# South cupola, west narthex [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [MOSAIC ARTIST, Italian]() - Date: 1201-1250 - Technique: Mosaic ## Commentary The mosaic decoration of the exterior of San Marco was begun between 1215 and 1225 with the south cupola of the west narthex. Here, in three concentric registers, the story of the Creation is retold in twenty-two scenes, beginning in the first register with the dove hovering over the waters, and concluding in the third register with the expulsion of Adam and Eve from paradise. The Creation cycle was designed after a Greek manuscript of Genesis from the late fifth century. ## Related artworks - [Apse calotte mosaic \(detail\)]() - [Apse calotte mosaic \(detail\)]() - [Apse calotte mosaic \(detail\)]() - [Apse calotte mosaic \(detail\)]() - [Apse decoration \(detail\)]() - [Apse decoration]() - [Apse decoration]() - [Apse decoration]() - [Apse mosaic \(detail\)]() - [Apse mosaic \(detail\)]() - [Apse mosaic \(detail\)]() - [Apse mosaic \(detail\)]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()