Monreale Cathedral (1174-1185)*

Artist/Designer: Designer Unknown

Project Location: Palermo, Italy

Figure 1: Monreale Cathedral, Palermo, Italy, 1174-1885. ( Source | Accessed : September 23, 2013 | Photographer: Unknown )

Figure 2: Monreale Cathedral, Palermo, Italy, 1174-1885. ( Source | Accessed : September 23, 2013 | Photographer: Noah's Art Mosaics at Monreale Cathedral )

Figure 3: Monreale Cathedral, Palermo, Italy, 1174-1885. ( Source | Accessed : September 23, 2013 | Photographer: Studio Triskeles Associato )

Style/Period(s):
Medieval

Primary Material(s):
Stone

Function(s):
Religious Building

Related Website(s):

Sacred Destination. "Monorail Cathedral." | Accessed : May 6, 2013

The Thinking Traveller. "Guide to Sicily." | Accessed : May 6, 2013

Web Gallery of Art. "Mosaics." | Accessed : May 6, 2013

taly Heaven. "Monreale." | Accessed : May 6, 2013

Significant Date(s):
12th Century

Additional Information:
Publications/Texts in Print-
Krönig, Wolfgang. The Cathedral of Monreale and Norman Architecture in Sicily. Palermo: S. F. Flaccovio, 1965.

Additional Information-

Project Description:
The mosaic image is one of many that can be seen in Monreale's world famous Romanesque cathedral in Sicily, not far from Palermo. Built in the mid 12th century for a Norman king, the cathedral is a magical, stunning and sparkling mass of mosaics. The mosaics cover not only the walls above the nave arches but also the East end of the cathedral and even the undersides of the rounded arches and in the risers of the stair treads. The images are biblical from both Old and New Testaments and consist of a continuous narrative. For example, the image of Noah that is shown is just one of a series of mosaic illustrations that deal with the Noah story, and the depiction of the animals varies from image to image. There is also a flatness or linearity to the depictions of animals and humans that is typical of this period in art history and this flatness can also be seen in the manuscripts of the time. Unusually, the mosaics were set on preformed boards and then erected in situ, rather than the more usual method of applying each mosaic stone individually to the wall. This latter method can sometimes reveal uneven levels in the mosaic pictures; however the Monreale images are very smooth because of the technique used.

Building Address:
Piazza Guglielmo II, 1, 90046 Monreale PA, Italy

Supporting Designers/Staff:
Commissioned by William II (1154-89), the Norman ruler of Sicily

Significant Dates:
Constructed from 1174-1185

Tags:
Cathedral, Cattedrale, Norman, Sicily, Palermo, Italy

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