The ''Transparente'' () is a

Baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...

altarpiece An altarpiece is a painting or sculpture, including relief, of religious subject matter made for placing at the back of or behind the altar of a Christian church. Though most commonly used for a single work of art such as a painting or sculpture, ...

located in the

ambulatory The ambulatory ( 'walking place') is the covered passage around a cloister or the processional way around the east end of a cathedral or large church and behind the high altar. The first ambulatory was in France in the 11th century but by the 13t ...

of the Cathedral of Toledo, in Spain. Its name refers to the unique illumination provided by a large oculus opened high up into the thick wall across the ambulatory, and another hole cut into the back of the altarpiece itself to allow shafts of sunlight to strike the tabernacle. This lower hole also allows persons in the ambulatory to see through the altarpiece to the tabernacle, as if it were "transparent". It was created between 1729-1732 by Narciso Tomé and his four sons (two architects, one painter, and one sculptor). The use of light and mixed materials (marble, bronze, paint, stucco) may reflect the influence of Bernini's Cathedra Petri in St Peter's Basilica,

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

. Its execution was ordered by Diego de Astorga y Céspedes,

Archbishop of Toledo The Archdiocese of Toledo () is a Latin Church archdiocese of the Catholic Church located in Spain.

. The Archbishop wished to mark the presence of the Holy Sacrament with a glorious monument. The monument cost 200,000

ducat The ducat ( ) coin was used as a trade coin in Europe from the later Middle Ages to the 19th century. Its most familiar version, the gold ducat or sequin containing around of 98.6% fine gold, originated in Venice in 1284 and gained wide inter ...

s and aroused great enthusiasm, even a celebratory poem wherein the monument was acclaimed 'the Eighth Wonder of the World'.Narciso Tome's 'Transparente'
in the Web Gallery of Art. Cardinal Astorga y Céspedes is buried at the feet of the ''Transparente''. According to American writer James Michener's book ''Iberia'' (1968), the ''Transparente'' was installed to allow light to pass from the ambulatory behind the high altar (or 'reredos' as he calls it), onto the tabernacle (the container for the Blessed Sacrament) which stayed in constant shadow because of the tall reredos. After the two holes were cut, Tomé and his sons designed a way to visually connect them by sculpting a fantastic company of angels, saints, prophets, and cardinals. Abstract designs suggesting flowing robes and foliage hang over corners to mask the details of the architectural piercings. Along the edges of the skylight, they arranged an array of Biblical figures who seem to tumble into the cathedral. At the outer edge of the opening sits Christ on a bank of clouds, surrounded by angels. The back side of the altarpiece was converted into a tower of marble which reaches from the floor to the ceiling. Intricate groups of figures were assembled so that the opening to the tabernacle could be hidden yet permit light to pass through.

Gallery

Altar llamado el Transparente cropped.png, 1842 engraving FP Toledo Cathedral 2025 - Transparente and window.jpg, Ambulatory and side view FP Toledo Cathedral 2025 -Transparente Window.jpg, Oculus from below FP Toledo Cathedral 2025 - Window detail 2.jpg, Oculus FP Toledo Cathedral 2025 - Transparente detail.jpg, Detail FP Toledo Cathedral 2025 - Transparente detail 2.jpg, Madonna detail

References

External links

Transparente
{{coord missing, Spain Baroque sculptures Buildings and structures in Toledo, Spain 1732 works