The artwork, titled “The Comnenus Mosaics,” was created by Byzantine artists around the year 1122. It belongs to the Middle Byzantine art movement, specifically the Komnenian style, which spanned from 1081 to 1185. The mosaic falls under the genres of religious painting and portraiture and is part of a series located in the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey.
The intricately detailed mosaic features central religious figures, artfully composed with a rich palette of golds, blues, and other vivid pigments typical of Byzantine mosaics. The central figure is the Virgin Mary, depicted holding the Christ Child, both exuding a sense of solemn grace and divine authority. Flanking her are two regal figures likely representing Emperor John II Comnenus and Empress Irene, each portrayed with symbolic objects and attire indicative of their status and roles. The background, a mosaic of gold tesserae, adds a divine luminosity, enhancing the sacred atmosphere of the scene. This masterpiece not only epitomizes the exquisite craftsmanship of the Byzantine period but also serves as a significant historical record of the Komnenian dynasty’s religious and imperial iconography.