Tuscan craftsmen, Mosaics with Popes, Bishops and Deacons Saints (drum)

The 26 windows of the vault drum alternate with rectangular mosaic panels by two artists, known as the Master of San Gaggio (commonly identified with Grifo di Tancredi) and the Master of Santa Cecilia (Gaddo Gaddi?). Each of these mosaics, completed in the first quarter of the 1300s, shows a half-length portrait of a pope, bishops or deacon saint against a gold background. These figures represent the “Church Triumphant”, witnessing from the glory of Heaven and participating in the celebration of baptism in the liturgical space of the temple to St. John, where the “Church Militant” welcomes new members.

Each saint is identified by a Latin inscription and iconographic attributes (bishop’s mitre, crozier, liturgical vestment, palm of martyrdom). On each side there are two holy bishops, with holy deacons in the corner panels. On the west under Christ the judge, the most important side, there are four Saints Doctors of the Church.

From east to west, the saints are recognised as: Bishop Basil, Bishop John, Deacon Parmenas, Bishop Dionysius, Bishop Ignatius, Deacon Nicanor, Bishop Nicholas, Pope Sylvester, Deacon Philip, Bishop Isidore, Pope Leo the Great, Deacon Stephen, Bishop Augustine, Bishop Jerome, Pope Gregory, Bishop Ambrose, Deacon Lawrence, Bishop Zenobius, Bishop Hilary, Deacon V[…?], Bishop Martin, Bishop Fulgentius, Deacon V[incent?], Bishop Cyprian, Bishop Gregory, Deacon Prochorus.

Each saint is identified by a Latin inscription and by iconographic attributes (for example miter, crozier, liturgical vestment or palm of martyrdom); there are two holy bishops or popes on each side, and holy deacons in the corner panels. Only on the western side, the most important under Christ the judge, are there four saints, the Doctors of the Church.

From east to west the following can be recognized: Bishop Basil, Bishop John, Deacon Parmena, Bishop Dionysius, Bishop Ignatius, Deacon Nicanor, Bishop Nicholas, Pope Sylvester, Deacon Philip, Bishop Isidore, Pope Leo the Great , Stephen Deacon, Augustine Bishop, Jerome Bishop, Gregory Pope, Ambrose Bishop, Lawrence Deacon, Zenobius Bishop, Hilarius Bishop, V[...] Deacon, Martin Bishop, Fulgentius Bishop, V[incent?] Deacon, Cyprian Bishop, Gregory Bishop and Prochorus Deacon.