Walks in Rome (Est. 2001)
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Walking Tours of Rome

San Clemente:
​Mosaics


Map
Mosaics in the apse of church of San Clemente, Rome
San Clemente

The 12th century mosaics in the church of San Clemente are some of the finest in Rome. The mosaics illustrate the story of salvation through the Incarnation of the Son of God and His redeeming sacrifice on the Cross.  

The words of Christ from the Gospel of St John, ‘I am the vine, you are the branches’, are recalled in the inscription at the base of the apse: ECCLESIAM CHRISTI VITI SIMILABIMVS ISTI QUAM LEX ARENTEM SED CRVX FACIT ESSE VIRENTEM. (We have likened the Church to this vine; the Law made it wither but the Cross causes it to bloom.) The vine is, in fact, a huge acanthus, which is watered by the blood of Christ, as it flows from the wound in his body. The vine spreads across the apse and we see all manner of people sheltering between its branches. The Church thus becomes the vineyard of the Lord. 

According to an ancient legend, the Cross on which Christ was crucified was made from the wood of the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. Therefore, Christ through his death redeems the sin of Adam and Eve. The Virgin Mary and St John the Evangelist stand on either side of the Cross, which is festooned with twelve white doves, a reference to the apostles or, perhaps, to the souls of the redeemed. The Cross is surmounted by the hand of God holding a wreath, a symbol of victory, while at the base we see the four rivers of Paradise. The rivers are fed by ‘the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the Throne of God and of the Lamb’ (Book of Revelation, 22:1), in other words from the Cross. Two deer drink from the rivers of salvation, recalling the words of Psalm 42: ‘As a hart longs for the flowing streams, so longs my soul for thee, O God.’ At the bottom of the bush a tiny deer sniffs at a serpent, the symbol of sin. 

The deer are flanked by two peacocks, symbols of immortality. Beyond the peacocks are a series of scenes depicting everyday life in the middle-ages. A woman feeds her hens; serfs tend their flocks and herds. In line with the foot of the Cross are the four Doctors of the Church, St Ambrose and St Gregory on the right, St Augustine and St Jerome on the left. On the same level as the Doctors are two groups of people, which may represent the family of the artist’s patron. 

Lower down, against a blue background, is Christ as the Agnus Dei or Lamb of God. He is joined by twelve lambs (representing the twelve apostles), which emerge from the cities of Bethlehem and Jerusalem. To the left of the gate of Bethlehem, there is an image of a small child. Does this represent the infant Jesus? 

At the top of the apsidal arch, we see Christ as Pantokrator (Ruler of all), no longer a martyr on the Cross, but as the judge of all mankind. He holds a book in one hand and raises the other in blessing. He is flanked by symbolic representations of the four evangelists set amongst colourful clouds. At a lower level, and on the left, St Lawrence is learning from St Paul to follow the cross. St Lawrence holds a cross in his left hand and rests his feet on a gridiron, under which a fire is burning. This refers to the manner of his martyrdom, for legend has it that he was roasted alive in 253. Below this group stands the prophet Isaiah holding a scroll inscribed with the words: VIDI DOMINVM SEDENTEM SVP SOLIVM. (I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne.)

On the right, St Peter instructs St Clement: RESPICE PROMISSVM CLEMENS A ME TIBI SVM. (Clement behold Christ promised to you by me.) St Clement is depicted with his feet on a boat, around which fish are swimming. The saint is said to have been martyred by being tied to an anchor and thrown into the Black Sea. He holds an anchor in his left hand, but it has been partly obscured by the 18th century ceiling. Below this group is the prophet Jeremiah, who holds a scroll on which is written: HIC EST DSNR ET NESTIMABIT ALIUS ABSQ ILLO. (This is our Lord and no other can compare with Him.)

At the apex of the vault is the Chi Rho, the monogram of Christ, from which hang the letters alpha and omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. We recall the words in the Book of Revelation (22:13): ‘I am the alpha and omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.’

Framing the whole apse, in gold letters on a blue background, are the words: GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO SEDENTI SVP THRONVM ET IN TERRA PAX HOMINIBVS BONAE VOLVNTATIS. (Glory to God on high, seated on the throne, and on earth peace to all men of good will.)

Gallery
Christ Pantocrator, a detail of the 12th century mosaic in the apse of the church of San Clemente, Rome
City of Bethlehem, a detail of the 12th century mosaic in the apse of the church of San Clemente, Rome
City of Jersualem, a detail of the 12th century mosaic in the apse of the church of San Clemente, Rome
St Lawrence & St Paul, a detail of the 12th century mosaic in the apse of the church of San Clemente, Rome
St Peter & St Clement, a detail of the 12th century mosaic in the apse of the church of San Clemente, Rome
A detail of the 12th century mosaic in the apse of the church of San Clemente, Rome
Mosaics, apse of the church of San Clemente, Rome

walking Tours of Rome

Copyright © David Lown 2001-2022. All Rights Reserved. 
  • Home
  • Personalised Tours
  • Vatican Tours
  • Contact
  • Rome
  • Images
  • St Peter's Basilica
    • Altars >
      • Altar of St Joseph
      • Altar of St Gregory the Great
      • Altar of the Madonna of Succour
      • Altar of St Sebastian
      • Altar of the Lie
      • Altar of the Presentation of the Virgin
      • Altar of St Jerome
      • Altar of the Transfiguration
      • Altar of Pope Leo the Great
    • Monuments >
      • Countess Matilda of Canossa
      • Maria Clementina Sobieska
      • Queen Christina of Sweden
      • Pope Innocent VIII
      • Pope Paul III
      • Pope Gregory XIII
      • Pope Gregory XIV
      • Pope Leo XI
      • Pope Urban VIII
      • Pope Alexander VII
      • Pope Clement X
      • Pope Innocent XI
      • Pope Alexander VIII
      • Pope Innocent XII
      • Pope Benedict XIV
      • Pope Clement XIII
      • Pope Pius VII
      • Pope Leo XII
      • Pope Pius VIII
      • Pope Gregory XVI
      • Pope Pius X
      • Pope Benedict XV
      • Pope Pius XI
      • Pope Pius XII
      • Pope John XXIII
      • The Stuarts
    • Portico >
      • Door of Death
      • Door of Good and Evil
      • Central Door
      • Door of the Sacraments
      • Holy Door
    • Pieta
    • Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament
    • Cathedra Petri
    • Crossing >
      • Baldacchino
      • Confessio
      • Dome
      • St Longinus
      • St Helena
      • St Veronica
      • St Andrew
    • St Peter
    • Chapel of the Choir
    • Chapel of the Baptistery
    • Nave
  • Sistine Chapel
    • North Wall
    • South Wall
    • East Wall
    • Ceiling: Part One >
      • Ceiling: Part Two
      • Ceiling: Part Three
    • The Last Judgement
  • Fountains
    • Trevi Fountain
    • Fontana della Barcaccia
    • Fountain of the Triton
    • Fountain of the Bees
    • Fountain of Moses
    • Fountain of the Four Rivers
    • Fountain of the Acqua Paola
    • Fountain of the Turtles
    • Fountain of the Naiads
    • Fountain of the Cannonball
    • Fountain of the Four Lions
    • Fountain of the Pantheon
    • Fountains of Piazza Farnese
    • Fountain of the Goddess Roma
    • Rioni Fountains
    • Street Fountains
    • Venice Marries the Sea
    • Fountains of St Peter's Square
    • Fountain of the Moor
    • Fountain of Neptune
    • Fountain of the Porter
    • Fountain of the Seahorses
  • Churches
    • Chiesa del Gesù >
      • Cappella di Sant' Ignazio
    • Chiesa Nuova
    • Lateran Baptistery
    • San Bartolomeo all' Isola
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    • San Clemente >
      • Cappella Castiglione
    • San Crisogono
    • San Francesco a Ripa >
      • Cappella Altieri
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    • San Giorgio in Velabro
    • San Giovanni a Porta Latina
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      • Cappella Corsini
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      • Cappella Antamoro
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    • San Luigi dei Francesi >
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    • San Pietro in Vincoli
    • San Saba
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      • Cappella Albani
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    • San Vitale
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    • Sant' Agnese in Agone
    • Sant' Agostino
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    • Sant' Andrea della Valle
    • Sant' Andrea delle Fratte
    • Sant' Antonio dei Portoghesi
    • Sant' Ignazio di Loyola
    • Sant' Ivo alla Sapienza
    • Santa Caterina dei Funari
    • Santa Cecilia in Trastevere
    • Santa Costanza
    • Santa Croce in Gerusalemme
    • Santa Francesca Romana
    • Santa Maria degli Angeli
    • Santa Maria del Popolo >
      • Cappella Cerasi
      • Cappella Chigi
    • Santa Maria della Pace >
      • Chigi Chapel
    • Santa Maria della Vittoria >
      • Cappella Cornaro
    • Santa Maria dell' Anima
    • Santa Maria dell' Orazione e Morte
    • Santa Maria dell' Orto
    • Santa Maria di Loreto
    • Santa Maria in Aracoeli >
      • Cappella Bufalini
    • Santa Maria in Campitelli
    • Santa Maria in Cosmedin
    • Santa Maria in Domnica
    • Santa Maria in Trastevere >
      • Cappella Altemps
    • Santa Maria in Via
    • Santa Maria Maddalena
    • Santa Maria Maggiore >
      • Cappella Paolina
      • Cappella Sistina
    • Santa Maria sopra Minerva >
      • Cappella Carafa
      • Cappella dell' Annunziata
    • Santa Prassede
    • Santa Sabina >
      • Chapel of St Catherine
      • Chapel of St Hyacinth
    • Santa Susanna
    • Santi Apostoli
    • Santi Cosma e Damiano
    • Santi Domenico e Sisto
    • Santi Giovanni e Paolo
    • Santi Luca e Martina
    • Santi Nereo e Achilleo
    • Santi Quattro Coronati
    • Santissima Trinità degli Spagnoli
    • Santissima Trinità di Monti
    • Santissimo Nome di Maria
  • Forum
    • Arch of Septimius Severus
    • Arch of Titus
    • Basilica of Maxentius
    • Curia Julia
    • Temple of Antoninus Pius
    • Temple of Castor and Pollux
    • Temple of Saturn
    • Temple of Venus and Rome
    • Temple of Vesta
  • Ancient Monuments
    • Ara Pacis
    • Arch of Constantine
    • Arch of the Money-Changers
    • Arch of Janus
    • Aurelian Walls
    • Baths of Caracalla
    • Castel Sant' Angelo
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    • Porta Maggiore
    • Porta San Paolo
    • Porta San Sebastiano
    • Portico of Octavia
    • Pyramid of Cestius
    • Temple of Hadrian
    • Temple of Hercules
    • Temple of Mars Ultor
    • Temple of Portunus
    • Theatre of Marcellus
    • Tomb of Caecilia Metella
    • Via Appia
  • Obelisks
    • 'Minerveo' Obelisk
    • 'Flaminio' Obelisk
    • 'Matteiano' Obelisk
    • 'Lateran' Obelisk
    • 'Dogali' Obelisk
    • 'Macuteo' Obelisk
    • 'Solare' Obelisk
    • 'Vatican' Obelisk
    • 'Agonalis' Obelisk
    • 'Sallustiano' Obelisk
    • 'Quirinale' Obelisk
    • 'Esquiline' Obelisk
    • 'Pinciano' Obelisk
    • 'Mediceo' Obelisk
    • 'Torlonia' Obelisks
    • 'Mussolini' Obelisk
    • 'Marconi' Obelisk
  • Mosaics
    • S. Agnese fuori le Mura
    • S. Cecilia in Trastevere
    • S. Clemente
    • S. Francesca Romana
    • S. Lorenzo fuori le Mura
    • S. Marco
    • S. Maria in Domnica
    • S. Maria in Trastevere
    • S. Maria Maggiore
    • S. Prassede
    • S. Pudenziana
    • S. Venanzio
    • S. Zenone
    • Ss. Cosma e Damiano
    • Ss. Nereo e Achilleo
  • Gallery
    • Ancient Rome
    • Borromini & the Baroque
    • Churches
    • Domes
    • Fountains
    • Old Photographs
    • Palaces
    • Papal Coats of Arms
    • Street Shrines
  • Vatican Museums
    • Borgia Apartment
    • Cappella Niccolina
    • Gallery of the Candelabras
    • Gallery of the Maps
    • Gallery of the Tapestries
    • 'Raphael' Tapestries
    • Stanza della Segnatura
    • Stanza di Eliodoro
    • Stanza dell' Incendio
  • Palazzi
    • Palazzo Barberini
    • Palazzo del Quirinale
    • Palazzo della Cancelleria
    • Palazzo della Consulta
    • Palazzo delle Esposizioni
    • Palazzo Farnese
    • Palazzo Venezia
    • Villa Farnesina
    • Villa Medici
  • Galleries & Museums
    • Galleria Borghese
    • Galleria Colonna
    • Galleria Doria-Pamphilj
    • Musei Capitolini
  • Piazzas
    • Campo de' Fiori
    • Piazza del Campidglio
    • Piazza del Popolo
    • Piazza del Quirinale
    • Piazza Navona
    • Piazza San Pietro
  • Miscellaneous
    • A Calendar of Saints
    • Cloisters
    • Domes
    • EUR
    • House of the Owls
    • Knights of Malta
    • 'Protestant' Cemetery
    • Quartiere Coppedè
    • Spanish Steps
    • 'Talking' Statues
    • Villa Borghese
    • Vittoriano