Mosaics in Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome (1296-1300)
by Pietro CAVALLINI

A number of churches were erected in Rome in the twelfth century, the largest and most important of them being the Santa Maria in Trastevere which replaced an Early Christian basilica from the fourth century. The builder of the church was pope Innocent II (1130-1143). Although the construction was completed only after the death of Innocent II in around 1148, the mosaics in the apse calotte and on the upper part of the apsidal arch were completed during his lifetime.

These mosaics were supplemented toward the end of the thirteenth century by seven more mosaics, six of them narrating the life of the Virgin. Pietro Cavallini is documented as the creator of these mosaics in the apse and on the lower part of the apsidal arch.

The six scenes are the Nativity of the Virgin, the Annunciation, the Nativity of Christ, the Adoration of the Kings, the Presentation in the Temple, and the Dormition. An additional mosaic picture was added to the life of the Virgin which portrays a layman, recommended by St Peter as intercessor, adoring the Virgin and Child.

Preview Picture Data Info
Interior view
1296-1300
Mosaic
Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome


Apsidal arch: 1. Nativity of the Virgin
1296-1300
Mosaic
Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome


Nativity of the Virgin (detail)
1296-1300
Mosaic
Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome


Apse: 2. Annunciation
1296-1300
Mosaic
Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome


Annunciation (detail)
1296-1300
Mosaic
Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome


Annunciation (detail)
1296-1300
Mosaic
Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome


Apse: 3. Nativity of Christ
1296-1300
Mosaic
Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome


Nativity of Christ (detail)
1296-1300
Mosaic
Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome


Apse: 4. Adoration of the Kings
1296-1300
Mosaic
Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome


Apse: 5. Presentation in the Temple
1296-1300
Mosaic
Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome


Presentation in the Temple (detail)
1296-1300
Mosaic
Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome


Apsidal arch: 6. Dormition of the Virgin
1296-1300
Mosaic
Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome


Dormition of the Virgin (detail)
1296-1300
Mosaic
Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome


Apse: St Peter Recommending Bertoldo Stefanschi to the Virgin
1296-1300
Mosaic
Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome


St Peter Recommending Bertoldo Stefanschi to the Virgin (detail)
1296-1300
Mosaic
Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome



Works by Pietro CAVALLINI
Last Judgement | Mosaics | Paintings
Summary of Italian mosaics
Early Christian mosaics
Rome | Ravenna
Mosaics in Rome
Santa Prassede |San Clemente | Santa Maria in Trastevere
Mosaics in Sicily
Cathedral of Cefalù | Cappella Palatina, Palermo | Cathedral of Monreale
Mosaics in Venice
Basilica di San Marco
Mosaics in Florence
Battistero di San Giovanni (Baptistery)
Other mosaics
11th-12th centuries | 13th-14th centuries
Mosaicists
RUSUTI, Filippo | TORRITI, Jacopo | CAVALLINI, Pietro
CIMABUE | GIOTTO | GIAMBONO, Michele | ANDREA DEL CASTAGNO



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