PENDENTIVE

Pendentive: translation

Pendentives are the triangular curving segments that support adomeand transfer its weight to the pillars below. They were introduced by Byzantine architects who first used it on a large scale at Hagia Sophia in today's Istanbul. Its use allowed for more extensive unobstructed interior expanses as well as the enclosure of a square opening with a circular dome. Pendentives provide surfaces that can be decorated with eithermosaics, frescoes, or sculpturereliefs. Examples of pendentive mosaics include theFour Doctors of the Churchin the Gregorian Chapel atSt.Peter's(1580s), executed by theManneristartist Girolamo Muziano. Pinturicchio frescoed the pendentives in the retro-choir of Santa Maria del Popolo,Rome(1508), with the same theme. Terracotta reliefs byDonatelloin the pendentives of theOld Sacristy, San Lorenzo,Florence(1421-1428), and those byLuca della Robbiain thePazzi Chapel(1433-1461) in the same city provide sculptural examples.