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A new apse of the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, replacing the original one built during the papacy of Sixtus III, was constructed by Pope Nicholas IV, who enriched it with new mosaics executed by Jacopo Torriti in 1295 and frescoes of the school of Cavallini. However, many more centuries still were to pass before the space took on its current appearance. Pope Benedict XIV offered his contribution to the major work of renovation of the interior in preparation for the jubilee of 1750, remodeling the altar with the red porphyry sarcophagus which according to tradition held the remains of Giovanni Patricio and his wife. Above it, he had Fuga build the great porphyry and bronze baldacchino, which turned out, however, to be somewhat too large, obscuring the view of the mosaics in the apse vault.
The picture shows the baldacchino with the apse mosaics in the background.
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