Vincenzo da Pavia's artistic apprenticeship was in Rome where he became acquainted with the painting and style of Raphael. After leaving the capital, he has been documented in Naples, Messina and Palermo. His style echoes that of the painter from Urbino and is also evident in the altarpiece for the ...

In the four corner bays, covered by cross vaults, there is a starry sky formed by six-pointed golden stars on a blue background. ...

There are eight trees in the space between the four windows of the dome’s drum. Others are positioned on either side of the windows on the minor apses, in the north wall and in the wall on the corner bays. Arranged two by two, in symmetrical pairs, they act as a frame and decoration for the mosaic...

The Virgin Mary's parents take their places in the two side apses, with St. Joachim on the left and St. Anne on the right. The story of St Anne is mentioned in the Apocryphal Gospels Protoevangelium of James and Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew, as well as in some hagiographic texts. According to the story,...

The Virgin Mary's parents take their places in the two side apses, with St. Joachim on the left and St. Anne on the right. St. Joachim is only mentioned in the Apocryphal Gospels. A calm man with strong moral virtues, he married Anna in his old age. Mary's birth was announced by an angel who appeare...

In the inner sides of the arches, there are seven medallions depicting busts of saints. Above the medallion of each one or close to it, the name identifying the saint emerges from the gold background. In the medallions of the eastern arch, bishops such as St John Chrysostom, St Basil, St Gregory, St...

The arch of the Bema depicts the scene of the Annunciation. The archangel Gabriel is depicted on the left half, with the Virgin Mary on the right half. At the top of the arch, the hand of God witnesses the scene. The angel seems to be moving, leaning towards Mary who, in turn, wrapped in a tunic, ho...

The scene of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple is very simple and has few characters. On the left-hand side of the arch, Mary is depicted holding the Child in her hands and holding him out, who is pawing, towards Simon, who is symmetrically placed on the right. Simon, dressed in white and blue...

In the Domitio scene, the Virgin Mary, wearing a golden halo, lies on the funeral bed with her hands crossed on her chest, her head bowed and her eyes closed. In a crescendo of pain, she is surrounded by the apostles, including Peter with the thurible in his hands and John, distressed and bent over ...

One of the most important scenes of the entire Martorana mosaic cycle is that of the Nativity, in the western vault of the central space. In the depiction, the Virgin Mary can be seen at the centre, dressed in a blue robe and cloak, holding the baby Jesus, who seems to be almost wrapped in a tight ...