To Justinians right appear members of the imperial administration identified by the purple stripe, and at the very far left side of the mosaic appears a group of soldiers. A series of mosaics in the lunettes above the triforia depict sacrifices from the Old Testament:[7] the story of Abraham and Melchizedek, and the Sacrifice of Isaac; the story of Moses and the Burning Bush, Jeremiah and Isaiah, representatives of the twelve tribes of Israel, and the story of Abel and Cain. This identifies the mosaic as the so-called Little Entrance which marks the beginning of the Byzantine liturgy of the Eucharist. Innovative architecture in the age of Justinian - Khan Academy Justinian I was born of peasant parents. It was begun in 526 or 527 under Ostrogothic rule. There is a fountain to the left side of the composition, and one of the male courtiers holds back a curtain so she can pass through. Copyright 2021 Some Rights Reserved (See Terms of Service), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), State University of New York College at Oneonta, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International, Connection and Interconnection: Journalism and Postal Networks in Early Modern Europe, UN Chief Calls on Governments to Combat Grave Global Harm of Online Disinformation, Jacques-Pierre Brissot: Journalist and Abolitionist in the French Revolution, Intensifying Police Crackdown on U.S. Just look at the luxurious fabrics on the female members of the procession! The same dimensions are given for the mosaic Empress Theodora and Members of Her Court. . Ravena, Italy.jpg. Justinian is thus Christs vice-regent on earth, and his army is actually the army of Christ as signified by the Chi-Rho on the shield. mosaic of Emperor Justinian in the Basilica of San Vitale Honorius was a weak emperor though. middle ages " is the mosaic of the Emperor Justinian and his court in the sanctuary of the church of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy. The Byzantines identified the color purple with royalty (some Byzantine Emperors even purchased manuscripts written and illuminated on purple parchment). DailyArt Magazine needs your support. Especially the portrayal of the lion is remarkable in its ferocity. His name at birth was Petrus Sabbatius. Steven: And the Arian belief was suppressed. This placement can be seen through the overlapping feet of the individuals present in the mosaic.[9]. We welcome your participation! The eastern end of San Vitale is completely covered in dense mosaic. 547 A.D.). Beth: And yet, these apse-like shapes that are supported by columns undulate and move around us. Evidence of luxurious fashion and textiles worn by the Byzantine imperial court. Beth: Right, this is a bowl that would have contained the bread for the sacrament of the Eucharist. File:Emperor Justinian and his retinue. Detail of the mosaic in the Byzantine architecture during Iconoclasm, 21. As the Christian Emperor, he saw himself as the defender of the faith. Facing opposite one another in the apse of the church, each mosaic depicts the main figure bedecked in finery and accompanied by a retinue. -Nazanin Hedayat Munroe. He was responsible for a much-needed overhaul of the legal system, but he also instructed his soldiers to violently put down the Nika riot in Constantinople. All structured data from the file namespace is available under the. The mosaic program can also be seen to give visual testament to the two major ambitions of Justinians reign: as heir to the tradition of Roman Emperors, Justinian sought to restore the territorial boundaries of the Empire. Famous 6th-century mosaics in the church of San Vitale. Below flow the four rivers of paradise. Beth: When we say Byzantine, were referring to the capital of the empire, which is a Constantinople. When we think about a church, we generally think about a building thats shaped like a cross: it has that long hallway, the nave. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, Cite this page as: Dr. Allen Farber, "San Vitale and the, Not your grandfathers art history: a BIPOC Reader, Reframing Art History, a new kind of textbook, Guide to AP Art History vol. Theodora does not wear atablion, but she does have a wide band of decorations at the bottom of her chlamys. As such it was his duty to establish religious uniformity or Orthodoxy throughout the Empire. They symbolize the human race (Jerusalem representing the Jews, and Bethlehem the Gentiles). He ensured that Justinian received a Classical education and military training. The reign of Justinian Section of San Vitale, Ravenna, from James Fergusson, The Illustrated Handbook of Architecture, vol. Another panel shows Empress Theodora solemn and formal, with a golden halo, crown and jewels, and a group of court women as well as eunuchs. About 5.0 Excellent 1 review #2 of 3 B&Bs / Inns in Hrth Location 5.0 Service 5.0 Value 5.0 Suggest edits to improve what we show. Beth: And on the other side, we see Ecclesius, who founded and sponsored the building of this church. Originally published by Smarthistory under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. Evidence suggests that Maximianus name and face are later editions, supplanting an image of an earlier Bishop of Ravenna. Built in the first half of the 6th century CE, the octagon-shaped church of San Vitale memorializes a time of transition for Ravenna. Life The ancient town of Tauresium, the birthplace of Justinian I, located in today's North Macedonia. Steven: The only surfaces that really are stone are of a very decorative marble, cut to pair and create wonderful abstract designs. In 493, he was defeated and Ravenna became the capital of the Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy. Both trends are further developed during the reign of Justinian (reigned 527 to 565). Hes frontal. L'imperatore Giustiniano col suo seguito e S. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, San Vitale is open to visitors, alongside the many other monuments of early Christian Ravenna. A pair of angels, holding a medallion with a cross, crowns each lunette. Empress Theodora and Her Retinue mosaic, San Vitale, Ravenna, circa 526-547 CE, Italy. Clergy and Justinian (detail), Justinian mosaic, San Vitale, consecrated 547, Ravenna, Italy (photo: Steven Zucker, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0). San Vitale Church: Construction and Design - UK Essays This is the transcript of a conversation conducted in the church of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy. Location: Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy; Order Oil Painting reproduction Share: Byzantine Mosaics Famous works. Panels depicting Byzantine Emperor and Empress Justinian and Theodora with their courtiers are popular for their portrayals of sumptuous Byzantine royal attire. At the center of the groin vault near the apse appears an image of the Lamb of God, a haloed sheep that references Christs sacrifice. And like Justinian, too, shes surrounded by attendants that symbolize the imperial court. Beth: Of course, youd want that light glistening on the gold and beautifully colored mosaics! Media related to San Vitale (Ravenna) at Wikimedia Commons, Byzantine Imperial Palace Audience Chamber. As the Christian Emperor, he saw himself as the defender of the faith. And in back of her head, just like Justinian, is a halo, which speaks not to her own divinity, but to the divine origin of her authority. The gold background of the mosaic shows that Justinian and his entourage are inside the church. Beth: Christ was a co-equal with God the Father the way he is in Orthodox Christian belief. Icons, such as the Virgin (Theotokos) and Child between Saints Theodore and George, served as tools for the faithful to access the spiritual worldthey served as spiritual gateways. The mosaic program can also be seen to give visual testament to the two major ambitions of Justinians reign: as heir to the tradition of Roman Emperors, Justinian sought to restore the territorial boundaries of the Empire. Franais : Mosaque de la basilique de Saint-Vital Ravenne reprsentant Justinien (au centre), Blisaire ( la gauche de Justinien), Narss ( la droite de Justinien) et son . He is regarded as a saint by both the Catholic and Orthodox churches, though essentially local to Ravenna, where there is a church . , Summary[edit] DescriptionEmperor Justinian and his retinue. Lets walk around to the other side and take a look at the panel devoted to Theodora, Justinians wife. Under Theodoric the Great's reign, the Church of Sant'Apollinaire in Classe and Theodoric's Mausoleum were constructed. To Justinians right appear members of the imperial administration identified by the purple stripe, and at the very far left side of the mosaic appears a group of soldiers. Steven: We see Justinian in the center wearing purple, the color that is associated with the throne. The ambulatory and gallery were vaulted only later in the Middle Ages. Mosaics of San Vitale in Ravenna. 360 view of the apse (Columbia University). images, the sixth-century mosaic portraits of the emperor Jus tinian (r. 526-567) and his consort Theodora (d. 546) in the church of San Vitale, Ravenna.3 The portraits, which are set in the lower walls of the church, face each other across the space of the apse. Justinian is thus Christs vice-regent on earth, and his army is actually the army of Christ as signified by the Chi-Rho on the shield. The mosaic of Justinian is the most famous and well-known mosaic depiction of a Roman/Byzantine Emperor. Mosaics of San Vitale in Ravenna by Dr. Allen Farber. Steven: Right. He holds a bowl associated with the Eucharist, which he is handing in the direction of Christ in the apse. These are not Doric, they are not Ionic, they are not Corinthian. Watch the video . One of the most famous images of political authority from the Middle Ages is the mosaic of the Emperor Justinian and his court in the sanctuary of the church of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy, itself one of the most important surviving examples of Byzantine architecture. They are most remembered today for commissioning world-class art and architecture on a grand scale, including the famous church of Hagia Sophia in their capital city of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). It seems to depict the visit of the three Magi to the infant Christ, a fitting motif for a mosaic depicting a royal gift-bearing procession. Royal stay in the middle of nature - Tripadvisor Sarah E. Bassett, Style and Meaning in the Imperial Panels at San Vitale. Two angels act as intermediaries, seeming to lead these mortal figures forward and introduce them to Christ. He is haloed and wears a crown and a purple imperial robe. Steven: There are also fabulously decorative columns made out of a high-quality marble that was brought from the east. About the chronological periods of the Byzantine Empire, 3. Unlike the Ostrogoths, who had remained relatively tolerant of Orthodox worship, the Byzantines quickly stamped out Arianism and adapted Arian churches for Orthodoxy. The sixth-century church is an important surviving example of early Christian Byzantine art and architecture. At the time, Ravenna was under the rule of the Ostrogoths. As such it was his duty to establish religious uniformity or Orthodoxy throughout the Empire. Smarthistory Guide to Byzantine Art Copyright 2021 by Dr. Allen Farber is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted. This certainly makes a bold statement! To the right of the apse windows, we see the panel of Theodora, the empress, and it mirrors the panel with Justinian. The stone is deeply drilled, creating shadows behind the vegetative decoration. One of the most famous images of political authority from the Middle Ages is the mosaic of the Emperor Justinian and his court in the sanctuary of the church of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy. He took the Roman name "Justinianus" from his uncle, Justin. The Dome of the Rock (Qubbat al-Sakhra), 17. Soldiers at the edge of the frame reinforce the emperorsmilitary successes and his position as commander., https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2012/byzantium-and-islam/blog/topical-essays/posts/san-vitale Author: Nazanin Hedayat Munroe, Byzantine spolia on the exterior of St Marks Basilica (Venice), Contemporary Arab Views of Byzantine Women, https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2012/byzantium-and-islam/blog/topical-essays/posts/san-vitale. 547 A.D.). It is one of eight structures in Ravenna inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Smarthistorys free Guide to Byzantine Art e-book. An image of Christ an older, bearded Christ compared to the smooth-faced one in the apse also appears in the apex of the arch separating the apse from the churchs main vessel. This is a really important 6th-century church. High above us, Emperor Justinian presides. Brewminate uses Infolinks and is an Amazon Associate with links to items available there. The church was a testament to the glories of Jesus and secondarily of Justinian himself and his wife, Theodora. [Photo of mosaic portrait - Justinian (at San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy Every contribution, however big or small, is very valuable for our future. Overlapping suggests that Justinian is the closest figure to the viewer, but when the positioning of the figures on the picture plane is considered, it is evident that Maximianuss feet are lower on the picture plane which suggests that he is closer to the viewer. But there are also religious figures representing the church, and there are soldiers, three centers of power: the church, the emperor, and the military. In a city full of rich, Byzantine-style religious art, the San Vitale mosaics stand apart for two particular scenes. The building combines Roman and Byzantine elements. And so what were seeing here is the reassertion of Eastern imperial control. He surrounds himself by the more austerely dressed bishops and by his top general, Belisarius. Read about the mosaic of Empress Theodora in San Vitale. Considering himself sort of a hybrid between a Roman emperor and a pope, Justinian was fixated on spiritually and politically unifying former Roman territories. Mosaics and microcosm: the monasteries of Hosios Loukas, Nea Moni, and Daphni, 30. This page was last edited on 13 October 2022, at 07:08. The figures are placed in a V shape; Justinian is placed in the front and in the middle to show his importance with Bishop Maximian on his left and lesser individuals being placed behind them. Smarthistory video: Hagia Sophia as a mosque. Gold, glass, and marble dazzle the eye in this 6th-century church. Chancel with Justinian mosaic at lower left and apse mosaic at center, San Vitale, consecrated 547, Ravenna, Italy (photo: Steven Zucker, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0). Photo by Brad Hostetler via Flickr (CC BY 2.0). The lives of Christ and the Virgin in Byzantine art, 6. Justinian and the male courtiers also each wear a tablion, that wide band of contrasting fabric that comes across the right sides of their garments. A former actress, she was definitely from a lower-class background and may have once been a sex worker. Beth: And those show the Emperor Justinian and his empress, Theodora. Justinian was an ambitious emperor who placed a huge emphasis on standardizing Orthodox Christianity and reclaiming the territories of the ancient Roman Empire. When she's not being an art historian, she can usually be found ice skating and dancing. The reign of Justinian. Despite their similar-sounding names, early Christian Arianism has no relationship to Nazi Aryanism. As such it was his duty to establish religious uniformity or Orthodoxy throughout the Empire. It has a central vessel with an apse, an ambulatory gallery all the way around, and a smaller octagon above. Beth: And they move in and out back into the space of the ambulatory on the ground floor and then up into the gallery above. Whats most remarkable about these columns for me is that weve really left behind the Classical orders. At Smarthistory we believe art has the power to transform lives and to build understanding across cultures. -. MEMORIALIZING BYZANTINE CIVILIZATION AND THE CITY OF CONSTANTINOPLE . Dress Styles in the Mosaics of San Vitale. See the top reviewed local landscape architects & designers in Hrth, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany on Houzz. Steven: But the real gem in this church can be seen on the east end. McClanan, Anne. The Dome of the Rock (Qubbat al-Sakhra), 17. He is haloed and wears a crown and a purple imperial robe. If the file has been modified from its original state, some details such as the timestamp may not fully reflect those of the original file. This mosaic thus establishes the central position of the Emperor between the power of the church and the power of the imperial administration and military.Like the Roman Emperors of the past, Justinian has religious, administrative, and military authority. But theres also a real delicacy. The pinnacle of early imperial Byzantine dress is best seen in the mosaics of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora at the Church of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy (ca. And the figure at the far right holds an incense burner. Proceeds are donated to charity. That wreath is held in place by four angels who stand on globes that refer to the globe upon which Christ in the apse sits. Summary[edit] DescriptionMosaic of Justinianus I - Basilica San Vitale (Ravenna).jpg English: San Vitale (Ravenna) - Mosaic of Iustinianus I : Date 27 April 2015, 11:36:21 Source Own work Author Mosaics and microcosm: the monasteries of Hosios Loukas, Nea Moni, and Daphni, 30. The fact that the Empress had such humble origins displeased some Byzantines, but this did not diminish Theodoras obvious power. Built c. 526-540, San Vitale was begun under Ostrogothic rule but consecrated in Byzantine Ravenna. All rights reserved. Smarthistory video: Byzantine Griffin Panel, Dr. Elizabeth Macaulay and Dr. Steven Zucker, 49. In the chancel mosaic Justinian is posed frontally in the center. Theodora herself holds up a jeweled chalice, reaffirming her identity as the generous patron of the building. In the early 500s, Justina high-ranking military commander in Constantinople (now Istanbul)took Justinian under his wing. Cross-cultural artistic interaction in the Early Byzantine period, 16. The figures stand in front of a field of gold, which is very much a Byzantine tradition. Smarthistory video: A chalice from the Attarouthi Treasure, 19. The intricate details and rich colors highlight the Byzantine Empire's artistic prowess. The rest of that arch includes roundels depicting the Apostles and other holy figures. It also happens to be one of my favorite piece from this era. Detail of the mosaic in the Basilica of San Vitale. Picturing salvation Choras brilliant Byzantine mosaics and frescoes, 46. The Byzantine Fieschi Morgan cross reliquary, 23. The Sacrifice of Isaac mosaic, San Vitale, circa 547, Ravenna, Italy. Look, for instance, at the way that the columns are doubled, that is, stacking one set of columns above the next. Image Wikimedia Commons user Neuceu. The women that accompany her, including one who may represent Belisarius wife Antonina, also wear rich and elegant clothing. A work in progress: Middle Byzantine mosaics in Hagia Sophia, 26. To Justinians right appear members of the imperial administration identified by the purple stripe, and at the very far left side of the mosaic appears a group of soldiers. Accessed May 10, 2022. Bishop Maximian completed construction in 547, preceding Justinian's creation of the Exarchate of Ravenna, which followed his partial re-conquest of the Western Roman Empire. It was begun in 526 or 527 under Ostrogothic rule. This can perhaps be seen as an indication of the tension between the authority of the Emperor and the church. The clergy and Justinian carry in sequence from right to left a censer, the gospel book, the cross, and the bowl for the bread of the Eucharist. And within that octagon is a smaller octagon that rises higher. Routledge, 1999. Beth: And then we see Christ again but this time bearded, older in the archway at the beginning of the chancel. They described Justinians attire in the following passage: Emperor Justinian is shown dressed in a royal purplechlamysand jeweledstemma. Beth: Right above the altar, we see an image of the Lamb of God. The image of Justinian is quite possibly the most iconic image of any Byzantine figure, for example Robin Pearson uses it on his logo for the History of Byzantium podcast(which I love). . Find more prominent pieces of portrait at Wikiart.org - best visual art database. Decorations for the interior of churches, including icons and mosaics, were also made during this period. But, this is what we have, and the mosaics of the San Vitale are all immaculate. Having recently subjugated a rival theology that didnt give Christ his proper importance, the now-dominant Byzantine Orthodox faith naturally wanted to emphasize the supremacy of its theological point of view. These portrait-like representations are not necessarily flattering. Steven: They are schematic, abstracted. A mosaic in the apse depicts Christ sitting on the globe of the world, with the four rivers of Paradise flowing at his feet. We love art history and writing about it. Smarthistory video: Hagia Sophia as a mosque. The artists painted or covered the glass with gold first and then pressed into the plaster background. However, the Ostrogoths practiced Arianism1, a form of Christianity seen as heretical (incorrect in its doctrine) by the Roman-based church because it assigned Christ a subordinate status to God. The church is of extreme importance in Byzantine art, as it is the only major church from the period of the Emperor Justinian I to survive virtually intact. About the chronological periods of the Byzantine Empire, 3. Late Byzantine naturalism: Hagia Sophias Desis mosaic, 45. Beth: In the center, we see Christ dressed royally in purple sitting on an orb, the orb of the Earth, of the universe. Steven: Right. The triumphal arch has Christ in the center. San Vitale (quiz) Empress Theodora, rhetoric, and Byzantine primary sources. Hes in the center of the composition. Innovative architecture in the age of Justinian - Smarthistory The Church was restored 1540s, 1900, 1904, and in the 1930s, Ravenna, Italy (photo: Steven Zucker, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0). A capital fragment on the grounds of Hagia Sophia illustrates the carving technique. The Bishop holds a jeweled cross, while the priests next to him carry an equally-ornate Gospel book and an incense burner. Smarthistory video: A Byzantine vision of Paradise The Harbaville Triptych, 39. Facing opposite one another in the apse of the church, each mosaic depicts the main figure bedecked in finery and accompanied by a retinue. And he's surrounded by his court. Steven: And theyre in the mosaics, we think, to reassert their control over the city. Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices. Detail of the mosaic in the Basilica of San Vitale. Photo by Angel de los Rios via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0). 547 A.D.). This can perhaps be seen as an indication of the tension between the authority of the Emperor and the church. Beth: We see scenes from the Old Testament, specifically ones that pre-figure the life of Christ and Christs sacrifice, and we see scenes from the New Testament. Beth: And its unusual in that its a centrally planned church that means its focus is on its center instead of a basilica, which has a long, or longitudinal, axis. Robin Cormack. In both portraits, the rulers are dressed to identify themselves with the saints and prophets surrounding them in mosaic decoration, and to establish their eternal presence among the divine. One of the most famous images of political authority from the "middle ages" is the mosaic of the Emperor Justinian and his court in the sanctuary of the church of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy. Guide To The Mosaics Of Ravenna, Italy's Byzantium This image is an integral part of a much larger mosaic program in the chancel (the space around the altar). Theodora was one of the most powerful women in Byzantine history. San Vitale, begun in 526 or 527 under Ostrogothic rule, consecrated 547, Ravenna (photo: Steven Zucker, CC: BY-NC-SA 2.0) <https://flic.kr/p/e2Jt5T> One of the most famous images of political authority from the Middle Ages is the mosaic of the Emperor Justinian and his court in the sanctuary of the church of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy, itself . Ravena, Italy.jpg English: Emperor Justinian and his retinue. Steven: There are some colorful descriptions of her past. In the Byzantine era there would have been other mosaics of multiple Emperors, surely Justinian had some made of himself in Constantinople as well. Theodora, (born c. 497 ce died June 28, 548, Constantinople [now Istanbul, Turkey]), Byzantine empress, wife of the emperor Justinian I (reigned 527-565), probably the most powerful woman in Byzantine history. A beginner's guide to Byzantine Art - Khan Academy Want to create or adapt books like this? Justinian Mosaic Altered Not Once, but Twice! | Alberti's Window In Charles Perraults 17th-century literary world, knights, dragons, and spellbound princesses still existed centuries after the topic Never miss DailyArt Magazine's stories. She is flanked by Antonina, wife of Belisarius, and by attendants dressed in drawloom-woven gowns of silk featuring bright colors, possibly of Sasanian manufacture, further embellished with tapestry-woven areas similar to those found at Panopolis (Akhmim, Egypt). Smarthistory video: Woman with Scroll, 18. And thats especially important because the interior is covered with some of the most magnificent mosaics that survive from the early medieval period. Bibliography It was not a royal commission; a wealthy citizen paid for its construction instead. Justinian was an ambitious emperor who placed a huge emphasis on standardizing Orthodox Christianity and reclaiming the territories of the ancient Roman Empire. (3,679 5,721 pixels, file size: 12.12 MB, MIME type: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/user:%D0%92%D0%B2%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BA%D0%BE, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Emperor_Justinian_and_his_retinue._Detail_of_the_mosaic_in_the_Basilica_of_San_Vitale._Ravena,_Italy.jpg&oldid=696103921, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Flash did not fire, compulsory flash suppression. Thank you for your help! The bell tower has four bells. Beth: Looking at the outside of San Vitale, we see that it has eight sides, so its an octagon. San Vitale, consecrated 547, Ravenna (photo:Steven Zucker, CC: BY-NC-SA 2.0). Middle Byzantine secular architecture and urban planning, 25. Dress Styles in the Mosaics of San Vitale And beside him, other clergymen. Theodora also has elaborate gold decorations on the bottom of her gunna (gown) that peeks out from beneath. Apse mosaic (photo:Steven Zucker, CC: BY-NC-SA 2.0). It has a great gold fascia with twining flowers, birds, and horns of plenty. Brewminate: A Bold Blend of News and Ideas, San Vitale, begun c. 526-527, consecrated 547, Ravenna (Italy), By Dr. Allen Farber / 08.08.2015 A major theme of this mosaic program is the authority of the emperor in the Christian plan of history. Every surface here in the apse is covered with imagery, with figures, with decorative patterning. The cross-ribbed vault in the presbytery is richly ornamented with mosaic festoons of leaves, fruit and flowers, converging on a crown encircling the Lamb of God. And on either side of him, an angel. Regional variations in Middle Byzantine architecture, 24. The state of North Rhine-Westphalia was established by the British military administration 's "Operation Marriage" on 23 August 1946 by merging the province of Westphalia and the northern parts of the Rhine Province, both being political divisions of the former state of Prussia within the German Reich.

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