The Altar of the Basilica of St Ambrose in Milan

Last month, we shared pictures of a solemn Ambrosian Mass celebrated in one of the most ancient and important churches in Milan, the basilica of St Ambrose, on December 14th, the fifth Sunday of Advent. As a follow up, here are some close-up pictures of the basilica’s high altar taken by Nicola de’ Grandi. This altar was made between 825 and 859 by a sculptor named Vuolvino; the front, which faces the people, is gold; the back, which faced the apse, is silver.

The central panel of the front shows Christ in glory, surrounded by the symbols of the Evangelists and the Twelve Apostles. Twelve episodes of His life are depicted in the panels to either side.

The stories of the life of Christ run from bottom to top, first on the left side, then the right. Here we see the Annunciation... 

followed by the Nativity, with a shepherd in the middle, raising his arms in a gesture which conveys his emotion at finding the Messiah. This is a very good example of how artists of the Carolingian Renaissance rediscovered a more naturalistic approach to art from ancient Roman models, which they would have been able to study in very old illustrated manuscripts.

The Presentation, and above it, the calling of St Matthew.

The Wedding at Cana, and the Transfiguration. In the former, notice the man sitting down and testing the wine, another example of the naturalistic imagery based on Roman models.

On the right side, the healing of the man born blind, and above it, Pentecost.

The expulsion of the moneychangers from the temple, and the Crucifixion.

The Resurrection.

The Ascension

In the central panel, Christ in Majesty.

The side facing the apse.

The central panel was designed to be opened so that one can look down into the confessio, where the body of St Ambrose rests between those of the martyrs Ss Gervasius and Protasius (dressed in red), for whom he originally built the church. The two martyrs also hold palm branches in their hands, while the sainted bishop holds a crook. ~ Several years ago, I visited this church and was told by a senior cleric that when the sarcophagi of these Saints were rediscovered in 1867, Ambrose’s skeleton was found “all of a piece”, but those of the martyrs had been “mixed up, so at the Final Judgement, some of the pieces will be flying back and forth.” This was followed by a smile and the classic Italian “no problem” shrug.

The central panel shows the Archangels Michael and Gabriel in the upper circles; in the lower ones, St Ambrose crowns the abbot of the Basilica, Angeliberto, who presents the altar to him (left), and the sculptor Vuolvino (right). 

The panels to either side depict twelve episodes of the life of St Ambrose.

An old legend recounts that when St Ambrose was a child, he was left outside one day, and bees swarmed near him, coming in and out of his mouth as if it were their hive without harming him. The story is, of course, intended to symbolize the sweetness of his eloquence.

When Auxentius, an Arian who had held the see of Milan for nearly 20 years, died in 374, Ambrose, as an official of the Roman imperial government, was sent to calm the turbulence in the city over the election of his successor. After delivering a speech to the people, he was elected bishop himself by popular acclamation. This panel depicts him attempting to flee on horseback, only to be turned back by an act of divine intervention.

At the time of his episcopal election, he was only a catechumen; he was therefore baptized and ordained through all the orders...

up to the episcopacy (shown here) in eight days. Since he died on April 4th (in 397), a date which very often occurs in Holy Week or Easter week, his feast day is celebrated on December 7th, the date of his episcopal ordination. The Ambrosian Rite includes a commemoration of his baptism on the feast of St Andrew the Apostle on November 30th.

A later medieval legend states that he was present for the funeral of St Martin of Tours; in reality, he predeceased Martin by a bit more than 7 months.

An angel inspires St Ambrose as he preaches.

As he celebrates Mass, a man who is lame in one foot approaches the altar, and Ambrose heals him by stepping on his foot.

When Ambrose had fallen into his final illness, St Honoratus, the bishop of Vercelli, came to visit him. On the night on which Ambrose died, and angel woke him from his sleep to tell him to bring Ambrose the viaticum.

His soul is carried up to heaven by an angel, as St Honoratus looks on. 

The side-panels share the same motif of angels and saints adoring a jeweled cross.