Style Neo-Renaissance / Ref.1650

Church altar from the 19th century

This exceptional church altar from the chapel of Saint Joseph in Rouen, located rue de la Cage, was carved in white Carrara marble, onyx stone from Algeria and Red Griotte marble. The altar is set on a marble two step pedestal. A rectangular niche houses the effigy of Saint Cecilia carved according to the original sculpture by Stefano Maderno, made in 1600 for the Roman church Santa Cecilia in Trastevere. This sculpture was modelled on the saint's body as seen in 1595, when her tomb was opened. Cecilia suffered martyrdom in 230 BC under Diocletian and was beheaded as the sculpture delicately shows. Commissioned by the Pope, Maderno’s sculpture became very popular and has been copied many times. The altar is topped by a vaulted canopy supported by four pillars and crowned by a dome and cross. Each detail, every molding, is enhanced with gilded paint. The tabernacle under the canopy, is closed by a gilded bronze door adorned with the dove of the Holy Spirit.This beautiful altar was made by Edmond Bonet and Sons, sculptors in Rouen. Using the most precious marbles and their extraordinary craftsmanship, they created a genuine piece of art.

Edmond Bonet was a Sculptor from Rouen (1839-1912). He is famous for, among others: the sculpture on the facade of the Town Hall, in Barentin in the department of Seine Maritime, built in 1902; the sculpture on the facade of the Saint-Pierre-de-Varengeville castle, renovated by Lucien Lefort in 1898; the facade of a private mansion located rue Racine in Rouen, built by Edouard Lecoeur in 1900. New pictures coming soon with dimensions.