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E06018: Mosaics from the late 5th or early 6th c., depicting the Apostles, in the Arian Baptistry in Ravenna, northern Italy.
online resource
posted on 2018-07-19, 00:00 authored by francesMosaics from the Arian Baptistery, Ravenna
Twelve apostles are depicted against a gold background on the dome of the baptistry. Their portraits are arranged like spokes on a wheel around a central roundel depicting Christ’s baptism by *John (the Baptist, S00020) in the river Jordan. A personification of the river is also depicted.
The apostles are all haloed and all apart from *Peter (S00036) and *Paul (S00008) hold a crown. Peter holds the keys and Paul books. All other apostles are depicted differently. They stand in different poses, some are bearded, some are old and some are young. Yet it is hard to identify these apostles with certainty as none of the apostles are labelled. All the apostles are turned towards a jewelled throne – which is placed between Peter and Paul – on which a cross and purple cloth are seated.
Description: Frances Trzeciak.
Twelve apostles are depicted against a gold background on the dome of the baptistry. Their portraits are arranged like spokes on a wheel around a central roundel depicting Christ’s baptism by *John (the Baptist, S00020) in the river Jordan. A personification of the river is also depicted.
The apostles are all haloed and all apart from *Peter (S00036) and *Paul (S00008) hold a crown. Peter holds the keys and Paul books. All other apostles are depicted differently. They stand in different poses, some are bearded, some are old and some are young. Yet it is hard to identify these apostles with certainty as none of the apostles are labelled. All the apostles are turned towards a jewelled throne – which is placed between Peter and Paul – on which a cross and purple cloth are seated.
Description: Frances Trzeciak.
History
Evidence ID
E06018Saint Name
Apostles, unnamed or name lost : S00084 Paul, the Apostle : S00008 Peter the Apostle : S00036 John the Baptist : S00020Related Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Images and objects - Wall paintings and mosaicsEvidence not before
490Evidence not after
525Activity not before
490Activity not after
600Place of Evidence - Region
Italy north of Rome with Corsica and SardiniaPlace of Evidence - City, village, etc
RavennaPlace of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Ravenna Sardinia Sardinia Sardegna SardiniaCult activities - Places
Cult building - dependent (chapel, baptistery, etc.)Cult activities - Use of Images
- Commissioning/producing an image
