The High Altar of the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, Milan, Italy
Category
Photographs
Date
1883 - 1890
Materials
Paper
Measurements
247 x 198 mm
Order this imageCollection
Fox Talbot Museum, Wiltshire
NT 1520699.15
Summary
An albumen print photograph of the High Altar Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, Milan, Italy. The Golden Altar at the front of the nave was made in 835. It depicts the Life of Christ is in gold leaf on the front and the Life of St Ambrose in gilded silver on the back. The altar is sheltered by a canopy (known as a ciborium or baldacchino) made of four ancient columns and decorated with 10th-century stucco reliefs. The one facing the nave depicts Christ giving the Book of the Law to St. Paul (left) and the Keys of the Kingdom to St. Peter. The print is mounted onto the right hand page of the album on heavy white card. The photograph is in portrait format and has diagonally cut corners. Markings: Bottom of the page, handwritten in ink and underlined, are the words: 'High Altar of the Church of S.' added in pencil are the words: "Agnl (sic) Milan" There is a photographer's blind stamp, bottom left hand corner: "FOGI (sic) (FIR)ENZA-NAPOLI
Provenance
Part of the Fenton Collection. A gift from British Film Institute in 2017. From 1986-1999, part of BFI collection for the Museum of the Moving Image. BFI purchased collection in 1986 from James Fenton's Museum of Photography, Port Erin, Isle of Man 1976-1986