Monuments of the early church . eco-ration of S. Maria Maggiore, only the relations are reversed; theBiblical illustrations, which deal exclusively with the life ofChrist, are arranged in small compartments above each of thewindows, and the procession of saints constitutes a continuousfrieze immediately above the colonnade. Between the windowsstand the white-robed figures of Apostles and prophets. Nothing could be more effective or more appropriate for the MOSAICS—S. Apollinare Nuovo 325 decoration of the clearstory wall than the long procession ofmartyrs which issue from the cities of Classis
Monuments of the early church . eco-ration of S. Maria Maggiore, only the relations are reversed; theBiblical illustrations, which deal exclusively with the life ofChrist, are arranged in small compartments above each of thewindows, and the procession of saints constitutes a continuousfrieze immediately above the colonnade. Between the windowsstand the white-robed figures of Apostles and prophets. Nothing could be more effective or more appropriate for the MOSAICS—S. Apollinare Nuovo 325 decoration of the clearstory wall than the long procession ofmartyrs which issue from the cities of Classis and Kavenna,and approach on the one side the enthroned Christ, and onthe other the infant Jesus and his Mother. On the left, thewomens side of the church, is a long line of twenty-two femalemartyrs led by the Three IMagi (Fig. 139) to the Virgin andChild, who are enthroned between four angels. The martyrsare all clothed alike in a white stola and in a rich palla em-broidered with gold and pearls; their brows are encircled by. Ravenna. Sixth century. A procession of martyrs offering their crowns to Christ, who isfour angels. a coronet from which depends a long white veil, with onecorner of which they veil their hands in carrying the crownwhich they come to lay at the feet of Christ. They march inclose rank, barely separated from one another by palms andlilies; they are distinguished only by the names which arewritten above them, S. Agnes alone is accompanied by herattribute, the lamb. This composition, as well as that whichrepresents twenty-six male figures on the other side of thenave, has been criticised for its monotony; but this, whichmight well be accounted a defect in any other place, is herethoroughly in keeping with the monotonous line of columns 326 nCTOBIAL ABT below, and conspires with tlieni to carry the eye on to thecentre of worship in tlie apse. The procession of male mar-tyrs (Fig. lo8), on the right side of the nave, approaches Christenthroned between four an
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectchristi, bookyear1901
