One of the most famous images of political authority from the Middle Ages is the mosaic of the Emperor Justinian and his court in the sanctuary of the church of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy. This image is an integral part of a much larger mosaic program in the chancel (the space around the altar).
What is the purpose of the Justinian mosaic in San Vitale?
This mosaic thus establishes the central position of the Emperor between the power of the church and the power of the imperial administration and military. Like the Roman Emperors of the past, Justinian has religious, administrative, and military authority.
What is the Emperor Justinian mosaic made of?
It was dedicated to the martyr Vitalis, the patron saint of Ravenna. At the time, the city was the capital of the Western Roman Empire. The octagonal structure is made of marble and capped by a lofty terra-cotta dome. The celebrated mosaics were strongly influenced by similar work at Constantinople (Istanbul).
Why is Justinian in the Centre of the mosaic?
As the Christian Emperor, he saw himself as the defender of the faith. As such it was his duty to establish religious uniformity or Orthodoxy throughout the Empire. In the chancel mosaic Justinian is posed frontally in the center.
Who is in the Justinian mosaic?
At the foot of the apse side walls are two famous mosaic panels, completed in 547. On the right is a mosaic depicting the East Roman Emperor Justinian I, clad in Tyrian purple with a golden halo, standing next to court officials, generals Belisarius and Narses, Bishop Maximian, palatinae guards and deacons.
What is Justinian and his attendants?
One of the most studied mosaics of the Byzantine church of San Vitale in Ravenna , Italy is Emperor Justinian and His Attendants, sometimes called Justinian and His Courtiers, a companion piece to Empress Theodora and Her Attendants. The mosaics were completed in 547 AD, shortly before the consecration of the church.
What is the most famous Byzantine mosaic?
Although it might be the most famous, Ravenna is by no means the only place where Early Byzantine mosaics are well-preserved today.
Did Justinian ever visit Ravenna?
Justinian and Theodora Mosaics in San Vitale
(Justinian never actually visited Ravenna.) The Justinian Mosaic is low on the northern apse sidewall. It shows Justinian I, emperor of the (East) Roman Empire clad in imperial purple with a saint-like halo.
Why are Justinian and Theodora represented in mosaics at San Vitale in Ravenna?
Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora offer a paten and a chalice to the church (Andreescu 708). The mosaics glorify the imperial autocracy because, at this time, Justinian was expanding the Byzantine empire throughout the Mediterranean and had conquered the Ostrogothic capital Ravenna (Andreescu 708).
How tall is Vitale?
The dome above the central octagon is 28.7 metres high. The sanctuary has a vault that is slightly lower: it has a height of 17.7 metres.
What are mosaics made out of?
mosaic, in art, decoration of a surface with designs made up of closely set, usually variously coloured, small pieces of material such as stone, mineral, glass, tile, or shell.
