Judas Thaddaeus (Eucharist Cycle) (c.1113) by Byzantine Mosaics

Judas Thaddaeus (Eucharist Cycle) - Byzantine Mosaics - c.1113

Artwork Information

TitleJudas Thaddaeus (Eucharist Cycle)
ArtistByzantine Mosaics
Datec.1113
Mediummosaïque
Art MovementMiddle Byzantine (c. 850–1204),Komnenian style (1081-1185)
Current LocationSaint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv, Ukraine

About Judas Thaddaeus (Eucharist Cycle)

The artwork titled “Judas Thaddaeus (Eucharist Cycle)” is a Byzantine mosaic created around 1113. It’s part of the Middle Byzantine art movement, specifically during the Komnenian style period from 1081 to 1185, and it falls under the genre of religious painting. This piece belongs to a series located in St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv, Ukraine, but it is situated in the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine.

The mosaic depicts Saint Judas Thaddaeus, rendered in the tessellated style characteristic of Byzantine mosaics. The figure is shown with a halo, suggestive of his saintly status, looking directly at the viewer. The features are stylized with strong outlines and a simple yet expressive facial rendering. He holds what appears to be a scroll or a book, indicating his role as an apostle and his contribution to the Christian teachings.

The use of color is rich yet limited to a palette that befits the spiritual and solemn nature of religious art from the Byzantine era. Golden tiles create the halo, emphasizing the divine aura associated with the figure. The green, red, and white tones used for the garments and flesh are laid out in such a way that they provide a sense of depth and form, utilizing the intrinsic material qualities of the glass or stone tesserae to reflect light and create an ornate, visually engaging image.

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