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Altar of Ratchis. Height 80 cm. Karst stone carved in low relief. Cathedral Museum, Cividale del Friuli.
Adoration of the Magi, right side panel.
Source: University of Leicester
Photo by Welleschik
The Altar of Ratchis
The dedicatory inscription running along the upper ledge of the work means that the altar can be considered a gift of King Ratchis (who reigned after Liutprand, from 744 to 749), commemorating his father Pemmon Duke of Cividale. It reads:
“Ratchis Hildeboholrit ensures the very great gifts granted by Christ to the sublime Pemmon may shine, so that temples in honour of God should be built everywhere, and thus, among other things, he has adorned the house of the blessed John with hanging jewels to enhance the beautiful Tegurium and has enriched the altar with the colour of marble”.
The Altar appears as an oblong composed of marble slabs placed side by side, four of which are sculpted with figures framed by decorative motifs. On the front of the Altar is a figure of Christ shown in the act of blessing, and inscribed in an almond shape, or mandorla, flanked by cherubim, and supported triumphantly by angels.
The Altar was probably executed sometime around the 5th decade of the VII century or later, possibly in 749, the year in which Ratchis abdicated and retire to the Monastery of Montecassino, and must be considered one of the most singular sculptural works of the Longobard period.
Source: Italia Langobardorum
