Online lecture "Byzantine mosaics"

Byzantine mosaic is the highest form of monumental painting in medieval Byzantium, combining the austere spirituality of Christian imagery with dazzling solemnity and luxury. The use of tesserae with gold leaf created a radiant, surreal light, lifting the figures from earthly space and immersing them in eternity. The figures were depicted frontally, in stern, solemn poses with large, expressive eyes. Every detail, the color of their clothing and every gesture carried a deep theological meaning. Artisans placed glass cubes in wet cement or lime at a slight angle to each other. This allowed the light from the candles and sunlight to reflect unevenly, making the surface shimmer and come alive. A thin layer of gold was sandwiched between two sheets of clear glass, protecting it from deterioration over the centuries. Byzantine mosaics experienced periods of greatest prosperity: the "Golden Age" associated with the reign of Justinian and after the iconoclastic era, Byzantine mosaics hold many secrets that still fascinate researchers today.