- Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
My favourite part of the ceiling. So intense. Unfortunately, the illumination of the whole mausoleum was almost nonexistent... - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Deer drinking water. At first I thought they were eating watermelons :-) And then there are two more apostles around the chi-rho-alpha-omega sign. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Either Saint Lawrence or Saint Vincent. And come fantastic decorative mosaics. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Each side has two apostles and a pair of doves. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Above the entrance, there is the mosaic of the Good Shepherd. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Plenty of sarcophagi around here. - Basilica of San Vitale
The mosaics here are just insanely beautiful. - Basilica of San Vitale
What a difference between the two sides! Separated by the great arch, decorated with fifteen mosaic medallions: Jesus Christ in the centre, the twelve Apostles and Saint Gervasius and Saint Protasius, the sons of Saint Vitale. - DSC 4622
Abel sacrificing a lamb to God, and the King of Salem, Melchizedek, offering a loaf of bread. And another God's hand coming from the blue and pink clouds. Heh, Abel has a cottage and Melchizedek a palace. - Basilica of San Vitale
More apostles. And more fish :-) - Basilica of San Vitale
The apostles, decorated with fish! Fish! - Basilica of San Vitale
Part of the Sanctuary. - Basilica of San Vitale
The richness of the mosaic work in crazy. Down to the tiniest details! - Basilica of San Vitale
Probably the most famous mosaic in the church: Empress Theodora, the wife of Justinian I, holding the Eucharistic vessel. On the right might be Antonina, Belisarius’ wife, and other unnamed women, on the left is a court official and an eunuch. The detailing on the dresses (including the Tree Magi!) is insane. - Basilica of San Vitale
The mosaic depicting Emperor Justinian, who ruled the Roman Empire between 527 and 565, and his court. On the right side are the bishop Maximian, a deacon with the Bible, and a subdeacon with a thurible. On the left are probably generals Belisarius and Narses, and some soldiers. Justinian wears red and purple shoes, which only emperors were allowed to wear. And he stands on someone's foot :-) - Basilica of San Vitale
The Lamb of God, supported by four angels standing on blue globes. And plenty of animals, my favourite being peacocks. - Basilica of San Vitale
A young Christ, two angles, St Vitalis on the left and bishop Ecclesius on the right. The bishop offers the church to the Christ, while St Vitalis, covering his hands with a veil, receives the crown of martyrdom. Christ holds a scroll closed with the seven seals of the Apocalypse. - Basilica of San Vitale
Under the arch: Abraham and Sarah feeding the three strangers at Mambre and the Sacrifice of Isaac, with God's hand stopping Abraham from killing Isaac. Over the arch: the prophet Jeremiah, two angels holding a shield, Moses receiving the Law on Mt Sinai. - Madonna del Granduca
Madonna del Granduca by Rafael by Blub. - Dante's grave
The zone around Dante's grave is the silent zone. But there are daily readings of the Divine Comedy. - Dante's grave
The city of Florence wants the bones of Dante, but Ravenna is not giving them :-) But Florence are providing the oil for the votive lamp. - Ravenna
- Ravenna
- The Orthodox Baptistery
Quite a cool modern depiction of the Nativity by Cesare Cardinale. - Museo Arcivescovile
The entrance to the museum. - Saint Andrew's Chapel
Six female martyrs: Daria, Perpetua and Felicitas. On the other side are Eufemia, Eugenia, and Cecilia. - Saint Andrew's Chapel
The dome is decorated with four angels pointing towards IX, and the four symbols of the evangelists. - Saint Andrew's Chapel
Depiction of young Christ with Saint Peter and Saint Paul. - Museo Arcivescovile
Pulpit - ambo (597) shows plenty of animals as well as Saints John and Paul. Made out of a reused old sarcophagus. - Museo Arcivescovile
- Museo Arcivescovile
- Museo Arcivescovile
Apparently a 16th century patera. Whatever that is. - Museo Arcivescovile
Cross of Agnellus, details of the silver medallions. - Museo Arcivescovile
Cross of Agnellus. The silver medallions covering the cross date from the 11th century. - Museo Arcivescovile
The cathedral, the baptistry on the right, and the Museo Arcivescovile on the left. - Ravenna
Well, hello there! - Ravenna
What lovely messages all over the town. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
The Three Magi, Balthasar, Melchior and Caspar. They carry the gifts (gold, frankincense and myrrh) and walk towards the Bethlehem star. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Bottom: Theoderic's palace and the town of Ravenna (PALATIVM and CIVITAS RAVENN). Middle: more unnamed prophets and evangelists. Top: the way of the cross, Resurrection: the women at the tomb, The road to Emmaus, Jesus appearing to the apostles. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Top row is the life of Jesus, middle row the saints, prophets and evangelists, bottom row are the famous processions. Apparently Pope Gregory ordered the mosaics to be blackened, not to distract the worshipers. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
The town of Classe (only partially original). Middle: unknown prophets and evangelists. Top: The paralytic at Bethany, The Gerasene Demoniac, The paralytic at Capernaum, The Sheep and the Goats This side shows a much younger beardless Jesus. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Let's go: bottom line: Saints Valeria, Crispina, Lucia, Caecilia, Eulalia, Agnes, Agatha, Pelagia and Euphemia. middle: unnamed saints, prophets, evangelists... carrying scrolls or codices. top: the woman at the well, the woman with the flow of blood, Jesus cures the blind, (partial) the calling of Peter and Andrew. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
The ceiling. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
The cylindrical campanile dates to the 9th-10th century. - Classe
Buffalo by Davide Rivalta. In front of the Basilica of Sant' Apollinare in Classe. - Classe
Moses in the sea of clouds. - Classe
A lot of mosaics were ruined (probably by the Venetians), but the apse and arch remained. We're talking 6th century here. On the top is Christ in a medallion with the Evangelists' symbols, underneath twelve lambs and two palms on the sides. - Classe
Saint Apollinaris praying with 12 little lambs. His coat is covered with golden bees, the symbol of eloquence. Wonderful background decorations, flowers, rocks, plants, birds... - Classe
What an idyllic scene. - Classe
Saint Elijah. - Classe
A 7th century mosaic depicting Abraham, Abel and Melchisedek around an altar. And the Hand. Why are there hinges on the curtains? - Classe
The 6th century abse depicts: - a cross on the sky with 99 stars - the hand of God - Elijah and Moses - three lambs representing Saint Peter, Saint James and Saint John. - Classe
All around the church are images of bishops. I guess this one became a pope. - Classe
One of the many 5th-8th century sarcophagi. This one, called the sarcophagus of the twelve apostles, is one of the oldest ones from the 5th century. - Classe
Saint Ursus, the bishop of Ravenna ca. 405-431. He built the Orthodox Baptistery. - Classe
My guess would be that the difference in green background also means the border between the original and restored mosaics. - Classe
More idyllic scenery. Not all of it is completely original though, but I don't know which part is and which isn't. - Renoir's house
The house of Auguste Renoir and his family in Cagnes, now a museum. Not a bad house, not bad at all. - Buste de Pâris
Paris by Auguste Renoir and Richard Guino, 1914. - Grande Laveuse
Auguste Renoir and Richard Guino, Grande Laveuse, 1917. Yes, because women do their laundry naked... - Venus victrix
Auguste Renoir and Richard Guino, Venus Victrix, 1913-1915. - Venus's hand
Venus's hand picking oranges and yet holding an apple :-) - Saint-Paul-de-Vence
- Salvador and Frida
- Panthere
Panthere by Nicolas Lavarenne. A sleeping beauty. - Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Even mailboxes are art in this picturesque town. - L’église Collégiale Saint Paul
The church was built between 12th and 18th century. - Impermanence
Impermanence by Dominique Rayou (2020ish). J'adore. - Olive tree
Sculpture of an olive tree by Constantinos Valaes in Galerie Lefakis in Saint-Paul-de-Vence - Èze
Melisande by Jean-Philippe Richard. What elegance! - Èze
Barbara by Jean-Philippe Richards, depicting the wind. - Èze
Margot by Jean-Philippe Richard - Èze
Another wonderfully placed beauty, unfortunately I don't know her name. By Jean-Philippe Richard. - Mouans-Sartoux
This is NOT how you repair an old wall. - Mouans-Sartoux
The French. They can even make an ordinary town hall pretty.