Canopy
Canopy
The canopy, in general, is an ornamental covering of cloth, stone, wood, or metal, used to crown an altar, throne, pulpit, statue, etc. In liturgical language, the term is commonly employed to designate the structure covering an altar, formerly fitted with curtains and supported on four pillars; the covering suspended over the throne occupied by dignitaries of the Church or princes; the covering under which the Blessed Sacrament is sometimes borne in processions etc. In medieval times altars were protected by a covering then called a ciborium (see the article ALTAR, under sub-title Ciborium), but now known as a baldachinum, or canopy, which survives at the present day as a feature of certain styles of architecture. When an altar had no ciborium it was covered with a cloth called a dais. As a mark of distinction bishops and higher prelates have a right to a covering over the thrones which they occupy at certain ecclesiastical functions. This is called a canopy. It is sometimes granted by special privilege to prelates inferior to bishops, but always with limitations as to the days on which it may be used and the character of its ornamentation. When bishops assist at solemn functions in the churches of regulars the latter are bound to provide the episcopal seat with a canopy (Cong. of Bishops and Regulars, 1603). Princes enjoy similar privileges, but their seats should be outside the sanctuary, and regulated in accordance with custom. The colour of the canopy should correspond with that of the other vestments. Two kinds of canopy are employed in processions of the Blessed Sacrament. One of small dimensions and shaped like an umbrella–except that it is flat and not conical is called an ombrellino. It is provided with a long staff by which it is held. The other, called a baldacchino, is of more elaborate structure and consists, in main outline, of a rectangular frame-work of rich cloth, supported by four, six, or eight staves by which it is carried. In both cases the covering consists of cloth of gold, or silk of white color. The ombrellino is used for carrying the Blessed Sacrament to the sick and for conveying it from the altar to the baldacchino. The latter is used for all public processions, when it is borne by nobles of the highest rank, the more worthy holding the foremost staves. It is forbidden to carry relies of the saints under the baldacchino, but this honour may be given to those of the Sacred Passion (Cong. of Rites, May, 1826).
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Cæremoniale Episcoporum, (Rome, 1902), passim: Du CANGE, Glossarium Latinitatis, s. vv. Conopeum, Ciborium, Baldachinum (Venice, 1738); PUGIN, Glossary of Ecclesiastical Ornaments, s.v. Canopy (London, 1868); BOURASSÉ Dictionnaire d’archéologie sacree, s.v. Baldaquin (Paris, 1851); KRAUS, Geschichte der christlichen Kunst (Freiburg im Br., 1896), I, 372 etc.
PATRICK MORRISROE Transcribed by Victoria Theresa Scarlett
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IIICopyright © 1908 by Robert Appleton CompanyOnline Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. KnightNihil Obstat, November 1, 1908. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., CensorImprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York
Fuente: Catholic Encyclopedia
Canopy
(, from , a Vnat; Vulg. conopeum):
(1) In the O.T. the term employed for the hanging of the couch of Holofernes (Jdt 10:21; Jdt 13:9; Jdt 16:19), where alone it occurs in the Bible, although, perhaps, from the pillars of the litter described in Son 3:10, it may be argued that its equipage would include a canopy. It probably retained the mosquito nets or curtains in which the name originated, although its description (Jdt 10:21) betrays luxury and display rather than such simple usefulness. Varro (R. R. 2:10, 8) uses theterm (quae in conopeis jacent) of languid women very much as the book of Judith ( . . . ) describes the position of a luxurious general. (For farther classical illustration, see Smith, Diet. of Ant. s.v. Conopeum.) It might possibly be asked why Judith, whose business I was to escape without delay, should have taken the trouble to pull down the canopy on the body of Holofernes? Probably it was an instance of theHebrew notion that blood should be instantly covered (comp. 2Sa 20:12; Lev 17:13), SEE BLOOD, and for this purpose the light bedding of Syria was inadequate. SEE BED. Tent furniture also is naturally lighter, even when most luxurious, than that of a palace, and thus a woman’s hand might unfix it from the pillars without much difficulty.
(2) In ecclesiastical use, SEE BALDACHIN.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Canopy (2)
in Gothic architecture an ornamented projection over doors, windows, etc.; a covering over niches, tombs, etc. Canopies are chiefly used in the Decorated and Perpendicular styles, although they are not uncommon in the Early English, and are occasionally found over the heads of figures, etc., in late Norman work. Early English canopies over niches and figures are generally simple in their forms, often only trefoil or cinquefoil arches. bowing forwards, and surmounted by a plain pediment, as on the west front of the cathedral at Wells; the canopies over tombs are sometimes of great beauty and delicacy, and highly enriched, as that over the tomb of archbishop Gray in York Minster. In the Decorated style, the canopies are often extremely elaborate, and are so various in their forms that it is impossible to particularize them; some of the more simple of those over figures, niches, etc., consist of cinquefoiled or trefoiled arches, frequently ogees, bowing forwards, and surmounted with crockets and finials; some are like very steep pediments with crockets and finials on them; others are formed of a series of small feathered arches, projecting from the wall on a polygonal ‘ plan, with pinnacles between and subordinate canopies over them, supporting a superstructure somewhat resembling a small turret or a small crocketed spire; of this description of canopy good specimens are to be seen at the sides and over the head of the effigy of queen Philippa in Westminster Abbey. The canopies. over tombs in this style. are often of great beauty; some consist of bold and wellproportioned arches with fine pediments over them, which are frequently crocketed, with buttresses and pinnacles at the angles; many tombs of this style, when made in a wall, have an ogee arch over them, forming a kind of canopy with hanging tracery. In the Perpendicular style, the canopies are more varied than in the Decorated, but in general character many of them are nearly alike in both styles; the high, pointed form is not to be met with in. Perpendicular work; a very usual kind of canopy over niches, etc., is a projection on a polygonal plan, often three sides of an octagon, with a series of feathered arches at the bottom, and terminating at the top either with a battlement, a row of Tudor flowers, or a series of open carved work.
The canopies of tombs are frequently of the most gorgeous description, enriched with a profusion of the most minute ornament, which is sometimes so crowded together as to create an appearance of great confusion. Most of our cathedrals and large churches will furnish examples of canopies of this style. They are sometimes called Testers (q.v.).
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Canopy
CANOPY.A loan-word from the Gr. knpeion, a mosquito-net. It is used to render this word in the description of the bed of Holofernes with its mosquito-curtain (Jdt 10:21 etc.); also in Isa 4:5 RV [Note: Revised Version.] for Heb. chuppah in the sense of a protective covering. This Heb. word is becoming naturalized in English to denote the canopy under which a Jewish bridegroom and bride stand while the wedding ceremony is being performed.
A. R. S. Kennedy.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Canopy
kano-pi (, huppah, from a root meaning to enclose or cover): Isa 4:5 the King James Version has defence, the English Revised Version canopy, the American Standard Revised Version covering, the last being best, though canopy has much in its favor. In Psa 19:5 (Hebrews 19:6) huppah is used of the bridegroom’s chamber and in Joe 2:16 of the bride’s. Among the Hebrews the huppah was originally the chamber in which the bride awaited the groom for the marital union. In Judith 10:21; 13:9, 15; 16:19 the word canopy occurs as the English equivalent of the Greek , konopeon, which was primarily a mosquito-net and then a canopy over a bed, whether for useful or for decorative purposes.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Canopy
Canopy. Jdt 10:21; Jdt 13:9; Jdt 16:19. The canopy of Holofernes is the only one mentioned.