A 'Tridentine' Altar From Prior to the Council of Trent

The Council of Trent (1545-1563) is known for many things. It's doctrinal clarity, the publication of a catechism, it also ushered in a new era of liturgical ordering that would see a shift away from medieval and Renaissance models emphasizing (in response to protestant doubts about the nature of the Mass and Eucharist) the visibility of the liturgical ceremonies, the altar, sanctuary, and particularly emphasizing the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharistic species. Many a chancel screen was removed, tabernacles situated centrally on high altars and so forth.  This counter-reformation approach would become so dominant, particularly in Italy.

Today I thought we'd turn our attention to an example of some extant liturgical architecture from prior to the Council of Trent, dated to 1520, situated in the diocese of Trent itself. As you will see, the model here is that which we tend to frequently associate with northern European countries; that of the triptych reredos with its attached altar and central tabernacle.   I should note that this altar is not entirely dated to 1520, the decoration of the altar and tabernacle itself are from the the early 20th century, but all the same the general arrangement here testifies to a pre-Tridentine liturgical arrangement right within Trent itself. 

The triptych panels closed

Here a few details taken from the triptych for your edification. 

St. Catherine of Alexandria

St. Barbara

Christ Resuurected

St. John, Christ and St. Peter

The Virgin and Child

St. Nicholas

St. Bartholomew

Ss. Jude, Philip and Matthew

Ss. James the Greater, Matthias and Paul

It can be easy to forget the church in Italy did exist prior to the counter-reformation and baroque periods given how particularly dominant the artistic influence those periods had here. Examples like these remind us that there were other pre-existing expressions -- expressions that were neither better nor worse, but different than what we've come to associate with the local church in this region.

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