The artwork named “Jonah” is a mosaic created by artists during the Byzantine era, specifically around the year 1300. It is housed in the Pammakaristos Church in Istanbul, Turkey. The piece belongs to the religious painting genre and reflects the aesthetic and spiritual values of the Late Byzantine/Palaeologan Renaissance period, recognized for a fusion of classical and Byzantine elements. The medium used for this artwork is mosaic, a technique characteristic of Byzantine art, which often employed small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials to create intricate and reflective designs.
The mosaic depicts the figure of Jonah, a prophet commonly featured in Christian, Jewish, and Islamic traditions. In this artwork, Jonah appears seated with a halo around his head, indicating his sanctity. He is wearing a draped garment common to the period’s depiction of figures in religious art. The mosaic’s background is golden, which is typical of Byzantine religious art, signifying the divine light and the heavens.
Jonah holds a scroll, which often signifies the word of God or religious teachings in Byzantine iconography. The presence of Greek text around and within the image connects the artwork to its cultural and linguistic context. The level of detail and care in the creation of the mosaic’s tiles demonstrate the skillful craftsmanship and the importance of religious imagery in Byzantine art.
This piece is an excellent representative of the period’s art and remains an important part of the cultural heritage preserved in the Pammakaristos Church.