Christ as an Enthroned Cross
5th century
Mosaic
Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
In their togas Saints Peter and Paul stand left and right of a jeweled throne in a blue clipeus. The composition is inspired by Revelation 4:2-3–
Immediately I was in the spirit: and behold there was a throne set in heaven, and upon the throne one sitting. And he that sat, was to the sight like the jasper and the sardine stone [i.e., carnelian]; and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.The image diverges strikingly from the text by substituting a jeweled cross for the "one sitting." The "four living creatures" of Revelation 4:6 are behind the low wall in the background.
Photographed at Santa Maria Maggiore by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.