Ravenna

For those who live in the Seattle area, Ravenna conjures up the beautiful tree-lined boulevard that runs north of the U-District. For the rest of the world, it's the site of the seat of the Western Byzantine Empire between 402-476 AD and is the location of some of the most beautiful mosaics in the world.

So from the outside, the Galla Placida Mausoleum exterior doesn't seem to be that interesting. It's got four cube like extensions covered in basic brick.

However, inside, it's is laid out in the shape of a cross and the cubes hide the barrel vaulted interior with beautiful early Christian mosaics. Here we have St. Lawrence burning in a spit fire.

Over the door, the mosaic shows Christ as the Good Shepherd. Note the lack of facial hair. Also note how the shepherds arm and staff form a cross. Christianity as a religion was becoming dominant at this point in the mid 5th century.

Next to the Galla Placidia is the Basilica of San Vitale. The church was financed by Julias Argentarius and constructed by Bishop of Ravenna Maxentius in tribute to the Emperor Justinian.

The apse of San Vitale with God sitting on a globe and the gift of the Basilica being given as a gift (to Justinian I think)

On the left wall is the famous panel (seen in Art History CHECK) with Justinian, Maxentius (who had the balls to have his name written above his head) and Argentarius between the two). The figures are in a V formation. Note the lack of bodily detail and the feet being splayed out. This is Byzantine art to the core in that realism is out and representation is in.

Opposite the Justinian mosaic is one dedicated and dominated by his wife, Theodora. Instead of the V shape of the Justinian mosaic, here the women are in a procession.

Above the left amubulatory is a scene of the sacrifice of Isaac. Note here the more classical bodies, we see skin and musculature. This is interesting directly in contrast to the Justinian mosaic which is placed next to it.

God and 14 apostles? No, it's still the 12 apostles, but the other two are Vitale's two sons.

I love the fact that the sign for the school for mosaic restoration in Ravenna is itself a mosaic.

The Arian baptistry (I got a 92% on an essay about this mosaic) with an iconography I can even read. Although what was more important in my essay was the discussion of Byzantine flat figures and the golden background.

The major Basilica's in Ravenna have a tower similar to this one. What's cool is the lower windows have one section moving to those on top having three.

Augustus, my man, what are you doing here. This statue was placed here during Roman times when the Ravenna area was known as Classe and Augustus had a significant port built here.

The apse mosaic at St. Apollinare in Classe. Note the clear presence of the cross as Christianity was clearly the religion by this time, the mid 6th century. The lambs represent the faithful of the leader, St. Apollinare. (Yup, another CHECK for Art History!)