Mosaics in Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna (6th century)

The sumptuous mosaics that cover the walls of the nave in Sant'Apollinare Nuovo reflect the dominant role that mosaics had assumed in the churches of the Christian East.

The mosaics are divided into three tiers. The lowest tier, below the clerestory windows, comprises processions of figures against a continuous gold background: to the south, male martyrs advance from Theodoric's palace towards Christ enthroned; to the north, female martyrs set out from the port of Classis towards the Virgin and Child enthroned, who are adored by the Magi.

Between the windows in the second tier are 32 isolated figures of Apostles and Prophets. The topmost tier consists of 26 panels, 13 on each side, of which those on the left relate to Christ's ministry and those on the right to his Passion and Resurrection.

Preview Picture Data Info
Interior decoration
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


Interior decoration (south wall)
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


Interior decoration (detail)
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


South wall (detail)
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


Procession of the male martyrs (detail)
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


Blessing Christ between Angels
c. 500
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


Blessing Christ between Angels
c. 500
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


Palace of Theodoric
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


Interior decoration (north wall)
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


Procession of female martyrs (detail)
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


Procession of female martyrs (detail)
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


Procession of female martyrs (detail)
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


Procession of female martyrs (detail)
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


The Three Magi
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


The Three Magi (detail)
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


Virgin and Child Enthroned
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


Port in Classe
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


Prophet
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


Christ before Pilate
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


Miracle of the Loaves
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


Arrest of Christ
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


Last Supper
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


Dividing the sheep from the goats
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


Dividing the sheep from the goats (detail)
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


Samaritan Woman at the Well
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


Christ between Four Apostles
early 6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna


Emperor Justinian I
6th century
Mosaic
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna



Early Christian Mosaics
Early Christian Mosaics (all)
Mosaics in Rome
Santa Costanza | Santa Pudenziana | Santa Maria Maggiore
Santi Cosma e Damiano | Other churches
Mosaics in Ravenna
Galla Placidia | Orthodox and Arian Baptisteries | San Vitale
Sant'Apollinare in Classe | Sant'Apollinare Nuovo
Mosaics in other places



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