altar 30 silver lamps, each weighing 8 lbs.1 From th date we might form a series of wonderful records of muni cence, till in our own time we note the church of All Saint Margaret Street, erected and decorated at vast cost, chief by Mr. Beresford-Hope; the restoration of the Cathedral Christ Church, Dublin, by the late Mr. Guinness, at a sum, believe, of about £160,000; and the glorious chapel of Keb College, built by Mr. Gibbs: works of imperial munificen by private individuals.

Naturally, the richest materials and choicest workmansh were lavished upon the altar and the sacred vessels and t adjuncts, as being especially dedicated to the most solemn all purposes to which earthly things can be put: and in t absence of wealth men gave to the worship of God the be they had. In treating of them I propose first to advert to tl coverings of the altar, and to its reredos and surroundings, an then to the sacred vessels devoted to the service of the altar.

THE FRONTALS AND COVERINGS OF THE ALTAR

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The earliest covering seems to have been a cloth sprea upon it and hanging down on all sides, such as we should spea of as a table-cloth, as in our illustration (p. 28) from the mosa at San Vitale, Ravenna, which church was consecrated b St. Maximinianus, A.D. 547. The altar seems to have been, all ages, covered during the celebration of the holy mysterie and the practice of having three cloths, one over the other,

1 Parker; Archæology of Rome, XI (Church and Altar Decorations p. 64. Chancellor Harington (Consecration of Churches) mentions the things more briefly, and refers for his authority to Fleury, Bk. VII c. 20.

2 In Lacroix' Military and Religious Life in the Middle Ages, Engli

to have existed from the time of Pope Pius II: the one was sometimes, as in our Coronation Service,1 called all. Constantine the Great gave a pall of cloth of gold

TAR REPRESENTED IN A MOSAIC AT SAN VITALE, RAVENNA, DATING A.D. 547.

e Basilica of St. Peter at Rome. At first, indeed, when Itar stood upon legs or brackets, or supports of a kindred e, frontals would have scarcely been accordant, but when ltar became solid, or solid in appearance, the need of ment was at once evident, and with the exception of those (which until within the last three centuries never seem ve been common abroad and very rarely, if ever, occurred , where the stone front was carved with niches and sculpit was supplied by a moveable covering, in England the frontal or tabula, in Italy the paliotto, in the an Missal the pallium, and sometimes in modern usage ntependium. Originally it was carried round the sides ell as front. Moveable frontals were, from the fact of moveability, peculiarly well suited to mark the Church's ns of fast or feast. I should say, roughly, that they me usual about the year 1000, but I am not aware of any ority to whose judgment I can refer in corroboration,

Every kind of substantial material was available: go silver, and baser metal gilt were frequent, though embroid was by far more usual, and even glass and straw were inadmissible. It will readily be supposed that frontals as w as sacred vessels were very liable to destruction from acts sacrilege, for their fame was known far and wide, and in case of pillage of a captured town they could hardly escaj or even for the relief of distress, as we read that St. Ambr sold the sacred vessels in order to apply the proceeds towa the redemption of captives; or when the community of church to which they belonged were themselves reduced dire want; or at times when funds were most urgently need for the ransom of the town or city. It is therefore no won that but few rich frontals of an early date have come down our time. I will note the most important of those with wh I am acquainted.

At Milan, in the Church of San Ambrogio, is one tha clearly of very early date. It is of silver, and covers the fro back, and ends; the front has a centre compartment, conta ing a rich cross between the evangelistic emblems, on eit side of which are nine compartments, representing scenes our Lord's earthly life; at the ends are raised crosses, or mented with jewels and enamels; in the back are four circ containing respectively figures of St. Gabriel, St. Micha Angelbertus presenting the altar to St. Ambrose, and latter giving him his blessing. Borders and spaces are fil in with gems and enamels, and include the name of the ar -Wolsinus magister et Phaber. Bishop Angelbertus d in 861.1

Basle possessed the gold frontal2 represented in frontispiece: it was sold by auction to a Swiss gentlem and ultimately found its way to the Hôtel Clugny, Paris. It is dated 1019. In the centre is represen our Lord standing, giving a benediction with the right ha while the left holds a disc and labarum; small figu crouch at the feet in lowly adoration; there are la

s of SS. Michael, Gabriel, Rafael, and St. Benedict, s designs of smaller size and rich borders. It appears an ancient document that by order of the chapter tabula aurea” was to be used only on the festivals of ativity, Easter, Pentecost, Corpus Christi, Henry the cor (the donor), the Assumption, Dedication, and All

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the Chapel of St. James, in the Duomo of Pistoia, is a ficent specimen, dated 1316, with wings dated respec1347 and 1361; the whole is of silver, the frontal ring 6 feet 7 inches and the sides 3 feet 5 inches, all by 6 inches high. Even the reredos, 7 feet high, is of gilt, of various dates of execution. The design of the I is in three tiers; in the upper tier the centre is occuy the representation of our Lord enthroned, within an e, on either side of which are SS. Mary, John, and , the Annunciation, Salutation, and Nativity, the three on horseback, three shepherds on camels, and the adoof the Magi; in the middle and lower tiers are scenes our Lord's history; on the dexter wing are the Creation, nd expulsion, and the like; on the sinister, scenes from e of our Lord, and in connection with the history of eter. The framework bordering the frontal and forming vision between the scenes is of a beautiful leaf pattern, iscs of translucent enamel; and the design and execure admirable.

Le high altar of Monza Cathedral has a large example ver-gilt repoussé work, representing in the centre our s baptism by St. John, between the evangelic emblems our prophets, and around are a number of scenes in the St. John the Baptist. The work is somewhat rude, but ▪mpartments are marked out by framework borders of ranslucent enamels. A long inscription states it to be ork of Magister Borginus de Puteo, begun in 1450, and ed and placed there by his own hand on the Feast of the lation of St. John, seven years later.2

1 Descriptive Pamphlet, with illustration.

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