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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
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Christ Enthroned with ArchangelsAngels

Christ Enthroned with Archangels

c. 547· Basilica of San Vitale
Photo by Petar Milošević (2015). Wikimedia Commons. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0). The underlying 6th-century mosaic is in the public domain.
The Apostolic FlockApostles

The Apostolic Flock

c. 549· Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe
Photographic reproduction in the public domain (Wikimedia Commons; uploaded by user MChew, 2005). The underlying 6th-century mosaic is in the public domain.
Saint PeterApostles

Saint Peter

Mid-6th century (c. 550–600)· Saint Catherine's Monastery
Photographic reproduction in the public domain (Wikimedia Commons; photographed by Michel Bakni). The underlying mid-6th-century encaustic icon (92.8 × 53 cm) is in the public domain.
The Four EvangelistsApostles

The Four Evangelists

586 AD (precisely dated by colophon)· Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana
Photographic reproduction in the public domain (Wikimedia Commons; source: Syriac Patriarchate digital archive). The underlying 6th-century manuscript is in the public domain.
Christ Enthroned with Saints, Apse of San Vitale, RavennaChristological

Christ Enthroned with Saints, Apse of San Vitale, Ravenna

Procession of the Magi (Sant'Apollinare Nuovo)Christological

Procession of the Magi (Sant'Apollinare Nuovo)

Baptism of Christ (Neonian Baptistery)Christological

Baptism of Christ (Neonian Baptistery)

Good Shepherd (Mausoleum of Galla Placidia)Christological

Good Shepherd (Mausoleum of Galla Placidia)

Transfiguration Apse (Sant'Apollinare in Classe)Christological

Transfiguration Apse (Sant'Apollinare in Classe)

Sinope GospelsChristological

Sinope Gospels

Christ Pantocrator Icon, Saint Catherine’s Monastery, SinaiChristological

Christ Pantocrator Icon, Saint Catherine’s Monastery, Sinai

Loaves and Fishes Mosaic, TabghaChristological

Loaves and Fishes Mosaic, Tabgha

Transfiguration Mosaic, Saint Catherine’s Monastery, SinaiChristological

Transfiguration Mosaic, Saint Catherine’s Monastery, Sinai

Monogram of Christ (Chrismon)Christological

Monogram of Christ (Chrismon)

Hinton St Mary Mosaic (Christ Roundel)Christological

Hinton St Mary Mosaic (Christ Roundel)

Santa Pudenziana Apse Mosaic, RomeChristological

Santa Pudenziana Apse Mosaic, Rome

Ivory Pyx (Box)Christological

Ivory Pyx (Box)

Columbarium Tomb Plaque with the Monogram of ChristChristological

Columbarium Tomb Plaque with the Monogram of Christ

Hanging with Christian ImagesChristological

Hanging with Christian Images

Pilgrim's Ampulla with the Crucifixion (front)Christological

Pilgrim's Ampulla with the Crucifixion (front)

Pilgrim's Ampulla with the Ascension (back)Christological

Pilgrim's Ampulla with the Ascension (back)

The Fieschi Morgan StaurothekeChristological

The Fieschi Morgan Staurotheke

Pilgrim's Ampulla with Scenes of the Crucifixion (front) and the Ascension (back)Christological

Pilgrim's Ampulla with Scenes of the Crucifixion (front) and the Ascension (back)

Resist-Dyed Hanging with Biblical ScenesChristological

Resist-Dyed Hanging with Biblical Scenes

Necklace with PendantsChristological

Necklace with Pendants

CrossChristological

Cross

Bowl Base with Miracle ScenesChristological

Bowl Base with Miracle Scenes

Shell CrossChristological

Shell Cross

Virgin Enthroned with Saints Theodore and GeorgeIconoclasm Debate

Virgin Enthroned with Saints Theodore and George

c. 600 (late 6th / early 7th century)· Saint Catherine's Monastery
Photographic reproduction in the public domain (Wikimedia Commons; faithful reproduction of a two-dimensional public domain work). Underlying late-6th-century encaustic icon (Saint Catherine's Monastery, Sinai) is in the public domain.
Vienna Dioscurides — Anicia JulianaImperial

Vienna Dioscurides — Anicia Juliana

Vienna Dioscurides (Cod. Med. gr. 1), fol. 6v — Anicia Juliana dedication miniature, c. AD 515, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Emperor Justinian and His Court, San Vitale, RavennaImperial

Emperor Justinian and His Court, San Vitale, Ravenna

Empress Theodora and Her Court, San Vitale, RavennaImperial

Empress Theodora and Her Court, San Vitale, Ravenna

Barberini IvoryImperial

Barberini Ivory

1 Solidus, Byzantine Empire, 711 - 713Imperial

1 Solidus, Byzantine Empire, 711 - 713

Christ before PilateLife of Christ

Christ before Pilate

c. 550–575 (early Byzantine; same manuscript as `rossano-gospels-healing-blind-man` and `good-samaritan-rossano`; the trial-narrative folio in two registers)· Cathedral of Rossano
Photographic reproduction in the public domain (Wikimedia Commons; faithful reproduction of a 6th-century manuscript folio). The underlying Codex Purpureus Rossanensis is in the public domain.
The Parable of the Good SamaritanLife of Christ

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

c. 550–575 (early Byzantine; one of the oldest surviving illustrated New Testament manuscripts; UNESCO Memory of the World Register)· Cathedral of Rossano
Photographic reproduction in the public domain (Wikimedia Commons; faithful reproduction of a 6th-century manuscript). The underlying Codex Purpureus Rossanensis is in the public domain.
Christ in the TransfigurationLife of Christ

Christ in the Transfiguration

c. 565· Saint Catherine's Monastery (Katholikon
Image from Forsyth & Weitzmann, *The Monastery of Saint Catherine at Mount Sinai* (University of Michigan Press, 1973), reproduced via Linn, Tepper & Bar-Oz (2017). Wikimedia Commons. Released under CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. The underlying 6th-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.
Madaba MapLiturgical

Madaba Map

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

Icon of the Virgin and ChildMarian

Icon of the Virgin and Child

Panagia Angeloktisti Apse Mosaic, KitiMarian

Panagia Angeloktisti Apse Mosaic, Kiti

Procession of Virgin Martyrs, Sant'Apollinare NuovoMarian

Procession of Virgin Martyrs, Sant'Apollinare Nuovo

Clasp with Intaglio Medallion of the Virgin and ChildMarian

Clasp with Intaglio Medallion of the Virgin and Child

The Sign of JonahOT Typology

The Sign of Jonah

c. 280–300 AD· Pio Cristiano Museum
Photo by Sailko (2013). Wikimedia Commons. Released under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0). The underlying late-3rd-century relief is in the public domain.
The Vision of Christ in GloryOT Typology

The Vision of Christ in Glory

c. 425–450 (Theodosian / early Byzantine; the church was the katholikon of the Latomos Monastery)· Church of Hosios David (Latomos Monastery)
Photograph by Giovanni Dall'Orto (2024). Wikimedia Commons. The photographer permits use for any purpose with attribution. The underlying 5th-century mosaic is in the public domain.
Jacob Blessing Ephraim and ManassehOT Typology

Jacob Blessing Ephraim and Manasseh

c. 500–550 (early Byzantine luxury manuscript on purple-dyed parchment with silver-ink uncials)· Austrian National Library
Photographic reproduction in the public domain (Wikimedia Commons; faithful reproduction of a 6th-century manuscript folio). The underlying Vienna Genesis is in the public domain.
Rebecca at the WellOT Typology

Rebecca at the Well

c. 6th century (early Byzantine luxury manuscript on purple-dyed parchment with silver-ink uncials; one of the oldest surviving illuminated biblical codices)· Austrian National Library
Photographic reproduction in the public domain (Wikimedia Commons; from the Yorck Project's *10,000 Masterworks of Painting*; faithful reproduction of a 6th-century manuscript folio). The underlying Vienna Genesis (Codex Vindobonensis Theol. gr. 31) is in the public domain.
The Sacrifice of IsaacOT Typology

The Sacrifice of Isaac

c. 547· Basilica of San Vitale
Photo by Petar Milošević (2015). Wikimedia Commons. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0). The underlying 6th-century mosaic is in the public domain.
Abel and Melchizedek at the AltarOT Typology

Abel and Melchizedek at the Altar

c. 547 (consecration of San Vitale under Bishop Maximian; Justinianic Ravenna)· Basilica of San Vitale
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 6th-century mosaic is in the public domain.
Joseph and Potiphar's WifeOT Typology

Joseph and Potiphar's Wife

Late 6th century (Vienna Genesis / Codex Vindobonensis Theol. gr. 31; likely Antioch workshop; purple-vellum manuscript tradition)· Austrian National Library
Photographic reproduction in the public domain (Wikimedia Commons; The Yorck Project). The underlying late-6th-century manuscript page (Austrian National Library) is in the public domain.
The Good ShepherdPantocrator

The Good Shepherd

c. 225 AD (mid-3rd century; pre-Constantinian early Christian funerary fresco; one of the earliest surviving Christian iconographic representations of Christ)· Catacomb of Priscilla
Photographic reproduction in the public domain (Joseph Wilpert documentation, 1903; faithful reproduction of a c. 225 AD fresco). The underlying catacomb fresco is in the public domain.
Christ as Orpheus (Christ-Orpheus Arcosolium)Pantocrator

Christ as Orpheus (Christ-Orpheus Arcosolium)

c. 300–350 (early-4th century, pre- or early-Constantinian; pagan-Roman pastoral iconographic vocabulary reframed as Christ-image)· Catacomb of Saints Marcellinus and Peter
Photographic reproduction in the public domain (Wikimedia Commons). The underlying c. 4th-century catacomb fresco is in the public domain.
Christ Enthroned with AngelsPantocrator

Christ Enthroned with Angels

Early 6th century (c. 504, edited c. 561)· Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo
Photo by José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro (2016). Wikimedia Commons. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0). The underlying 6th-century mosaic is in the public domain.
Christ in the MandorlaPantocrator

Christ in the Mandorla

6th–7th century (Bawit Monastery of Saint Apollo, Middle Egypt)· Coptic Museum
Photograph by Votpuske (2023). Wikimedia Commons. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0). The underlying 6th–7th-century Bawit niche painting (Coptic Museum, Cairo) is in the public domain.
Christ PantocratorPantocrator

Christ Pantocrator

Mid-6th century (c. 550)· Saint Catherine's Monastery
Photographic reproduction in the public domain (Wikimedia Commons, file: Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay.jpg). The underlying 6th-century encaustic icon is in the public domain by age. Per Wikimedia policy, faithful 2D reproductions of public-domain works are themselves public domain.
The Cloud of WitnessesSaints

The Cloud of Witnesses

c. 380–410 (Theodosian conversion of the Galerian rotunda; mosaics among the earliest surviving Christian dome programs)· Rotunda of Hagios Georgios
Photograph by Wikimedia Commons user Ymblanter (2021). Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0). The underlying late-4th / early-5th-century mosaic is in the public domain.
Christ and Saint Menas (the Bawit Icon)Saints

Christ and Saint Menas (the Bawit Icon)

c. 6th–8th century (early Byzantine / Coptic; one of the oldest surviving Christian panel icons; recovered from the Apa Apollo Monastery at Bawit, Middle Egypt, by Jean Clédat's 1900–1903 excavations)· Musée du Louvre
Photograph: Musée du Louvre, Paris (Acc. E 11565). Wikimedia Commons. The underlying c. 6th–8th-century Coptic panel icon is in the public domain. Photographic reproduction in the public domain (CC0 / structured-data convention).
Saints Sergius and BacchusSaints

Saints Sergius and Bacchus

6th–7th century· Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko National Museum of Arts
Photographic reproduction in the public domain (Wikimedia Commons, photographed by user Shakko, 2008). The underlying 6th–7th-century encaustic icon is in the public domain.
Saint DemetriosSaints

Saint Demetrios

Late 6th–7th century (program; saint's death c. 306 AD)· Basilica of Hagios Demetrios
Photo by Holger Uwe Schmitt (2022). 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.
Spoon with Saint Paul as an AthleteSaints

Spoon with Saint Paul as an Athlete

Bowl Base with Christ Giving Martyrs’ Crowns to Saints Peter and PaulSaints

Bowl Base with Christ Giving Martyrs’ Crowns to Saints Peter and Paul

Archangel IvorySaints

Archangel Ivory

Bowl Base with Saints Peter and Paul Flanking a Column with the Christogram of ChristSaints

Bowl Base with Saints Peter and Paul Flanking a Column with the Christogram of Christ

Pilgrim's Flask with Saint MenasSaints

Pilgrim's Flask with Saint Menas

Pilgrim's Flask with Saint MenasSaints

Pilgrim's Flask with Saint Menas

The HetoimasiaSecond Coming

The Hetoimasia

c. 400 (Constantinople workshop; one of the oldest surviving Hetoimasia-type sculptures)· Museum für Byzantinische Kunst
Photograph by Anagoria (2013). Wikimedia Commons. Released under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0). The underlying c. 400 Byzantine marble relief is in the public domain.
The Heavenly JerusalemSecond Coming

The Heavenly Jerusalem

6th–7th century (apse 549; arch 7th c.)· Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe
Photo by José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro (2016). 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 Cosmic CrossSecond Coming

The Cosmic Cross

c. 549· Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe
Photo by José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro (2016). Wikimedia Commons. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0). The underlying 6th-century mosaic is in the public domain.
Theotokos Enthroned with the MagiTheotokos

Theotokos Enthroned with the Magi

c. 561 (under Bishop Agnellus)· Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo
Photo by Marie Thérèse Hébert & Jean Robert Thibault (2019). Wikimedia Commons. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0). The underlying 6th-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