THE MOSAICS OF SANTA MARIA MAGGIORE

From Santa Pudenziana it is easy to reach the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the main entrance to which is on the square of the same name. The building was erected between 432 and 440 by Pope Sixtus III, who dedicated it to the Virgin. The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is the first basilica in Rome built not by an emperor, but by a pope, who also had it splendidly decorated. The arch of triumph and the nave still preserve their original mosaics, from the time of Sixtus III. They depict the unusual theme of the childhood of Jesus and scenes from the Old Testament. For the first time, a mosaic revetment has the function of telling, through its images, the holy story: from Christ’s ancestors in the panels over the columns, to the life of Jesus illustrated on the triumphal arch.

The events narrated are clearly readable from below because they were done respecting the principle of functional colourism of the early Christianmosaics, that is to say according to the practice of intensifying the tones of the subjects represented. Observing the panels closely, it is possible to note the infinite shadings and colour contrasts of the skies, vegetation, buildings, faces, clothing, weapons, and all the other details making up the single scenes. Instead, the apse mosaic created by Jacopo Torriti between 1291 and 1296 dates from the time of Nicholas IV. The artist signed the mosaic on thevault, at the lower left: IACOB(US) TORRITI PICTOR H(OC) OP(US) FEC(IT). At the centre of the vault, at the top Jesus and Mary are seated on the same throne and Christ, crowning his mother, shows the faithful the book with the words explaining the entire mosaic “Vieni mia diletta e ti porrò sul miotrono” – “Come, my beloved, and I shall place youon my throne”.

The models to which Jacopo Torriti must have referred for the Coronation of the Virgin come from France, as indicated by similar scenes depicted on the portals of the Cathedrals of Notre- Dame in Paris, Strasbourg, and Sens. On the other hand, the little scenes depicted at the feet of the central group, with putti-cupids sailing the waters of the River Jordan, are more Roman! The visit to Santa Maria Maggiore may be concluded by going up to the Loggia (for information, go to the room adjacent to the Baptistery, where souvenirs are sold), or taking a look at the mosaics on the external façade of the church.

Done by Filippo Rusuti between the 13th and early 14th centuries,the episodes illustrate, in the lower part, the story of the miraculous summer snow connected with the building of the church. The legend of the summer snow It is said that during the night of 4 August 358, the Virgin appeared simultaneously in a dream to Pope Liberius and to the rich and devoted John, to ask them for the dedication of a basilica on the site in Rome where snow would have fallen that night. The next morning John went to the pope to tell him of the apparition of the Virgin and, together, they went to the Cispian Hill, where the pope traced out, in the fresh snow, the outline of the new church. The miracle of the snow is still remembered in the basilica every year on 5 August: during the celebration of Mass, white jasmine and rose petals are made to flutter down over the high altar.

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