The artwork, titled “Emperor Constantine I, Presenting a Model of the City to the Blessed Virgin Mary,” is a mosaic created around the year 1000 by Byzantine Mosaics. It belongs to the Middle Byzantine period, specifically within the Macedonian Renaissance era, which spans from 867 to 1056. This portrait is part of a series located in the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey.
This mosaic depicts Emperor Constantine I holding a model of a city, which he is presenting to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The artwork showcases the intricate and rich style characteristic of Byzantine mosaics, with the use of gold tiles creating a luminous background that accentuates the sanctity of the depicted figures. Emperor Constantine is adorned in regal, elaborately patterned robes, and his halo denotes his sanctified status. The craftsmanship demonstrates the sophistication and religious devotion that defined the art of the Middle Byzantine period.