Places in Ravenna: The Roman Community
(- threads, 7 posts)
Galla Placidia, the Archiepiscopal Chapel, the Orthodox Baptistery, San Vitale. ...
 San Vitale
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(MORE TEXT WILL BE ADDED SOON)
San Vitale, begun under Theodoric, reveals its Oriental influences in its octagonal base with a dome. Its grand, solemn mosaics are possibly the last true expression of Roman civilization. It is the apotheosis of the Byzantine rulers: the two mosaic panels with the depiction of the court, probably conceived by Maximianus, are among the most beautiful and famous portraits in the world. Justinian and Theodora appear in their majesty, stylized, still, unchanging; they do have a psychological dimension, but become symbols of unlimited, unearthly authority, depending only from God. In the apse the image of Christ is still naturalistic; even in the Justinian panel, the portraits of Maximianus and Belisarius are very realistic. Architecture and decoration, intimately linked, offer here the highest point of the tendency, characteristic of late-Roman and Paleochristian art, to dematerialize space. There is no central entrance, but two lateral ones: [pic] entrance and presbytery are not aligned. The mosaics are pure colour, almost disembodied; columns and capitels are like a lace decoration with no plasticity.
Text: Ælfwine Scylding. Background image: Ælfwine Scylding. Other background images: Mix 'n' Match
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Created by: * Aelfwine Scylding, Sep 4, 2006 - 12:24
