S. Marco
| Department | Archive |
|---|---|
| Collection | Byzantine Research Fund |
| Reference No. | BRF/01/05/01/009 |
| Level | Item |
| Place |
Venice |
| Dates | 1889? |
| Donor/Creator |
Weir Schultz, Mr Robert Barnsley, Mr Sidney Howard |
| Scope and Content | Detail of mosaic now at the British Museum. The drawing is annotated in pencil. |
| Further information | The basilica of San Marco (consecrated in 1084/5 or 1093/95) which was modelled on the Constantinopolitan church of the Holy Apostles, is today preserved in excellent condition. Five domes, a central dome and four secondary ones above the arms of the cross, dominate the architecture of the building. A P-shaped narthex covered by cross-vaults is attached to the west. A series of colonnades give the impression of a three-aisled interior. Marble revetments and lavish mosaics dating between the late 11th and the 13th c. underline the splendour of the building’s decoration and architecture. One of the bronze doors of the monument is a gift by Alexios Komnenos while the four horses of the façade are copies of Byzantine originals (now in the Vatican) which were looted during the 1204 siege of Constantinople. |