Image: Demus 1988, pl. 64
Clavis number: ECMA 170
Other descriptors: none
Location: the San Marco Basilica in Venice, Italy
Category: Mosaics
Related literature: Martyrdom of Mark, Passion of Hermagoras and Fortunatus, Golden Legend 59
Featured characters and locations: Ananias/Anianos (of Alexandria), Alexandria, Aquileia, Athaulf, Hermagoras, Mark (evangelist), Peter (apostle), Rome.
1. DESCRIPTION
Material: mosaics
Size: not provided
Date and Provenance: the San Marco Basilica in Venice, mosaics were started and funded by Doge Domenico Selvo in the early eleventh century and completed around the twelfth century. They have undergone several restorations. Zen Chapel cycle created in the 1270s.
1.1 Cycle of Mark in the Capella di San Pietro
Image: Index of Medieval Art; Demus 1988, p. 31 fig. 12.
Description: Left: Mark consecrated by Peter (identified) beside building inscribed “Roma.” Inscription: MARCUS SACRATUR (“Mark is consecrated”). Centre: Mark heals Athaulf the leper in Aquileia. Inscription: LEPRAM SANAT (“He heals leprosy”). Right: Mark baptizes Athaulf. Inscription: ATRA LAVATUR (“Sins are forgiven”).
Image: Index of Medieval Art.; Demus 1988, p. 32 fig. 13.
Description: Left: Peter consecrates Hermagoras (both figures identified) as Bishop of Aquileia. Building on left identified as “Roma.” Inscription: CONSECRATUS IAM FUNGERE PONTIFICATUS (“Here, having been ordained, he carries out his ministry”). Centre: Mark (named) in centre beside building identified as Alexandria. Right: Heramagoras (identified) baptizes converts.
Not pictured: Mark preaches and baptizes.
Image: Index of Medieval Art; Demus 1988, p. 32 fig. 14.
Description: Left: Mark, instructed by an angel, sails for Alexandria with group of turbaned men. Inscription: NUNCIAT HIS P(ER)GIT (“Annunciation. Departure”). Right: Mark heals the shoemaker Ananios (both identified). Building named as Alexandria. Inscription: SUTORIS WLNERA (VULNERA) TERGIT (“He heals the cobbler’s wounds”).
Image: Index of Medieval Art; Demus 1988, p. 33 fig. 15.
Description: Left: two men stand on roof of church with rope around neck of Mark, attended by three deacons. Inscription: QUE(M) SUFFOCANTES TREMUNT (“Trembling, they suffocate him”). Right: burial of Mark, attended by a bishop (perhaps Anianos) and two men. Inscription: HII FLENT TUMULANTES (“These weep as they bury him”).
1.2 Cappella Zen
Image: Demus 1984, pl. 64
Description: Left to right: 1. Mark writing his Gospel, 2. Mark presenting Gospel to Peter, 3. Mark baptizing in Aquileia, 4. Mark’s vision in the Venetian lagoon, 5. Peter consecrating Hermagoras, 6. Mark healing a demoniac.
Image: Web Gallery of Art
Description: 7. Mark ordered by a dream to go to Alexandria (not pictured). 8. Mark’s voyage to Alexandria. 9. Mark healing Anianus.
Image: Web Gallery of Art.
Description: 10. Mark strangled at the altar, 11. Mark dragged and killed, 12. Burial of Mark.
2. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cartlidge, David R., and J. Keith Elliott. Art and the Christian Apocrypha. London and New York: Routledge, 2001 (p. 231).
Demus, Otto. The Church of San Marco in Venice: History, Architecture, Sculpture. Washington: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, 1960.
__________. The Mosaic Decoration of San Marco Venice. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1988 (pp. 28–38, 179–82).
__________. The Mosaics of San Marco in Venice. 2 vols. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1984 (vol. 1, p. 58).
3. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
“Basilica di San Marco.” Patriarcato di Venezia.
“St. Mark’s Basilica.” Wikipedia.
Entry created by Tony Burke, York University, 10 July 2024.