MOSAIC ARTIST, Italian
(active 4th century in Rome)

Traditio Clavium

4th century
Mosaic
Santa Costanza, Rome

The decoration of the Early Christian churches was mostly with mosaics. One of the most elaborate series of mosaics is in Santa Costanza, a domed circular building reputed to have been used as the burial chapel of Constantine's daughter.

The late 4th-century mosaics in the apses of the chapels off the ambulatory represent the Christian subject of "Traditio Legis" (Christ giving the Law to St Paul) and "Traditio Clavium" (Christ giving the keys to St Peter.

The picture shows the Traditio Clavium.




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