S. Maria Assunta (Duomo)

Department Archive
Collection Byzantine Research Fund
Reference No. BRF/01/05/01/027
Level Item
Place Torcello
Dates 06/11/1889
Donor/Creator Weir Schultz, Mr Robert
Barnsley, Mr Sidney Howard
Scope and Content Plan. The drawing is entitled and dated in ink in the upper left-hand corner: 'Cathedral S. Maria. Torcello. The pulpit. Nov. 06 1887'. Further annotation in ink survives.
Further information The present three-aisled basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, located on the island of Torcello, is a seventh-century building with strong Byzantine influences which was extensively restored in 864/7 and again in 1008 by bishop Orseolo.
Worth noting is the mosaic decoration of the building: a majestic Last Judgement covers the largest part of the west wall in broad horizontal zones while figurative mosaics decorate the walls of the sanctuary. The marble decoration of the building must be the work of Byzantine carvers.