Basilica San Marco: Mosaics

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The Basilica San Marco is home to some of the most beautiful mosaics (covering an area of 8,000 square metres) in the world. Decorating both the façade and the interior of the church, many of the mosaics date back to the 12th and 13th centuries. ​

Exterior: The lunettes above the five doors of the basilica, in the west façade, contain mosaics, but only one is original. From right to left we have: The Removal of the Body of Saint Mark from Alexandria (17th century), Venice Welcoming the Arrival of the Body of Saint Mark (17th century), The Last Judgement (19th century), Venice Venerating the Relics of Saint Mark ((18th century) and the Translation of the Body of Saint Mark into the Basilica (1260-70).  

In the upper part of the west façade are four mosaics, all of which were made between 1616 and 1617 by Luigi Gaetano to designs by Matteo da Verona. From left to right: the Deposition, Christ's Descent into Limbo, the Resurrection and the Ascension.

Interior: The mosaics, which cover the entire upper part of the basilica, recount the story of salvation which Jesus brought to mankind. The story starts in the presbytery with the Dome of the Prophets (12th century). Standing in a circle are thirteen Old Testament prophets, each bearing his prophecy, who foretold the coming of the Messiah, Christ Emmanuel in the centre. The presence of the Virgin Mary, her arms outstretched to welcome her Son, represents the link between the Old and New Covenants. 

The five scenes (Annunciation, Adoration of the Magi, Presentation in the Temple, Baptism of Christ and Transfiguration) in the next vault recount the fulfilment of the prophecies and the beginning of Christ's presence among men.

The scenes in the vaults, which relate to the last days of Jesus' life, bring us to the Dome of the Ascension, in the centre of the basilica. The mosaics were made at the end of the 12th century and celebrate the glory of Christ's ascension to heaven. In the centre of the dome we see Christ seated on a rainbow, surrounded by symbols of the four evangelists. In the outer circle are the Virgin flanked by two angels and the twelve apostles.

The third dome (with its early 12th century mosaics) celebrates Pentecost when the Holy Ghost descended on the apostles, moving them to spread the gospel to all corners of the earth. At the centre of the dome is the Hetoimasia, the Throne of the Second Coming, with the Dove of the Holy Spirit. The twelve apostles are seated in the outer circle, while the pairs of figures between the windows represent the Converted Nations. The pendentives are decorated with four huge angels. 

The final stage of the story is the Last Judgement, which is portrayed in the two western vaults. The mosaic over the main door depicts the Deesis, in which the traditional figure of Saint John the Evangelist is replaced by that of Saint Mark. 

At the eastern end of the basilica, in the apse, we see a mosaic of Christ the Pantocrator (Ruler of the World) above saints Nicholas, Peter, Mark and Hermagoras, four saints who were particularly venerated in Venice. The mosaic of Christ is an early 16th copy of the original 12th century mosaic, but the mosaics of the four saints are original. 

The mosaics in the narthex (atrium) were added in the 13th century and meditate on the Old Testament in general and the books of Genesis and Exodus in particular.

The first bay illustrate scenes from Genesis, which are divided into three concentric bands. In the centre of the dome is the Creation of the Earth, Sky and the Heavens. In the middle band is the Creation of the Sun, Moon, Animals and Man. In the outer band there are stories of Adam and Eve. The cherubim who guard the way to the Tree of Life are portrayed in the pendentives.

Further episodes from the Book of Genesis (Cain and Abel, the life of Noah) are depicted in the surrounding arches and lunettes. 

In the second bay, in front of the main door, are two tiers of niches, which contain some of the oldest (11th/12th c.) mosaics in the church. They depict the Virgin Mary flanked by eight apostles and, at a lower level, the four Evangelists. The mosaic of Saint Mark, in the vault, only dates back to the sixteenth century. 

In the third bay, in the dome and the arch above the door, are mosaics (c. 1230) illustrating the story of Abraham. 

Returning to the interior of the basilica. The Dome of Saint Leonard, in the south transept, depicts four male saints (early 13th century): Nicholas, Clement, Blaise and Leonard. In the spandrels are four female saints: Dorothea (13th c.), Erasma and Euphemia (15th c.) and Thecla (16th c.). In the arch towards the nave are scenes from the life of Christ (early 12th century): Entry into Jerusalem, Temptation of Christ, Last Supper and Washing of the Feet. 

The Dome of Saint John, in the north transept, was decorated in the first half of the 12th century with mosaics illustrating the life of Saint John the Evangelist. 

Translation of the Body of St Mark into the Basilica

Basilica San Marco

Dome of the Prophets

Dome of the Acension

Dome of the Pentecost

The Deesis

Book of Genesis

Virgin and Saints