Apse Mosaic from the Church of San Michele in Africisco, Ravenna (Bode Museum, Berlin, Germany, Ident. Nr. 6642) : Detail, right side of top band with an archangel, two of the angels of revelation, standing in a sea of fire

Creator:

Unknown

Published/Created:

Museum Island; Skulpturensammlung und Museum für Byzantinische Kunst, Bode Museum, Berlin, Germany
ca. 545-546

Physical Description:

432 cm (height) x 615 cm (length)

Date Depicted:

4/26/2009

Materials:

stone and glass tesserae

Notes:

The mosaic was acquired by the museum in 1844, but was much restored when moved from Ravenna in 1843. The physician saints Cosmus and Damian are depicted on the spandrel. In the apse, a youthful Christ stands in a paradise landscape against a golden background, flanked by the archangels Michael and Gabriel. The open book in his left hand has the Latin verses, "he who sees me, sees the father " (John 14.9) and "I and the father are one" (John 10.30). A narrow frieze of vine which is populated on both sides by (originally) six fluttering doves, symbols of the twelve apostles, decorates the apse reveal. The top band has Christ in judgment flanked by the archangels and the seven angels of revelation, standing in a sea mixed with fire. The small basilica of San Michele in Africisco was financed by banker Giuliano Argentario as a votive offering to Archangel Michael,consecrated in 547. The term “Africisco” is probably connected to the antique region of Phrygia, in Asia Minor.

Variant Titles:

Apsismosaik aus der Kirche San Michele in Africisco zu Ravenna

Topics:

Architecture -- Turkey -- 6th century -- (YVRC)
Mosaics -- Turkey -- 6th century -- (YVRC)

Period/Style:

Byzantine
Early Christian

Culture:

Byzantine

Accession Number:

7A3-EC-BOM-AMR-A14

Genre:

architecture (AAT)
mosaics (AAT)

Format:

Image

Content Type:

Furnishings & Decorative Arts
Sculptures, Models, & Architecture

Rights:

Copyright Scott Gilchrist, Archivision, Inc
The use of this image may be subject to the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) or to site license or other rights management terms and conditions. The person using the image is liable for any infringement.

Access Restrictions:

Yale Community Only

Digital:

visual works; mosaics (visual works)

Source Creator:

Gilchrist, Scott

Source Title:

Archivision Addition Module Eight

Source Created:

2878 Chamonix, Montreal QC
Archivision, Inc.
4/26/2009 12:00:00 AM

Source Note:

Purchase, Visual Resources Collection, May, 2013; photographer Scott Gilchrist

Yale Collection:

Visual Resources Collection

Digital Collection:

Visual Resources Collection

Original Repository:

Berlin, Germany: Bode-Museum

Local Record Number:

4654

OID:

10903988

PID:

digcoll:1795923