The Comnenus Mosaic, Hagia Sophia

Why it's great

The Virgin Mary and Child with the Emperor John II Komnenos and the Empress Irene, in a glittering golden mosaic in Hagia Sophia made around 1118. Byzantine emperors liked to show themselves offering gifts to holy figures.

🏛️ Part of history

Byzantium & the Fall of Constantinople (527–1453) — The Virgin Mary and Child with the Emperor John II Komnenos and the Empress Irene, in a glittering golden mosaic in Hagia Sophia made around 1118.

Where to see it

📍 Location not recordedWe couldn't confirm where it hangs today. Museums sometimes move or lend paintings, so check the museum's website before you travel.

Hang it on your wall

⬇ Hi-res download 3,386 × 1,783 px · 6.0 megapixels · prints up to about 11 × 6 inches at 300 dpi File page & license ↗

Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:

💵 Budget Etsy ↗ Posters and simple prints from small sellers, usually the lowest prices. 🖼️ Mid-range Fine Art America ↗ Good printing on paper, canvas or metal, made to order, with framing options. 🏛️ High-end Meisterdrucke ↗ Museum-grade giclée prints on archival paper or canvas, the closest to the real thing.

These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.

About the artist

Byzantine mosaicists

Unknown or anonymous artist

The mosaics of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople were made by Byzantine artists whose names are not known. They placed thousands of tiny pieces of colored glass and gold in the plaster, creating images that glitter in candlelight, over several centuries.