Mosaic of the Byzantines

Mosaic, building a picture out of tiny coloured tiles, bits of glass or stones, was one of the main artitistic achievements of the Byzantines. One of the best preserved examples is in the church decorations of the cathedral of Monreale in Palermo, Sicily. This mosaic, called Christ as the Panocrator with the Virgin, Angels and Saints, was created in the 12th century. Typical of Byzantine style, the figure of Christ, while fairly realistic, is still highly stylized, somewhat flat and stiff. For the Byzantines, the symbolism of the picture, here Christ as all-powerful creator, was more important than simple realism. Compare this work with a painting by Giotto, an Italian master artist of the Middle Ages. While his work shows Byzantine influence, his figures are much more natural and realistic.

The Byzantine World