Il Corteo di Teodora (San Vitale a Ravenna)

Daughter of a bear tamer, dancer, and prostitute, Emperor Justinian's wife, Theodora, stands out in the mosaic depicting her court in the apse of San Vitale in Ravenna, facing her husband's procession: it is a perfect example of the spatial construction of Byzantine mosaics. 00:00 Introduction 00:22 Two-dimensionality, precious clothing, repetitive gestures, hieraticism, solemnity 01:07 The setting 02:15 Procession of expressionless and typified characters 02:47 Other processions of San Apollinare Nuovo 04:15 Clear contour lines 05:08 Theodora (daughter of a bear tamer, dancer and prostitute) 05:36 Portrait with halo, court dignitaries 06:28 The niche with apse basin (shell), Antonina and Giovannina 07:35 Non-perspective representation (divine space) 09:51 The Magi on the mantle (gifts to the King of kings) 10:29 Head of Theodora (Sforza Castle in Milan) 10:57 Palace of Theodoric (space on a single (piano) 12:28 Hands on the Columns (Theodoric's reworkings) 1:09 Port of Classe (otherworldly space)