This is the oldest, and ranks first among the four great patriarchal basilicas of Rome. From the time of Constatine and onwards, Saint John Laterin was always the center of Christian life within the city and was also the residence of the popes. This cathedral is often referred to as the “mother church of Rome”. When viewing this church from an artistic sense, ornate sculptures and wall/ceiling art can be seen throughout the entirety of the cathedral. The ceiling art stands out because of its bold gold appearance with highlights of reds and blues to showcase the gold designs. The walls of the cathedral are a bright white with ornate crown molding and contain arch ways that house different sections of the cathedral for worship. These sections too are decorated with ornate white sculptures. Perhaps the most notable artistic element about Saint John Laterin is the 12 massive sculptures of the Apostles; these sculptures where constructed in the late baroque period, beginning of 1700. Along with the 12 Apostle sculptures sits a very ornate alter that only the Pope can give mass. Above this sacramental altar there’s a fragment of the table on which Jesus consumed the last supper. This cathedral of Rome ultimately aided in the acceptance of Christianity back in the time of Constatine.