Title of Art: Six Women Martyrs
Art Form: Mosaic
Exhibit Institution: Cappella di Sant'Andrea e Museo Arcivescovile (St. Andrew Chapel and Archiepiscopal Museum)
Exhibit Location: Ravenna, Italy
VM Image #: 0011
Photographer: Shala Graham
Date of Photograph: January 2, 2023
Subjects: Cecilia, Eugenia, Euphemia, Daria, Perpetua, Felicitas
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Mosaic roundels on the barrel vaults of the Cappella Arcivescovile of Ravenna, with portrait busts of twelve apostles and twelve martyrs (six women, six men). In this view of one vault there are six women martyrs, left to right: Cecilia (of Rome), Eugenia (of Chalcedon), Eufemia/Euphemia (of Rome), Daria (of Rome), Perpetua (of Carthage), Felicitas (of Rome).
Each woman is posed in a front-facing posture with a resolute expression. Each is encircled in blue mosaics that lighten in shade closer to the woman’s head, giving the illusion of a halo of light. Four women appear identical in gold robes encrusted with jewels and pearls. They each wear a veil over a headcovering or mitella. The two unique women are Daria and Felicitas. Daria’s hair is exposed with a center part, perhaps indicative of her life as a vestal priestess before her conversion. Felicitas is dressed somberly in dark purple and white without decorations, jewels, or pearls, indicating her status as a servant.
The vaulted mosaic frames a fresco depicting Christ being removed from the cross. Female followers surround his body to the left. Together, the fresco and mosaics show the ongoing witness and devotion of Christ’s female followers.
The vaulted mosaic frames a fresco depicting Christ being removed from the cross. Female followers surround his body to the left. Together, the fresco and mosaics show the ongoing witness and devotion of Christ’s female followers.