EditorialA pedestrian walks near the Palace of Culture, adorned with Soviet-era mosaics, in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, on Feb. 2, 2023. (Nicole Tung/The New York Times)
EditorialA pedestrian walks near the Palace of Culture, adorned with Soviet-era mosaics, in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, on Feb. 2, 2023. (Nicole Tung/The New York Times)
EditorialA pedestrian walks near the Palace of Culture, adorned with Soviet-era mosaics, in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, on Feb. 2, 2023. (Nicole Tung/The New York Times)
EditorialA pedestrian walks near the Palace of Culture, adorned with Soviet-era mosaics, in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, on Feb. 2, 2023. (Nicole Tung/The New York Times)
EditorialA pedestrian walks near the Palace of Culture, adorned with Soviet-era mosaics, in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, on Feb. 2, 2023. (Nicole Tung/The New York Times)
EditorialAdoration of the Magi, Early Byzantine, early 6th century. An ivory relief panel of the Adoration of Christ. The Virgin Mary, shown with wide staring eyes and larger in scale than the other figures, holds the Christ child in her lap as he makes the ges...
EditorialThe birth of Christ. From the Baptistery, Florence. Mosaics cover the entire cupola. They were begun in 1220 and completed a century later. The designs are by Florentine painters, among them Cimabue and the young Giotto.
EditorialThe three Magi before King Herod. Mosaic from the narthex of the Hora Church, Istanbul. The church was founded in the 3rd century, later rebuilt by the logothete Theodore Metochites (first quarter 14th) who also ordered the mosaics to be made.