The octagonal drum of the dome depicts eight prophets, Isaiah, David, Moses, Zechariah, Daniel, Elisha, Elijah and Jeremiah. Interspersed with windows, they have their feet firmly planted in the eight pendentives, with their right hand in an act of adoration and their left clutching the scroll of pr...

Typical of rustic work, rustication were also used in ancient times by the Romans. Its application, also thanks to Leon Battista Alberti, reached its peak in the Renaissance period, used in buildings and as a decorative element in churches and palaces. Poorly finished and polished, deliberately left...

In the Greek cross layout, the 'arms' are of equal size, whereas in the Latin cross layout, the nave and transept are of different lengths. The transept, in fact, intersecting the longitudinal nave at right angles, gives the church its classic layout. The point of intersection, called the cross, is ...

The chanson de geste, or “Songs of Heroic Deeds”, consist of around eighty compositions written in the Langue d'Oil. The epic literary genre was developed from the 11th century onwards in northern France. The main themes are courtly love, the exploits of the paladins, and the battles between Chr...

The Christ Pantocrator of the dome is surrounded by a host of four archangels and four angels. While the angels have not been identified, the archangels can be identified as Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael....

The etimasia symbolises the expectation of Jesus' return. In the Palatine Chapel, the empty throne that will welcome Christ as the universal judge at the end of time, as written in the Apocalypse, is depicted within a medallion. The dove of the Holy Spirit rests before the throne, upon which the Boo...

Taken from the Old Testament are the images of Noah putting peacocks on the ark, Samson slaughtering the lion of Timnah, Samson exterminating the Philistines, David with the harp, David killing the lion, and Daniel in the lion's den. The following scenes are taken from the New Testament: the Wedding...

Among the images inspired by the life of Christ are the two servants at the well and the man feasting between two servants. The scene of the two servants at the well may reflect the image of Christ and the Samaritan at the well, while the second hints at the depiction of Christ seated at the table. ...

The fir wood used in the ceiling of the Palatine Chapel is Sicilian. This could be Abies nebrodensis, a form of adaptation of Abies alba to hot, dry conditions....

Above the royal throne stands the majestic Christ Pantocrator, enthroned between Saints Peter and Paul. The iconography of the representation is political, since the enthroned Christ with the two saints seem to legitimise the temporal power of the sovereigns who presided over the celebrations from t...