Deesis: Christ Between Mary and John

Workshop of the Imperial Atelier, Constantinople · 1261

Medium

Gold and glass tesserae on plaster (mosaic study, tempera)

Dimensions

110 × 195 cm

A tempera study made from the Deesis mosaic of Hagia Sophia — one of the supreme works of Byzantine art. Christ enthroned at centre, the Virgin and the Baptist either side in intercession, their heads inclined toward him. The gold ground shimmers with every movement of light.