The Pala d'Oro

The Life of St Mark

These panels date from the first incarnation of the panel in the early 12th century. Originally, they were at the bottom of the Pala, presumably running chronologically from left to right. They were subsequently moved to the sides, five panels reading from the bottom to the top on the left and top to bottom on the right. Of course, it cannot be certain that the correct order was maintained.   For convenience, I have rearranged the panels left - right.

The legends of Mark mainly begin in Rome, where he meets St Peter, shown in the first two panels as the grey-haired seated figure. The first panel shows Peter handing a bishop's crook to Peter. He had appointed him the bishop of Alexandria, and, before that, the bishop of Aquilegia in Northern Italy.   The second panel raises questions. It seems to show a third figure being brought by Mark to St Peter.  Who could it be? My thoughts are that this could be Ermagoras, a citizen of Aquilegia. The Golden Legend tells us that Mark brought him to Rome and requested that he appointed him bishop of Aquilegia, leaving Mark free to head for Alexandria.   The third panel shows Mark meeting Anianus, the Alexandrian shoemaker. In the final scene Anianus is being baptised; eventually he became the Patriarch of Alexandria. My interpretation of the fourth scene is that it shows Mark bringing down a pagan idol from its pillar.

On to the right hand panels. In panel 1 Mark has been arrested by Pagans; Christ appears to him in his prison cell, and promises him eternal glory.  In the second panel Mark is tied up an dragged from his altar. In the third scene, Mark is being laid in a tomb. Alternatively, the Venetians have located him and are about to carry him off. The fourth panel shows the bringing of the body of Mark to Venice, to scenes of jubilation as seen in the fifth panel.

On to the rear panels

Pala d'Oro page 1                                                                  Home page - explore the site