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Walking Tours of Rome

Santa Maria Maggiore:
Mosaics


Map
Mosaics, church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
Apse of Santa Maria Maggiore

The ancient church of Santa Maria Maggiore (St Mary Major) is home to some of the oldest and most beautiful mosaics in Rome.
mosaics-in-the-nave-of-the-church-of-santa-maria-maggiore-rome
Nave Mosaics
The mosaics in the nave and on the triumphal arch were created during the reign of Pope Sixtus III (r. 432-40). In the nave, only 27 of the original 42 mosaics survive. The mosaics recount stories from the Old Testament, taken mostly from the Books of Exodus and Joshua.
triumphal-arch-of-santa-maria-maggiore-rome
Triumphal Arch
The mosaics on the triumphal arch focus on scenes from the New Testament, starting in the upper left with the Annunciation. Mary dressed like a Roman princess, holds a spindle as she weaves a purple veil for the Temple where she serves. The story continues with the Annunciation to Joseph, the Adoration of the Magi and the Massacre of the Innocents. In the last scene, there is a woman in a blue robe facing away from the other women. This is St Elizabeth, fleeing with her son John the Baptist in her arms. 

Events continue in the upper right with the Presentation in the Temple, the Flight into Egypt and the Three Magi Before Herod. At the base of the arch are two cities, Bethlehem on the left and Jerusalem on the right. 
Early 5th century mosaic of the Etimasia, church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
The Etimasia with St Peter and St Paul
In the centre of the triumphal arch is an empty throne, which is flanked by St Peter and St Paul. Together they will form the church of which Peter is the leader, and Sixtus III one of his successors. In his role as the EPISCOPVS PLEBI DEI (Bishop of God's people), the Pope's duty is to guide the people of God towards the Heavenly Jerusalem. The empty throne, known as the Etimasia, awaits the second coming of Christ. ​
Apse mosaics, church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
Apse Mosaics
Pope Nicholas IV (r. 1288-92), the first Franciscan pope, decided to destroy the old apse and construct the present one, placing it several metres back so as to create a space for the choir. The decoration of the new apse was executed by the painter and mosaicist Jacopo Torriti and financed by Cardinals Giacomo and Pietro Colonna.
Torriti's mosaics are divided into two parts. In the centre of the upper, and much larger section, Christ sits with the Virgin Mary. They share a royal throne and sit on a scarlet cushion, their feet resting on two footstools. Christ is in the act of crowning Mary with a jewelled crown. In his left hand he holds an open book which reads: VENI ELECTA MEA ET PONAM IN TE THRONVM MEVM (Come, my chosen one, and I will put you on my throne). The starry orb surrounding them represents the universe, with the sun and moon at the bottom. It is flanked by hosts of angels. 
Coronation of Virgin Mary, Mosaic in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
Coronation of the Virgin Mary
The inscription in the centre of the mosaic declares: MARIA · VIRGO · ASSV[M]PTA · E[ST] · AD ETHEREV[M] · THALAMV[M] · IN · QVO · REX · REGV[M] · STELLATO · SEDET · SOLIO / EXALTATA EST · SANCTA DEI GENETRIX · SVPER CHOROS ANGELORVM · AD CELESTIA REGNA (The Virgin Mary has been taken up to the heavenly bridal chamber in which the King of Kings is seated upon a starry throne. The holy Mother of God has been raised up above the choirs of angels to the Kingdom of Heaven). 
Inscription by Jacopo Torriti, 13th century mosaic in the apse of the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
Inscription by Jacopo Torriti
Against a golden background, stand six named saints: St Francis, St Paul and St Peter (left), St John the Baptist, St John the Evangelist and St Anthony of Padua (right). The two kneeling figures are Pope Nicholas IV and Cardinal Giacomo Colonna. The mosaic is signed in the left hand hand corner: IACOBVS TORRITI PICTOR HOC OPVS MOSAICVM FECIT (Jacopo Torriti the painter made this mosaic).

The composition is framed by two huge scrolling plants, which are home to a variety of flowers and creatures. At the base,  spring four rivers, which merge into one large river. It is animated with scenes of waterfowl and people in boats and at either end is a pagan river god. 

The spandrels of the apsidal arch depict the twenty-four elders of the Book of Revelation, above which are the symbols of the four Evangelists. The archivolt bears two vine-scrolls, which contain flowers, birds and little putti. The tondo on the keystone displays the Lamb of God, flanked by the Seven Candlesticks of the Apocalypse.
The Annunciation, Mosaic by Jacopo Torriti, Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
The Annunciation by Jacopo Torriti
The lower part of the apse depicts five scenes from the life of Mary: Annunciation, Nativity, Dormition, Adoration of the Magi, Presentation of Christ.
Dormition of the Virgin Mary, mosaic in church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
The Dormition
The Dormition is the most important image, hence its position in the centre, breaking the chronology of the events. The Virgin Mary lies on her bier, asleep rather then dead. Christ is standing within a rainbow cradling her soul. According to one tradition, Mary was not dead but only sleeping for the three days before her assumption into heaven. ​
Mosaic by Filippo Rusuti, facade of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
Mosaic by Filippo Rusuti
The mosaics (1294-1308), which decorate the back wall of what is now the Benediction Loggia, at the front of the church, are (in part) the work of Filippo Rusuti, a pupil of Jacopo Torriti. There are two registers, the upper one being signed by Rusuti; there are, however, doubts about the lower register, on the grounds of style and the quality of the workmanship.

In the centre of the upper register is an image of Christ the Pantocrator. Sitting on a scarlet cushion, on a richly decorated throne, Christ holds an open book, which displays the text: EGO SVM LVX MVNDI QVI (I am the light of the world, who), a quotation from the Gospel of St John (8:12). At the bottom of the band around the tondo is Rusuti's signature: PHILIPP RVSVTI FECIT HOC OPVS (Filippo Rusuti made this work). The tondo is flanked by four angels, two of which hold candlesticks. By the feet of these two angels are two small figures, Cardinals Pietro and Jacopo Colonna.  

The mosaics in the lower register illustrate an ancient legend relating to the foundation of Santa Maria Maggiore. On the night of August 4th, 352, the Virgin Mary appeared to Pope Liberius (r. 352-366) and John, a patrician of Rome. She told them that in the morning they would find a patch of snow covering the spot where they were to build a church. The prediction was fulfilled and the new church was called Santa Maria della Neve (St Mary of the Snow). ​

Gallery
Mosaics by Jacopo Torriti, apse of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
Mosaic, facade of the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
The Coronation of the Virgin Mary, mosaic in the apse of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
Dormition of the Virgin Mary, mosaic in the apse of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
Mosaics, triumphal arch of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
The Annunciation, moasiac by Jacopo Torriti, church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
The Adoration of the Magi, mosaic in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
The Nativity of Christ, mosaic in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
A detail of the mosaics on the Triumphal Arch of the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
St Francis, St Paul and  St Peter, a detail of the mosaic in the apse of the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
St John, St John the Evangelist and St Antony, a detail of the mosaic in the apse of the church of Santa Maria Maggiore-Rome
Mosaics in the nave of the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
Mosaics, Triumphal Arch of the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome

walking Tours of Rome

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      • 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
    • Mosaics
    • Nave
    • Portico >
      • Door of Death
      • Door of Good and Evil
      • Central Door
      • Door of the Sacraments
      • Holy Door
    • Statue of St Peter
    • Statues of Founder Saints
    • Transept
    • Tribune
  • St Peter's Square
  • Vatican Museums
    • Borgia Apartment
    • Braccio Nuovo
    • Cappella Niccolina
    • Courtyard of the Pinecone
    • Gallery of the Candelabras
    • Gallery of the Maps
    • Gallery of the Tapestries
    • Greek Cross Hall
    • Picture Gallery
    • Pius-Clementine Museum
    • 'Raphael' Tapestries
    • Room of the Immaculate Conception
    • Sala di Costantino
    • Sala dei Chiaroscuri
    • Stanza della Segnatura
    • Stanza di Eliodoro
    • Stanza dell' Incendio
  • Sistine Chapel
    • South Wall
    • North Wall
    • East Wall
    • Ceiling
    • Last Judgement
  • Fountains
    • A Miscellany of Fountains
    • Trevi Fountain
    • Bernini's Fountains
    • Fontana della Barcaccia
    • Fontana della Peschiera
    • Fontana Sallustiana
    • Fountain in Piazza Colonna
    • Fountain in Piazza delle Cinque Scole
    • Fountain in Piazza dell' Aracoeli
    • Fountain in Piazza Nicosia
    • Fountain in Piazza di S.M. in Trastevere
    • Fountain of Moses
    • Fountain of Neptune
    • Fountain of Ponte Sisto
    • Fountain of the Acqua Paola
    • Fountain of the Bees
    • Fountain of the Cannonball
    • Fountain of the Frogs
    • Fountain of the Four Rivers
    • Fountain of the Goddess Roma
    • Fountain of the Lateran Obelisk
    • Fountain of the Little Barrel
    • Fountain of the Mask
    • Fountain of the Moor
    • Fountain of the Naiads
    • Fountain of the Pantheon
    • Fountains of Piazza Farnese
    • Fountains of Piazza del Popolo
    • Fountain of Piazza Viminale
    • Fountain of Ponte Sisto
    • Fountain of the Porter
    • Fountain of the Seahorses
    • Fountains of St Peter's Square
    • Fountain of the Triton
    • Fountain of the Tritons
    • Fountain of the Tureen
    • Fountain of the Turtles
    • Fountains of the Two Seas
    • Fountains of Valle Giulia
    • Four Fountains
    • Rioni Fountains
    • Street Fountains
    • Venice Marries the Sea
  • On This Day in Rome
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
  • Churches
    • Top Ten Churches
    • Churches by Location
    • Little-known Churches
    • Cosmatesque Pavements
    • Funerary Monuments
    • Chiesa del Gesù >
      • Chapel of St Ignatius
    • Chiesa di Gesù e Maria
    • Chiesa Nuova
    • Domine Quo Vadis
    • Lateran Baptistery
    • Re Magi
    • S. Agata dei Goti
    • S. Agata in Trastevere
    • S. Agnese fuori le Mura
    • S. Agnese in Agone
    • S. Agostino
    • S. Alessio
    • S. Anastasia al Palatino
    • S. Andrea al Quirinale
    • S. Andrea della Valle
    • S. Andrea delle Fratte
    • S. Angelo in Pescheria
    • S. Anna dei Palafrenieri
    • S. Antonio dei Portoghesi
    • S. Apollinare
    • Ss. Apostoli
    • S. Balbina
    • S. Barbara dei Librai
    • S. Bartolomeo all' Isola
    • S. Benedetto in Piscinula
    • S. Bernardo alle Terme
    • S. Bibiana
    • S. Brigida
    • S. Carlo ai Catinari
    • S. Carlo al Corso
    • S. Carlo alle Quattro Fontane
    • S. Caterina a Magnanopoli
    • S. Caterina dei Funari
    • S. Caterina da Siena
    • S. Cecilia in Trastevere
    • Ss. Celso e Giuliano
    • S. M. in Monticelli
    • Ss. Claudio e Andrea
    • S. Clemente >
      • Cappella Castiglione
    • Ss. Cosma e Damiano
    • S. Crisogono
    • S. Costanza
    • S. Croce in Gerusalemme >
      • Chapel of St Helen
    • Ss. Domenico e Sisto
    • S. Dorotea
    • S. Eusebio
    • S. Eustachio
    • S. Francesco a Ripa >
      • Cappella Altieri
      • Cappella Rospigliosi-Pallavicini
    • S. Francesca Romana
    • S. Giacomo degli Spagnoli
    • S. Giorgio in Velabro
    • S. Giovanni a Porta Latina
    • S. Giovanni Decollato
    • S. Giovanni dei Fiorentini
    • S. Giovanni della Pigna
    • Ss. Giovanni e Paolo
    • S. Giovanni in Laterano >
      • Cappella Corsini
      • Cappella Lancellotti
    • S. Girolamo dei Croati
    • S. Girolamo della Carità >
      • Cappella Antamoro
      • Cappella Spada
    • S. Giuliano dei Fiamminghi
    • S. Giuseppe dei Falegnami
    • S. Gregorio Magno
    • S. Ignazio di Loyola
    • S. Ivo alla Sapienza
    • S. Lorenzo fuori le Mura
    • S. Lorenzo in Damaso
    • S. Lorenzo in Lucina
    • S. Lorenzo in Miranda
    • S. Lucia del Gonfalone
    • S. Luigi dei Francesi >
      • Cappella Contarelli
    • Ss. Luca e Martina
    • Ss. Marcellino e Pietro
    • S. Marcello al Corso
    • S. Marco
    • S. Maria ad Martyres
    • S. Maria ai Monti
    • S. Maria Annunziata
    • S. Maria degli Angeli
    • S. Maria dei Miracoli
    • S. Maria della Concezione
    • S. Maria del Popolo >
      • Cappella Cerasi
      • Cappella Chigi
    • S. Maria dei Sette Dolori
    • S. Maria del Priorato
    • S. Maria della Consolazione
    • S. Maria della Pace >
      • Chigi Chapel
      • Cloister of Bramante
    • S. Maria della Scala
    • S. Maria della Vittoria >
      • Cappella Cornaro
    • S. Maria delle Grazie
    • S. Maria dell' Anima
    • S. Maria dell' Orazione e Morte
    • S. Maria dell' Orto
    • S. Maria di Loreto
    • S. Maria in Aracoeli >
      • Cappella Bufalini
    • S. Maria in Aquiro
    • S. Maria in Campitelli
    • S. Maria in Cosmedin
    • S. Maria in Domnica
    • S. Maria in Monserrato
    • S. Maria in Montesanto
    • S. Maria in Traspontina
    • S. Maria in Trastevere >
      • Cappella Altemps
    • S. Maria in Trivio
    • S. Maria in Via
    • S. Maria in Via Lata
    • S. Maria Maddalena
    • S. Maria Maggiore >
      • Baptistery
      • Cappella Paolina
      • Cappella Sistina
    • S. Maria sopra Minerva >
      • Cappella Carafa
      • Chapel of the Annunciation
    • S. Maria Scala Coeli
    • S. Martino ai Monti
    • Ss. Nereo e Achilleo
    • S. Nicola da Tolentino
    • S. Nicola dei Lorenesi
    • S. Nicola in Carcere
    • Ss. Nome di Maria
    • S. Onofrio al Gianicolo
    • S. Pancrazio
    • S. Pantaleo
    • S. Paolo alla Regola
    • S. Paolo alle Tre Fontane
    • S. Paolo fuori le Mura
    • S. Pasquale Baylon
    • S. Pietro in Montorio
    • S. Pietro in Vincoli
    • S. Prassede
    • S. Prisca
    • S. Pudenziana
    • Ss. Quattro Coronati
    • S. Rita da Cascia
    • S. Rocco
    • S. Saba
    • S. Sabina >
      • Chapel of St Catherine
      • Chapel of St Hyacinth
    • S. Salvatore in Lauro
    • S. Salvatore in Onda
    • S. Sebastiano fuori le Mura >
      • Cappella Albani
    • S. Silvestro in Capite
    • S. Sisto Vecchio
    • S. Spirito in Sassia
    • S. Stanislao dei Polacchi
    • S. Stefano Rotondo
    • Ss Stimmate di San Francesco
    • Ss. Sudario dei Piemontesi
    • S. Susanna
    • Ss. Trinità degli Spagnoli
    • Ss. Trinità dei Pellegrini
    • Ss. Trinità di Monti
    • Ss. Vincenzo e Anastasio
    • Ss. Vincenzo e Anastasio
    • S. Vitale
  • Cloisters
  • Palatine
  • 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 Vespasian and Titus
    • Temple of Vesta
  • Ancient Monuments
    • Aqueducts
    • Ara Pacis
    • Arch of Constantine
    • Arch of Drusus
    • Arch of Gallienus
    • Arch of Janus
    • Arch of the Money-Changers
    • Aurelian Walls
    • Baths of Caracalla
    • Baths of Diocletian
    • Castel Sant' Angelo
    • Catacombs of Domitilla
    • Circus Maxentius
    • Circus Maximus
    • Colosseum
    • Column of Marcus Aurelius
    • Column of Trajan
    • Forum of Augustus
    • Forum of Trajan
    • Mausoleum of Augustus
    • Nymphaeum
    • Pantheon
    • Ponte Fabricio
    • Ponte Milvio
    • Ponte Rotto
    • Ponte Sant' Angelo
    • Porta Maggiore
    • Porta San Paolo
    • Porta San Sebastiano
    • Portico of Octavia
    • Pyramid of Cestius
    • Temple of Hadrian
    • Temple of Hercules
    • Temple of Jupiter
    • Temple of Portunus
    • Theatre of Balbus
    • Theatre of Marcellus
    • Theatre of Pompey
    • 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
    • Sant' Agnese fuori le Mura
    • Santa Cecilia in Trastevere
    • San Clemente
    • Santa Costanza
    • Santa Francesca Romana
    • San Lorenzo fuori le Mura
    • San Marco
    • Santa Maria in Domnica
    • Santa Maria in Trastevere
    • Santa Maria Maggiore
    • Santa Prassede >
      • San Zenone
    • Santa Pudenziana
    • Santo Stefano Rotondo
    • San Teodoro
    • San Venanzio
    • Santi Cosma e Damiano
    • Santi Nereo e Achilleo
  • Palaces
    • Palazzo Barberini
    • Palazzo dei Conservatori
    • Palazzo del Quirinale
    • Palazzo della Cancelleria
    • Palazzo della Consulta
    • Palazzo delle Esposizioni
    • Palazzo Farnese
    • Palazzo Farnesina
    • Palazzo di Giustizia
    • Palazzo Laterano
    • Palazzo Madama
    • Palazzo Spada
    • Palazzo Venezia
    • Palazzo Zuccari
    • Villa Giulia
    • Villa Farnesina
    • Villa Medici
  • Galleries & Museums
    • Baths of Diocletian
    • Capitoline Museums
    • Etruscan Museum
    • Galleria Borghese
    • Galleria Colonna
    • Galleria Doria-Pamphilj
    • Palazzo Altemps
    • Palazzo Massimo
  • Piazzas
    • Campo de' Fiori
    • Piazza Augusto Imperatore
    • Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta
    • Piazza del Campidoglio
    • Piazza del Popolo
    • Piazza del Quirinale
    • Piazza della Repubblica
    • Piazza Farnese
    • Piazza Navona
    • Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II
  • Miscellaneous
    • A Calendar of Saints
    • A Literary Tour of Rome
    • Antico Caffè Greco
    • Babington's Tea Rooms
    • Barberini Bees
    • Borromini & the Baroque
    • Catacombs
    • Column of the Immaculate Conception
    • Domes
    • Equestrian Statues
    • EUR >
      • Museum of Roman Civilisation
    • Fasces
    • Flood Plaques
    • Galleria Sciarra
    • House of the Owls
    • Jewish Ghetto
    • Knights of Malta
    • Mithraism
    • Monumental Complex of S. Spirito in Sassia
    • Nolli Map of Rome
    • Ponte Sisto
    • Porta Pia
    • 'Protestant' Cemetery
    • Quartiere Coppedè
    • Scala Santa
    • Spanish Steps
    • Street Shrines
    • 'Talking' Palaces
    • 'Talking' Statues
    • Tiber Island
    • Views of Rome
    • Villa Borghese
    • Vittoriano
  • On This Day in Italy
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
  • The Bernini Trail
  • Baroque Sculptors
    • Alessandro Algardi
    • Pietro Bracci
    • Ercole Ferrata
    • Domenico Guidi
    • Pierre Le Gros
    • Giuseppe Mazzuoli
    • Antonio Raggi
    • Camillo Rusconi
    • Filippo della Valle
  • Florence
    • A Literary Tour
    • Anna Maria Luisa: Last of the Medici
    • Canons' Palace
    • Casa-Galleria Vichi
    • Column of Justice
    • Column of St Zenobius
    • Cosimo I de' Medici
    • Cosimo II de' Medici
    • Costanza Bonarelli
    • David With Fig Leaf
    • Elizabeth Barrett Browning
    • Equestrian Statue of Cosimo I de' Medici
    • Equestrian Statue of Ferdinando I de' Medici
    • Festina Lente
    • Flood Plaques
    • Fontana del Bacchino
    • Fontana dei Puttini
    • Fountain of Neptune
    • Fountains of the Marine Monsters
    • Gian Gastone de' Medici
    • Girolamo Savonarola
    • Images of the Annunciation
    • Little Devil
    • Monument to Cellini
    • Palazzo Bartolini-Salimbeni
    • Palazzo Bianca Cappello
    • Palazzo Fenzi
    • Palazzo Viviani
    • Perseus and Medusa
    • Piazza Santa Maria Novella
    • Pope Leo XI
    • Porta della Mandorla
    • Rape of the Sabine Woman
    • Santa Maria Novella
    • Statue of Dante
    • Theft of the Century
    • Torre del Arnolfo
    • Twelve Good Men
    • Villa Gamberaia
    • Wheel of the Innocents
    • 'Wine Windows'
  • Lazio
    • Bomarzo: Parco dei Mostri
    • Viterbo: Santa Rosa
  • Tuscany
    • Arezzo: Giorgio Vasari
    • Lucca: Puccini
    • Pistoia: Ospedale del Ceppo
    • Siena: The Balzana
    • Siena: The Palio
  • Venice
    • 421: Foundation of Venice
    • Acqua Alta
    • Bartolomeo Colleoni
    • Barque of Dante
    • Caffè Florian
    • Daniele Manin
    • Flagpoles
    • Giustina Rossi
    • Gondolas
    • Harry's Bar
    • Henry James
    • House of Three Eyes
    • Island of Lace
    • King Victor Emmanuel II
    • Map of Venice
    • Martinmas
    • Master of the House
    • Palazzo Contarini Fasan
    • Ponte Borgoloco
    • Ponte Chiodo
    • Punta del Dogana
    • Scacciadiavoli
    • Shrine of St Lucia
    • Sior Antonio Rioba
    • The 'Book Shitter'
    • The Lion's Mouth
    • Tommaso Rangone
    • Torcello
    • Venus
    • 'Viennese Oranges'
    • Wellheads
    • Winged Lions