Istanbul: Sultanahmet - Hagia Sophia - Mosaics

Detail of the Deesis — The magnificent mosaic composition of the Deesis showing Christ between the Holy Virgin and St. John the Baptist.
The mosaic is executed in fine tesserae of soft hues and the figures are set against a background of gold.
The wistful and grave expressions reflect a profound spirituality and announce a new epoch marked by high aesthetic standards and classical trends. At the same time, they signal the general feeling of insecurity caused by the fluid state of affairs and the uncertainty of the Empire’s future