D&G Mosaic Women vs. Theodora's Court

Year 2013, Milan, Dolce & Gabbana "Tailored mosaic" collection

 

Year 547, Ravenna - Theodora and her court, Byzantium

Is it maybe time for a film on Theodora, Empress of Byzantium? Screenwriters, writers, ghost-writers, producers, directors: Get right on it.

A rather mischievous Theodora by Lacroix for SICIS

I am still not sure if I like this (Theodora's subtle and feminine look is gone and been substituted by a less sophisticated yet rather mischievous appearance of a modern lady) but it is definitely worth of mention.

The artwork in question is based on the famous San Vitale mosaic of Theodora previously featured on this blog here and here. It is the offspring of the collaboration between Cristian Lacroix and SICIS. The famous Italian company SICIS (remember the mosaic bathtubs and the pin up girl?) is a name to remember in the world of mosaic and furniture today and if any of you will want to exploit mosaic and interior design be sure that the name will pop up repeatedly. SICIS as we speak will be exhibiting Lacroix's collection at the Salone del Mobile in Milan.

Here we quote some interesting information on this collaboration of which the full text is found on www.anothermag.com, here.

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True, all the pieces illustrate SICIS’s commitment to esteemed creative endeavor and continued savoir faire. In partnership with Mr. Christian Lacroix masterful hands, they revolutionize the world of lifestyle with poetic insouciance. Mr. Christian Lacroix also acknowledges that, thanks

to SICIS’s daring and energy, the mosaic is now accepted as a deeply contemporary and artistic embellishment. Wildly inspired by the illustrious history of mosaics in Ravenna particularly in connection with the Byzantine Empress Theodora, Mr Lacroix was reminded of Arles, his hometown and romantic region renowned for well-preserved Roman tiles and sought after antiquities.

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In fact, as we read from the same source that from April 12 - 17, the collection of furniture designed by Mr Christian Lacroix will be presented at the Salone del Mobile Milan fair in a new exquisite SICIS lifestyle set-up. From June 2011, it will be distributed worldwide in all of SICIS’s showrooms.

Facts about Theodora

via

I was watching John Romer's Byzantium, The lost Empire and when he describes the famous San Vitale mosaics with Theodora and her court he says that 2 - 3 months after the mosaic was finished, Theodora died of cancer. That was something I did not know. I decided to verify. My 1st source is from about.com and the 2nd from http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/arth212/san_vitale.html.  I have chosen to copy the texts, because in it you will read a lot more interesting facts. In the 1st text, you will read that she played a VITAL role in governing the state, she contributed in laws favouring the rights of women and generally provided a lot of support to her husband Justinian. As I had mentioned in a previous post about Theodora, we owe a lot to this woman, dancer, perhaps former courtesan and definitely of humble origins.

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Possibly the most powerful woman in Byzantine history, Theodora was the wife of one of the most significant emperors of the Eastern Roman Empire, Justinian I.

Born the daughter of a bearkeeper, Theodora began her career as an actress at an early age. She may also have been a courtesan, and she gave birth to at least one child out of wedlock. Converting to monophysitism, Theodora became a devout, if unorthodox, Christian, and for a time earned a living as a wool spinner.

Theodora impressed Justinian, nephew of the current emperor Justin I, with her beauty, wit and insight, and he made her his mistress and raised her to the rank of patrician. In 525 they were wed, and when Justinian ascended to the throne two years later, Theodora was proclaimed "augusta."

The empress exercised notable influence on her husband and on the workings of state. In addition to providing support and encouragement to Justinian, Theodora took part in making laws of the period (nearly all of which mention her name) and handled diplomatic functions ordinarily reserved for the emperor. She is famous for advising her husband to stand his ground during the Nika revolt, which he did successfully.

Theodora is well-known for sponsoring laws affecting women's rights in divorce, inheritance and guardianship, and prostitution; in particular, she saw to it that strict laws were passed preventing traffic in young girls. She also worked to mitigate laws against the monophysites, successfully ending their persecution, though never convincing Justinian to alter the official policy that favored Orthodoxy.

It is very difficult to gauge what achievements of Justinian's reign are owed to Empress Theodora, for the two worked together closely, and after her death Justinian showed a considerable decrease in activity. Theodora died at about age 50, probably from cancer. 

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The following text from oneonta helps us understand that

1. San Vitale church was dedicated to Bishop Maximian who was appointed Bishop in 546. He is actually the only labeled figure in the Justinian mosaic.

2. Theodora died in 548.  

It is very logical that the mosaics would have taken (at least) 2 years to finish between Bishop Maximian's appointment and Theodora's death.

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 St. Vitalis, a second century martyr, was believed to be the head of a family of martyrs who were associated with the local foundation of Christianity. St. Vitalis was believed to be the husband of St. Valeria and the father of Sts. Gervase and Prothase. According to the story of Gervase and Prothase, they along with St. Vitalis were martyred on the spot of a "little Colosseum," the site of the church of San Vitale. As effectively the "proto" or first martyr of Ravenna, St. Vitalis was seen as the spiritual head of the Christian community in Ravenna.

The Church was begun by the Orthodox bishop of Ravenna, Ecclesius (522-32), shortly after the death of Theodoric in 526. The church was apparently financed by Julius Argentarius, whose name suggests he was a banker. Several capitals bear the monogram of Bishop Victor (538-545). The Church was dedicated by Bishop Maximian (546-56) in 547. The apse mosaic shows on the left hand side St. Vitalis receiving the crown of martyrdom from the enthroned Christ, while on the right hand side of the same mosaic Ecclesius is shown presenting a model of the church. Bishop Maximian appears as the only labeled figure in the Justinian mosaic.

Since Maximian was appointed as bishop of Ravenna in 546, this suggests that the mosaic must be from after that date.

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The woman who seduced the Emperor

Theodora was a woman of humble origins who married Emperor Justinian around 525. Her name Theodora - Θεοδώρα comes from the two Greek words Theos (God) and Doro (gift). Could we say she was eventually a gift of God? And to whom? To her husband, one of the greatest rulers of New Rome whom she helped as very few wives of rulers did? To her people because of her contribution to the governing of an Empire throughout the glittering years of Justinian's rule? Was she a gift to the mosaicists who where commissioned to depict her extraordinary and blinding beauty on the walls of San Vitale in Ravenna? Was she a gift to the mosaic world in general if you consider that it was mainly due to Constantinople that Ravenna or Venice (cities under Costantinople's rule/influence) became such remarkable and leading centers for mosaic art. And this was not just for the mosaics but for Rennaisance art. I leave the author of Greece Travel Blog to explain it:

Byzantine art was what Italian Renaissance artists were reacting to and improving upon, but it’s crucial that they had Byzantine art to build upon. All of our Western art basically comes from or responds to Renaissance art, and Renaissance art basically comes from or responds to Byzantine art.

When Rome fell and the Empire was transferred to the East (in the new city named after Rome's Emperor Constantine), nothing was left in Rome to be safeguarded. Rome yielded to barbarian invasions. It was New Rome - Constantinople that undertook the perilous role to keep and nurture culture, arts, the Roman and the Greek language. It was done so in a place that was both West and East. An Empire that lived for approximately 1100 years.

The Empire in which a humble girl could marry an Emperor....Theodora.

notes-credits:

Images from the internet with copy link location option.

The amazing virtual Theodora is work by Lady Thera, taken from this fantastic blog post.

Learn about the Byzantine Empire through the main 12 Emperors:

12 Byzantine rulers