Mosaics of Ravenna - An Artist's Delight

I am thrilled to welcome Toni Mount to the blog once again today. Toni is a brilliant historian who just happens to be the author of one of my favorite book series. If you have not yet fallen in love with her Sebastian Foxley, do pick up The Colour of Poison immediately. You will soon make your way to her newest release, The Colour of Evil (available 3/25/21). Toni is also the author of several works of nonfiction, and her deep knowledge of the late 15th century shines in this medieval mystery series. Today, she shares with us some insight into the mosaics of Ravenna, Italy which make their way into The Colour of Evil.

Read my review of The Colour of Evil HERE. I am thankful to Toni and MadeGlobal Publishers for my early copy. I always feel like a kid on Christmas morning when a new Sebastian story shows up in my mail!
Welcome, Toni!
~ Samantha

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The Mosaics of Ravenna, Italy - An Artist's Delight

Guest Post by Toni Mount

Since my amateur sleuth, Seb Foxley, lives in fifteenth-century London, readers may wonder what connection there could possibly be to the ancient city of Ravenna in Italy. The answer is: art. Seb’s craft is that of an illuminator of manuscripts with a sideline in portraiture, coats-of-arms and pub signs. His obsession is with colour, whether painter’s pigments or the rainbow in the sky. In an earlier novel, The Colour of Lies, Seb’s wayward brother, Jude, went off travelling who knows where and, in The Colour of Evil, a letter arrives from Italy in which Jude tells Seb of some of the wonders he has seen in a place called Ravenna. As a ‘gift’, he includes some filched tesserae from a mosaic in the church of Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo, so Seb can appreciate for himself the incredible colours of the ancient glass. Here is an excerpt from Jude’s letter:

You must visit Ravenna, Seb. The gold and colours of the mosaics in the churches here will have you in an ecstasy. Even I’m in awe of their splendour. We’ve never seen the like in England. My favourite mosaic was in the Basilica – that’s a church – of St Apollinare Nuovo, an image of Christ in Judgement with St Michael, the good archangel in red, upon his right hand, and Lucifer in blue, the fallen archangel, upon the left. (Lucifer with his straight dark hair had somewhat the look of you, little brother.) Some repairs to a damaged mosaic having been abandoned for the holy days, I picked up a few fallen tesserae. They are my New Year’s gift to you, in the little packet, that you might see the colours for yourself.

The Judgment of the Nations, early 6th century C.E., Mosaic,  
Ravenna, Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo,  

In the upper register of the nave. 

This is the mosaic to which Jude is referring. When we visited Ravenna – purely for research purposes, you understand; the great time we had in Italy was incidental – we took photos of this but it’s so high up, the images were foreshortened and difficult to make out. I chose this mosaic because it intrigues me. It is believed to be the first known image of the Devil. Where are his horns and hideous features? In fact, you may think he must be the guy in red but he isn’t. Christ is the figure in the centre, judging souls represented by the good sheep on Christ’s right hand [the viewer’s left] and committing them to the care of the good red angel, St Michael. The wicked souls, represented by the bearded and piebald goats on Christ’s left hand, are given over to Lucifer, the fallen angel in blue, better known as Satan. In the sixth century, Lucifer’s reputation doesn’t seem to have been so bad as the later medieval Roman Catholic Church made out.

Although this mosaic and other incredible images in the Basilica of Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo are telling the story of Christianity, I was fascinated to learn that the man who had this vast church built as his private chapel was reckoned to be a heretic. Theoderic the Great, King of the Ostrogoths and Regent of the Visigoths, ruled a great empire that surrounded Rome, replacing the fading empire of the Romans from 493-526 CE.  

Theoderic the Great’s Gothic Empire

The legend on this gold coin reads ‘King Theodoricus Pious Prince 

      

As a child, Theodoric had been taken hostage to Constantinople where he was well treated and given an excellent education but his religious tutoring was based on the beliefs of Arius, a fourth-century ecclesiastic. Arius taught that since God created His Son, Jesus Christ, Christ was not God’s equal but subservient to Him, as was the Holy Spirit. These ideas were at odds with the Roman Church’s belief in the Holy Trinity, Three-in-One. So Theodoric’s version of Christianity did not have Rome’s approval. No wonder that when, in the year 500, Theodoric visited Rome, entering in triumph like a Caesar, Pope Symmachus was not impressed.

Theodoric’s Palace today.

The interior of Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo gives some idea of the palace’s lost grandeur

    

Theodoric had become king after defeating Flavius Odoacer in 493 and capturing the city of Ravenna in Northern Italy. There had been two battles fought against Odoacer, who won the first encounter but lost the second. Ravenna was the prize and Theodoric and Odoacer signed a treaty agreeing to rule Italy jointly. Six weeks later, Theodoric organised a feast in the new capital, Ravenna, to celebrate the treaty. Having enjoyed the sumptuous meal, Theodoric proposed a toast to the alliance and, as Odoacer drank, Theodoric slew him with his sword. Odoacer’s loyal followers were then slaughtered, leaving Theodoric the undisputed king. After this inauspicious beginning, Theodoric set about turning Ravenna into a city worthy of his own perceived greatness. He certainly succeeded.

Theodoric built a magnificent palace of which Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo is only the chapel. From here, he ruled the mixed population of Catholic Romans, Arian Goths and Jews. All sects had their separate places of worship, each tolerating the others while considering them heretics. For this reason, churches from this period in Ravenna’s history show both sides of the religious debate. Examples include the Orthodox Baptistry and the Church of Santa Croce which both predate the arrival of Theodoric and are dated to the fourth century. Both have fabulous mosaics demonstrating the ultimate skills of the Byzantine mosaicists.

Theodoric also had a fine mausoleum built to house his remains after death but the construction of beautiful churches with exquisite mosaics continued. Within a year of Theodoric’s interment in the mausoleum, the Bishop of Ravenna had commissioned the Basilica of San Vitale, a fabulous building constructed as a series of octagons. It too has a fine collection of gorgeous mosaics, two of the most famous being the portraits of the Emperor Justinian and his wife, Theodora [see bottom].

San Vitale and some of its mosaics 

[ravennacityguide.it] 

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Ravenna, as Seb’s brother, Jude, did in The Colour of Evil, grab the chance. I have only mentioned a few highlights and the fabulous mosaics are just one of many delights. For lovers of colour, art and history, you can’t go wrong in Ravenna; your greatest difficulty will be deciding what to look at first. And while you’re waiting to visit, there’s an interesting novel to read to discover how Seb puts the beautiful tesserae to good use in service to the king…  

Portrait mosaics of Justinian [left] and Theodora with their children [right] both wearing imperial purple robes and haloes. Note the mosaics designed to look like tapestries. The backgrounds are of gold. 

[https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2012/ 

byzantium-and-islam/blog/topical-essays/posts/san-vitale] 

The Colour of Evil

Every Londoner has money worries. Seb Foxley, talented artist and some-time sleuth, is no exception but when fellow indebted craftsmen are found dead in the most horrible circumstances, fears escalate. Only Seb can solve the puzzles that baffle the authorities and help Bailiff Thaddeus Turner to track down and apprehend the villains.

When Seb’s wayward, elder brother, Jude, returns, unannounced, from Italy with a child-bride upon his arm, shock turns to dismay as life becomes more complicated and troubles multiply.

From counterfeit coins to deadly darkness in the worst corners of London, from mysterious thefts to attacks of murderous intent – Seb finds himself embroiled at every turn. With a royal commission to fulfil and heartache to resolve, can our hero win through against the odds?

Share Seb Foxley’s latest adventures in the filthy streets of medieval London, join in the Midsummer festivities and meet his fellow citizens, both the respectable and the villainous.

The Colour of Evil is available for pre-order NOW - Arriving on 3/25/2021

Connect with Toni

Toni Mount earned her Master’s Degree by completing original research into a unique 15th-century medical manuscript. She is the author of several successful non-fiction books including the number one bestseller, Everyday Life in Medieval England, which reflects her detailed knowledge in the lives of ordinary people in the Middle Ages. Toni’s enthusiastic understanding of the period allows her to create accurate, atmospheric settings and realistic characters for her Sebastian Foxley medieval murder mysteries. Toni’s first career was as a scientist and this brings an extra dimension to her novels. It also led to her new biography of Sir Isaac Newton. She writes regularly for both The Richard III Society and The Tudor Society and is a major contributor of online courses to MedievalCourses.com. As well as writing, Toni teaches history to adults, coordinates a creative writing group and is a member of the Crime Writers’ Association.

Connect with Toni on her website or on Facebook. You can also follow her Medieval England page on Facebook. Sebastian even has his own website and Facebook page! Do you love to dive into history? Take one of Toni's classes at Medieval Courses.