Ecclesia Romana mosaic
Type:
Mosaic / Intarsia
Year:
12th century A.D.
Material and technique:
Polichrome mosaic with glass-paste tesserae
Origin:
From St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican
Inventory:
Inv. MB 209
This fragment of a gold-ground mosaic depicts the personification of Ecclesia Romana (the Church of Rome), her head covered with a richly jeweled crown. The mosaic comes from the original decoration of the apse at St. Peter’s, crafted under the reign of pope Innocent III (1198-1216) and destroyed in 1582, during the renovation of the basilica
Masterpieces of the hall
The hall
This room displays Roman artworks, plus some medieval pieces that wind up the long chronological itinerary through the Barracco collection.
