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Byzantine Art Project

Artworks from the great traditions of Byzantine and Eastern Christian iconography, each paired with a doctrinal reflection. The corpus surfaces GLM's confessional shape case by case as the iconography requires it — read what the picture argues.

348
ARTWORKS
10
COLLECTIONS
17
FLAGSHIPS
1,250+
YEARS
37 of 348Architecture →
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The Communion of the ApostlesApostles

The Communion of the Apostles

c. 1050· Saint Sophia Cathedral
Photo by Vi Ko (2021). Wikimedia Commons. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0). The underlying 11th-century mosaic is in the public domain.
The Multiplication of the Loaves and FishesLiturgical

The Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes

c. 504 (built under Theodoric the Ostrogoth; nave Christ-cycle mosaics among the original program)· Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo
Photographic reproduction in the public domain (Wikimedia Commons; faithful reproduction of a two-dimensional public domain work). The underlying early-6th-century mosaic at Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, is in the public domain.
The Last SupperLiturgical

The Last Supper

c. 504 (built under Theodoric the Ostrogoth; nave Christ-cycle mosaics among the original program)· Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo
Photograph by José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro (2016). Wikimedia Commons. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0). The underlying early-6th-century mosaic is in the public domain.
The Baptism of ChristLiturgical

The Baptism of Christ

c. 500 (built under Theodoric the Ostrogoth, c. 493–526; passed to orthodox use after 565)· Battistero degli Ariani
Photograph by Petar Milošević (2015). Wikimedia Commons. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0). The underlying late-5th / early-6th-century mosaic is in the public domain.
The Apex LambLiturgical

The Apex Lamb

Begun 526–530 under Pope Felix IV; arch program likely completed in the time of Pope Sergius I (692–701)· Basilica dei Santi Cosma e Damiano
Photograph by Hugo DK (2019). Wikimedia Commons. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0). The underlying 6th–7th-century mosaic is in the public domain.
The Healing of the Blind ManLiturgical

The Healing of the Blind Man

c. 550–600 (Codex Purpureus Rossanensis, one of the oldest surviving illuminated Christian gospels)· Diocesan Museum of the Codex
Photographic reproduction in the public domain (Wikimedia Commons; faithful reproduction of a two-dimensional public domain work). The underlying 6th-century Codex Purpureus Rossanensis (Diocesan Museum, Rossano Cathedral, Calabria) is in the public domain.
The PentecostLiturgical

The Pentecost

586 AD (the manuscript's colophon dates completion to that year; produced at the Monastery of Saint John of Zagba in Mesopotamia/Syria; **the earliest surviving illustrated Pentecost iconography**)· Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana
Photographic reproduction in the public domain (Wikimedia Commons; faithful reproduction of a 6th-century manuscript folio). The underlying Rabbula Gospels (Plut. 1.56) is in the public domain.
The Wedding at CanaLiturgical

The Wedding at Cana

c. 950–1000 (the New Tokalı / New Church frescoes; Macedonian Renaissance period)· Tokalı Kilise
Photograph by Dosseman (Dick Osseman). Wikimedia Commons. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0). The underlying late-10th-century fresco is in the public domain.
The Ladder of Divine AscentLiturgical

The Ladder of Divine Ascent

12th century icon (visualizing John Climacus's *Klimax tou Paradeisou*, written c. 600)· Saint Catherine's Monastery
Photograph by Pvasiliadis (2007). Wikimedia Commons. Public domain (faithful reproduction of a 12th-century icon, which is itself in the public domain).
The Communion of the ApostlesLiturgical

The Communion of the Apostles

1106 (consecration year of the church; named donor inscription dates the foundational fresco program)· Panagia tis Asinou (Panagia Phorbiotissa)
Photographic reproduction in the public domain (Wikimedia Commons; faithful reproduction of a two-dimensional public domain work). The underlying 1106 fresco at Panagia tis Asinou is in the public domain.
Ananias Lays Hands on SaulLiturgical

Ananias Lays Hands on Saul

c. 1140–1170 (Norman Sicilian; Pauline cycle commissioned under Roger II and William I)· Cappella Palatina
Photograph by Gmihail (2013). Wikimedia Commons. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Serbia (CC BY-SA 3.0 RS). The underlying 12th-century mosaic is in the public domain.
Saint John ChrysostomLiturgical

Saint John Chrysostom

14th century (Palaiologan-era luxury micro-mosaic; vitreous-paste tesserae set in wax on a small wooden panel — one of the high-craft Byzantine portable-art traditions)· Vatopedi Monastery
Wikimedia Commons. Public domain (faithful photographic reproduction of a 14th-century icon). The underlying micro-mosaic at Vatopedi Monastery is in the public domain.
The Heavenly LiturgyLiturgical

The Heavenly Liturgy

c. 1320 (King Stefan Milutin's foundation; Palaiologan Renaissance fresco program)· Gračanica Monastery
Photograph by BLAGO Fund, Inc. (2021). Wikimedia Commons. Released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). The underlying c. 1320 fresco at Gračanica Monastery is in the public domain.
The Cozia Monastery Mural ProgramLiturgical

The Cozia Monastery Mural Program

c. 1390s (founding fresco program by Mircea I the Elder, Voivode of Wallachia 1386–1418); subsequent layers in the 16th–18th centuries· Cozia Monastery
Wikimedia Commons. Public domain (faithful reproduction of late-14th to 16th-century frescoes). The underlying frescoes at Cozia Monastery are in the public domain.
Christ Washes the Disciples' FeetLiturgical

Christ Washes the Disciples' Feet

1546 (Theophanes of Crete, 1490–1559; Cretan-school continuation of Byzantine iconographic tradition)· Stavronikita Monastery
Photographic reproduction in the public domain (Wikimedia Commons; faithful reproduction of a two-dimensional public domain work). The underlying 1546 fresco by Theophanes the Cretan at Stavronikita Monastery, Mount Athos, is in the public domain.
The Mystic Supper (Last Supper)Liturgical

The Mystic Supper (Last Supper)

1546 (Stavronikita Cretan-school program by Theophanes the Cretan; the same unified katholikon decoration as `foot-washing-stavronikita` and `christ-before-pilate-stavronikita`)· Stavronikita Monastery
Wikimedia Commons. Faithful photographic reproduction of a 1546 fresco by Theophanes the Cretan. The underlying work is in the public domain.
Pilaster of Angels Sounding Trumpets from the Parapet of a PulpitLiturgical

Pilaster of Angels Sounding Trumpets from the Parapet of a Pulpit

Corbel with AngelsLiturgical

Corbel with Angels

Two Designs for Brooches in the "Byzantine" StyleLiturgical

Two Designs for Brooches in the "Byzantine" Style

Processional CrossLiturgical

Processional Cross

Reliquary CrossLiturgical

Reliquary Cross

Pilaster of Angels Sounding Trumpets from the Parapet of a PulpitLiturgical

Pilaster of Angels Sounding Trumpets from the Parapet of a Pulpit

Madaba MapLiturgical

Madaba Map

Mold for a Eulogia (Blessing) BreadLiturgical

Mold for a Eulogia (Blessing) Bread

Chalice from the Beth Misona TreasureLiturgical

Chalice from the Beth Misona Treasure

Chalice from the Beth Misona TreasureLiturgical

Chalice from the Beth Misona Treasure

Chalice from the Beth Misona TreasureLiturgical

Chalice from the Beth Misona Treasure

Floor Mosaic Panel: Grape Harvester with PeacockLiturgical

Floor Mosaic Panel: Grape Harvester with Peacock

Curtain Panel with Scenes of MerrymakingLiturgical

Curtain Panel with Scenes of Merrymaking

Lamp with Griffin-Head HandleLiturgical

Lamp with Griffin-Head Handle

Altar FrontLiturgical

Altar Front

Lamp and StandLiturgical

Lamp and Stand

Paten (Dedicated to Saint Sergius) from the Beth Misona TreasureLiturgical

Paten (Dedicated to Saint Sergius) from the Beth Misona Treasure

Roundel from a CurtainLiturgical

Roundel from a Curtain

Manuscript Leaf Cutting Probably from a Missal with an Illuminated Initial S and King David Receiving the Holy Bread from Ahimelech the Priest.Liturgical

Manuscript Leaf Cutting Probably from a Missal with an Illuminated Initial S and King David Receiving the Holy Bread from Ahimelech the Priest.

The Christ Child Pressing the Wine of the EucharistLiturgical

The Christ Child Pressing the Wine of the Eucharist

Theotokos of the ApseTheotokos

Theotokos of the Apse

c. 1030–1050· Hosios Loukas Monastery (Katholikon
Photo by Hans A. Rosbach (2009). Wikimedia Commons. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0). The underlying 11th-century mosaic is in the public domain.

Photographs sourced primarily from Wikimedia Commons and museum open-access programs (Met CC0, Walters PD/CC BY-SA, British Museum CC BY 2.5, Cleveland Museum of Art CC0, Smithsonian Open Access, Dumbarton Oaks CC0). Originals are public domain by age; photographs carry the licenses noted on each artwork. Click any card for full credit, license, and a link back to the source.

THE SCRIPTORIUM — BE OBEDIENT & BE BOLD