MOSAIC ARTIST, Italian
(active 1140s in Rome)

Apsidal arch (detail)

1140-43
Mosaic
Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome

On the apsidal arch two prophets are flanking the apse calotte. They are identified as Isaiah and Jeremiah. In highly animated poses they turn toward the two enthroned figures in the centre of the apse, and display inscription ribbons whose texts, to which they emphatically point, refer to Mary as the mother of God. Next to them stand date palms, and above the inscription ribbons are caged birds.

The picture shows the prophet Jeremiah.




© Web Gallery of Art, created by Emil Krén and Daniel Marx.