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The Byzantine Art of Mosaics and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna

By Anita Mathias


I loved the bright, perfectly preserved mosaics in Ravenna, and decided to research them a  bit.

In Byzantine times, the greatest gift an emperor could bestow on a dependent town was a few tons of gold, glass and enamel–and an artist. From Justinian’s time, the art became a trademark of Byzantine civilization. As part of diplomatic initiatives, Constantinople’s emperors send their mosaicists abroad–their work can be seen in Egypt, Sicily and in The Great Mosque of Cordoba.

Mosaics were a favourite Roman medium before the advent of Christianity, but not always taken seriously, usually reserved for the decoration of villas.

However, early Christians with a desire to build for the ages, and a body of scriptures which could best be interpreted pictorially made mosaics the new medium of public art in the 6th century.

Ravenna’s mosaics were probably created by Greek artists from the court of Constantinople. Early Christian art was born here.

The early mosaicists sought to serve both art and religion. Using a new vocabulary of images (The Good Shepherd, sacrifice) they sought to duplicate and surpass the sense of awe and mystery still half-remembered from the interiors of pagan temples.

In churches like San Vitale, with their glorious colours, we still see the same light that enchanted the Byzantine artists–the light of the Gospels, the light from beyond the stars.

The Mausoleum of Galla Placida was one of the most magical buildings I saw on this trip.

ceiling of mausoleum of Galla Placida

 Unimpressive from the outside, but rich and ornate from the inside. The vault shows a deep blue firmament glowing with hundreds of dazzling gold stars set in concentric circles. In the centre, at the top of the vault, a cross represents the transcendent God above the heavens. At the corners, are the traditional iconographic symbols of the four evangelists, the lion, ox, angel and eagle.

All the Byzantine churches use a similar technique–the small glass tessera are laid in section, alternate rows set at slightly different angels to vary the reflection of light and give an impression of depth. Colour is emblematic, with gold denoting holiness–or high status!!

A close up. What bright colours for a 1500 year old mosaic!!

 

Elaborate lavish interior
The Good Shepherd

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Comments

  1. Anita Mathias says

    April 17, 2011 at 7:52 pm

    Hi Ray, Not familiar with Robert Adam or Osterley and Saltram. Obviously have some googling to do.
    Thanks Freda and Penny.
    Perpetua, we spent 4 days in Ravenna and saw all the mosiacs. Ran out of posting steam. Might post some more images and histroy tomorrow.

  2. Perpetua says

    April 17, 2011 at 3:01 pm

    Thanks for these and the previous pictures from Ravenna. Wonderful mosaics also in other buildings like the baptistry and the church of Sant Apollinare Nuovo. It's nearly 20 years since I was in Ravenna (help!) and it's lovely to be reminded how marvellous they are.

  3. Freda says

    April 14, 2011 at 9:46 pm

    These are amazing pictures, they look so bright and vivid. It must have been a wonderful trip.I hope you enjoy wearing your scarf. Every Blessing

  4. Penelopepiscopal says

    April 13, 2011 at 12:50 am

    Stunning! I can only imagine how wonderful they were in person!

  5. Ray Barnes says

    April 12, 2011 at 10:51 pm

    Wow! Oh wow! What fabulous colours and incredibly intricate designs. I love the deep blue ceiling of Galla Placida and the beautiful
    arches.
    We really have nothing to compare in this part of the world.
    Much as I love the work of Robert Adam at Osterley, Saltram and other places the brilliant intensity of colour and design in these mosaics bowles me over.
    Thanks a million Anita.

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anita.mathias

Writer, Blogger, Reader, Mum. Christian. Instaing Oxford, travel, gardens and healthy meals. Oxford English alum. Writing memoir. Lives in Oxford, UK

Images from walks around Oxford. #beauty #oxford # Images from walks around Oxford. #beauty #oxford #walking #tranquility #naturephotography #nature
So we had a lovely holiday in the Southwest. And h So we had a lovely holiday in the Southwest. And here we are at one of the world’s most famous and easily recognisable sites.
#stonehenge #travel #england #prehistoric England #family #druids
And I’ve blogged https://anitamathias.com/2020/09/13/on-not-wasting-a-desert-experience/
So, after Paul the Apostle's lightning bolt encounter with the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus, he went into the desert, he tells us...
And there, he received revelation, visions, and had divine encounters. The same Judean desert, where Jesus fasted for forty days before starting his active ministry. Where Moses encountered God. Where David turned from a shepherd to a leader and a King, and more, a man after God’s own heart.  Where Elijah in the throes of a nervous breakdown hears God in a gentle whisper. 
England, where I live, like most of the world is going through a desert experience of continuing partial lockdowns. Covid-19 spreads through human contact and social life, and so we must refrain from those great pleasures. We are invited to the desert, a harsh place where pruning can occur, and spiritual fruitfulness.
A plague like this has not been known for a hundred years... John Piper, after his cancer diagnosis, exhorted people, “Don’t Waste Your Cancer”—since this was the experience God permitted you to have, and He can bring gold from it. Pandemics and plagues are permitted (though not willed or desired) by a Sovereign God, and he can bring life-change out of them. 
Let us not waste this unwanted, unchosen pandemic, this opportunity for silence, solitude and reflection. Let’s not squander on endless Zoom calls—or on the internet, which, if not used wisely, will only raise anxiety levels. Let’s instead accept the invitation to increased silence and reflection
Let's use the extra free time that many of us have long coveted and which has now been given us by Covid-19 restrictions to seek the face of God. To seek revelation. To pray. 
And to work on those projects of our hearts which have been smothered by noise, busyness, and the tumult of people and parties. To nurture the fragile dreams still alive in our hearts. The long-deferred duty or vocation
So, we are about eight weeks into lockdown, and I So, we are about eight weeks into lockdown, and I have totally sunk into the rhythm of it, and have got quiet, very quiet, the quietest spell of time I have had as an adult.
I like it. I will find going back to the sometimes frenetic merry-go-round of my old life rather hard. Well, I doubt I will go back to it. I will prune some activities, and generally live more intentionally and mindfully.
I have started blocking internet of my phone and laptop for longer periods of time, and that has brought a lot of internal quiet and peace.
Some of the things I have enjoyed during lockdown have been my daily long walks, and gardening. Well, and reading and working on a longer piece of work.
Here are some images from my walks.
And if you missed it, a blog about maintaining peace in the middle of the storm of a global pandemic
https://anitamathias.com/2020/05/04/a-mind-of-life-and-peace/  #walking #contemplating #beauty #oxford #pandemic
A few walks in Oxford in the time of quarantine. A few walks in Oxford in the time of quarantine.  We can maintain a mind of life and peace during this period of lockdown by being mindful of our minds, and regulating them through meditation; being mindful of our bodies and keeping them happy by exercise and yoga; and being mindful of our emotions in this uncertain time, and trusting God who remains in charge. A new blog on maintaining a mind of life and peace during lockdown https://anitamathias.com/2020/05/04/a-mind-of-life-and-peace/
In the days when one could still travel, i.e. Janu In the days when one could still travel, i.e. January 2020, which seems like another life, all four of us spent 10 days in Malta. I unplugged, and logged off social media, so here are some belated iphone photos of a day in Valetta.
Today, of course, there’s a lockdown, and the country’s leader is in intensive care.
When the world is too much with us, and the news stresses us, moving one’s body, as in yoga or walking, calms the mind. I am doing some Yoga with Adriene, and again seeing the similarities between the practice of Yoga and the practice of following Christ.
https://anitamathias.com/2020/04/06/on-yoga-and-following-jesus/
#valleta #valletamalta #travel #travelgram #uncagedbird
Images from some recent walks in Oxford. I am copi Images from some recent walks in Oxford.
I am coping with lockdown by really, really enjoying my daily 4 mile walk. By savouring the peace of wild things. By trusting that God will bring good out of this. With a bit of yoga, and weights. And by working a fair amount in my garden. And reading.
How are you doing?
#oxford #oxfordinlockdown #lockdown #walk #lockdownwalks #peace #beauty #happiness #joy #thepeaceofwildthings
Images of walks in Oxford in this time of social d Images of walks in Oxford in this time of social distancing. The first two are my own garden.  And I’ve https://anitamathias.com/2020/03/28/silver-and-gold-linings-in-the-storm-clouds-of-coronavirus/ #corona #socialdistancing #silverlinings #silence #solitude #peace
Trust: A Message of Christmas He came to earth in Trust: A Message of Christmas  He came to earth in a  splash of energy
And gentleness and humility.
That homeless baby in the barn
Would be the lynchpin on which history would ever after turn
Who would have thought it?
But perhaps those attuned to God’s way of surprises would not be surprised.
He was already at the centre of all things, connecting all things. * * *
Augustus Caesar issued a decree which brought him to Bethlehem,
The oppressions of colonialism and conquest brought the Messiah exactly where he was meant to be, the place prophesied eight hundred years before his birth by the Prophet Micah.
And he was already redeeming all things. The shame of unwed motherhood; the powerlessness of poverty.
He was born among animals in a barn, animals enjoying the sweetness of life, animals he created, animals precious to him.
For he created all things, and in him all things hold together
Including stars in the sky, of which a new one heralded his birth
Drawing astronomers to him.
And drawing him to the attention of an angry King
As angelic song drew shepherds to him.
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By a homeless baby
The still point on which the world still turns. The powerful centre. The only true power.
The One who makes connections. * * *
And there is no end to the wisdom, the crystal glints of the Message that birth brings.
To me, today, it says, “Fear not, trust me, I will make a way.” The baby lay gentle in the barn
And God arranges for new stars, angelic song, wise visitors with needed finances for his sustenance in the swiftly-coming exile, shepherds to underline the anointing and reassure his parents. “Trust me in your dilemmas,” the baby still says, “I will make a way. I will show it to you.” Happy Christmas everyone.  https://anitamathias.com/2019/12/24/trust-a-message-of-christmas/ #christmas #gemalderieberlin #trust #godwillmakeaway
Look, I’ve designed a journal. It’s an omnibus Look, I’ve designed a journal. It’s an omnibus Gratitude journal, habit tracker, food and exercise journal, bullet journal, with time sheets, goal sheets and a Planner. Everything you’d like to track.  Here’s a post about it with ISBNs https://anitamathias.com/2019/12/23/life-changing-journalling/. Check it out. I hope you and your kids like it!
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