La Martorana

Name of structure: La Martorana
Extended name of structure: S. Maria dell'Ammiraglio, S. Nicolò dei Greci
Type of structure: Church
Country or main area: Italy
Region within country or main area: Sicily
City or area within region: Palermo
Date of structure: 1143, 16C
Century of structure 1: 12 AD
Century of structure 2: 16 AD
Specific place of mosaic: Dome, drum, walls; south and north apses; cross arms; vaults; aisles walls; narthex.
Brief descriptive contents of mosaic:

Dome: Christ enthroned, archangels.
Drum: Evangelists, Old Testament prophets.
Central cross walls: Annunciation, presentation at the Temple
East cross walls: archangels.
South apse: Anna.
North apse: Jacob.
North and south cross arms: saints.
Vault west arm: Nativity and Dormition.
South aisle wall: saints.
Saints on vaults; flora and fauna throughout.
Date of mosaic: 1143-51
Century of mosaic 1: 12 AD
Century of mosaic 2: 12 AD
Silver tessera at site: Unknown
Gold tessera at site: Yes
Colour tessera at site: Yes
Were other materials found at site (i.e., glass cakes)? n/a
Has analysis been done? No
Samples taken from where? n/a
Excavation and restoration campaigns: 1728: new mosaics added to lower edge of original mosaic area (Kitzinger, 24)
1877-78: Patricolo from the Commissione di Antichità e Belle Arte
Bibliography of mainly technical resources:

Tomaselli, F., Il ritorno dei Normanni. Protagonisti ed interpreti del restauro dei monumenti a Palermo capitale normanna. Il restaura tra memoria e nostalgia dall'Ottocento al Piano Particolareggiato Esecutivo (Palermo, 1994), 69-77.


Kitzinger, E., The mosaics of St. Mary's of the Admiral in Palermo (Dumbarton Oaks Studies 27) (Washington D. C, 1990).


 
URLs:
Comments: Main apse (destroyed 17C.): probably mosaic of the Virgin and her parents.

Previous Next