Chair of Saint Peter

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The Chair of Saint Peter is a grand sculptural reliquary in St. Peter's Basilica that symbolizes the papal authority and the apostolic succession from Saint Peter.

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Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Christian religious artifact
reliquary
sculptural ensemble
alsoKnownAs Confessio of Saint Peter
surface form: Cathedra Petri

St. Peter's Basilica
surface form: Throne of Saint Peter
artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini
artStyle Baroque
associatedWithPerson Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Pope Alexander VII
Apostle Peter
surface form: Saint Peter the Apostle
associatedWithTitle Pope
surface form: Bishop of Rome

Pope
surface form: Supreme Pontiff
commissionedBy Pope Alexander VII
commissionedDuringPapacyOf Pope Alexander VII
completionYear 1666
constructionEnd 1666
constructionStart 1657
containsRelic ancient wooden chair associated with Saint Peter
dedicatedTo Apostle Peter
surface form: Saint Peter
depicts Athanasius of Alexandria
surface form: Greek Doctors of the Church Athanasius and John Chrysostom

God the Holy Spirit
surface form: Holy Spirit as a dove in glory

Ambrose of Milan
surface form: Latin Doctors of the Church Ambrose and Augustine
designedBy Gian Lorenzo Bernini
feastDay 22 February
hasArtHistoricalSignificance key example of Bernini's mature style
major work of Roman Baroque sculpture
hasFeature large bronze throne enclosing the relic chair
oval alabaster window with the Holy Spirit as a dove
sculpted figures of four Doctors of the Church
hasFunction visual focal point of the basilica's apse
hasInscriptionLanguage Latin
heritageDesignation part of UNESCO World Heritage Site Vatican City
inauguratedBy Pope Alexander VII
liturgicalFeastAssociated Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter
liturgicalFunction symbolic episcopal throne of the Pope as Bishop of Rome
locatedIn St. Peter's Basilica
Vatican City
locatedInPartOf apse of St. Peter's Basilica
materialUsed bronze
gilded bronze
wood (relic chair inside)
partOf interior decoration of St. Peter's Basilica
religion Roman Catholicism
surface form: Roman Catholic Church
subjectOf Catholic devotional practices related to papal office
symbolizes apostolic succession
papal authority
primacy of the Bishop of Rome
theologicalSignificance represents continuity from Saint Peter to his successors
represents teaching authority (magisterium) of the Pope

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

subject surface form: Cathedra Petri
St. Peter's Basilica hasPart Chair of Saint Peter