# Cupola decoration \(detail\) [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [EARLY CHRISTIAN PAINTER, Coptic]() - Date: 0501-0550 - Technique: Mural painting ## Commentary Some of the best-preserved Coptic paintings from the 6th to 8th centuries come from the memorial chapels of the monasteries of Bawit and Saqqara \(now Cairo, Coptic Museum\), corresponding to their periods of greatest expansion. The focus of the painted programme is the niche, enclosing Christ or the Virgin and Child. A niche painting from chapel 6 at Bawit is in two registers. The upper shows Christ in Majesty blessing and holding an open book displaying the text of the Trisagion \(Greek 'thrice holy'; Ordinary chant of the Eastern Christian liturgy\). He is flanked by the four apocalyptic beasts of Ezekiel's vision, with the sun and moon and archangels. Below is a scene of the Virgin and Child with the Apostles, each holding a jewelled Gospel book. The figures are arranged frontally, moulded in yellow, black, green and blue. Old Testament iconography, especially the life of David, New Testament and hunting scenes also find a place alongside depictions of monks and saints at Bawit. ## Related artworks - [Christ and Abbot Mena]() - [Christ and Abbot Mena]() - [Christ Enthroned]() - [Cupola decoration]() - [Virgin and Child between Apostles]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()