Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Laurenzo Cosmati

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior". The "Severin Strasse" named after the church once was a Roman road running south through a Roman necropolis. An Christian oratory existed here already at the end of the 4th century. In Carolingian times a basilica was here. A community of clerics had settled and already before 800 St. Severin, the third Bishop of Cologne, is documented as patron saint. The construction of a three-aisled basilica started in the 10th century. About 1230 the choir was extended over the hall crypt (which is mostly locked nowadays). The new choir got consecrated in 1237. Around 1500 the Romanesque church got reconstructed in Gothic style and the Gothic tower was finally completed in 1550. The convent got dissolved 1802 after the French took over Cologne and St. Severin became a parish church. During WWII St. Severin got severely damaged, the vaults of the central nave were down, all roofs were destroyed. The reconstruction was done 1945 - 1961. After a restoration, that was completed in 2017, for a while in 2017 all furniture was taken out and some mosaics, that may have survived WWII could be seen. They are in a decorative, geometric style called "cosmatesque". This technique goes back to the Roman family Cosmati, the leading family workshop of marble craftsmen for generations. It is said, that Laurenzo Cosmati (~ 1150) was apprentice of Greek / Byzantine Masters. His sons continued the work. Upto about 1300 the comatesque style spread all over Europe.

The first church probably existed here, on the siland of Murona, already in the 7th century. A large church, named "Santa Mariae plebis Murianensis" was erected within the 10th century. Legends connect the building to Otto I, and it is proven that it was completed in 999. This church got rebuild around 1040. In 1125, the relics of St. Donatus, that had been attained by the Venitian forces, led by Doge Domenico Michele, were translated to this church. The church and the campanile are built with red bricks. Santa Maria e San Donato, once the cathedral of the Bishops of Murano and Torcellino, is known for the fantastic floor mosaics and cosmatesque decorations, that, following the inscription, seen here, was completed 1140. These works are called "cosmatesque" after the Roman family Cosmati, who were the leading family workshop of marble craftsmen for generations. It is said, that Laurenzo Cosmati (~ 1150) was apprentice of Greek / Byzantine Masters. The floor seen here was probably completed before Laurenzo Cosmati was born. This floor was done by by Greek/Byzantine Masters.

Florentina was established in Roman times as a settlement for veteran soldiers. The name had changed already, when young Charlemagne conquered the town in 774. It became part of the Duchy of Tuscany, with Lucca as capital. Around 1000 Margrave Hugo chose Florence as residency instead of Lucca. After the death of Matilda of Tuscany (1115), the Florentines formed a republic was ruled by a council. The town prospered, despite a constant fight between the different factions and noble families. In the 15th century, Florence was among the largest and wealthiest cities in Europe. This was, when the Medici family entered the political scene. As a dynasty of art loving, power hungry bankers, they made Florence the birthplace of the Renaissance. There are is legend about St. Miniato. He was an Armenian prince, who either came to Florence serving in the Roman Army or had come to Italy on a pilgrimage and lived as a hermit here... Anyway Emperor Decius, persecuting Christians, sentenced him to death. Wondrously he survived furnace and lapidation and even a lion in the amphitheater refused to devour him. Finally he was beheaded near the Arno river. Being a kephalophor (like Saint Denis, Saint Sever, Saint Gohard, Saint Élophe..) Miniato picked up his head and carried it away. He crossed the Arno and walked uphill to die finally in his hermitage. A small convent developed on the spot later. In 783 Charlemagne endowed property to the convent. Emperor Otto II confirmed "privileges" in 971, but times got tough. Already in 1013 Bishop Alibrando (aka "Hildebrand") replaced the "ruined church", endowed by the Emperor Henry II (aka "Saint Henry") and his wife Cunigunde (aka "Saint Cunigunde"). 5 years later Alibrando consecrated the "Basilica di San Miniato al Monte". Most of today´s church got remodeled and altered in the 11th and 12th century. The nave ends at a freestanding chapel ("Cappella del Crocefisso"). The choir above the crypt is raised. The floor of the nave is dated to ~ 1210. This is a fantastic mosaic in a decorative, geometric style called "cosmatesque". This style actually goes back to the Roman family Cosmati, the leading family workshop of marble craftsmen for generations. It is said, that Laurenzo Cosmati (~ 1150) was apprentice of Greek / Byzantine Masters. His sons continued the work. Most works of the Cosmati family are in and around Rome, some are even signed. Upto about 1300 the comatesque style spread all over Europe. Here is another detail of the floor: the symbols of the zodiac.

Florentina was established in Roman times as a settlement for veteran soldiers. The name had changed already, when young Charlemagne conquered the town in 774. It became part of the Duchy of Tuscany, with Lucca as capital. Around 1000 Margrave Hugo chose Florence as residency instead of Lucca. After the death of Matilda of Tuscany (1115), the Florentines formed a republic was ruled by a council. The town prospered, despite a constant fight between the different factions and noble families. In the 15th century, Florence was among the largest and wealthiest cities in Europe. This was, when the Medici family entered the political scene. As a dynasty of art loving, power hungry bankers, they made Florence the birthplace of the Renaissance. There are is legend about St. Miniato. He was an Armenian prince, who either came to Florence serving in the Roman Army or had come to Italy on a pilgrimage and lived as a hermit here... Anyway Emperor Decius, persecuting Christians, sentenced him to death. Wondrously he survived furnace and lapidation and even a lion in the amphitheater refused to devour him. Finally he was beheaded near the Arno river. Being a kephalophor (like Saint Denis, Saint Sever, Saint Gohard, Saint Élophe..) Miniato picked up his head and carried it away. He crossed the Arno and walked uphill to die finally in his hermitage. A small convent developed on the spot later. In 783 Charlemagne endowed property to the convent. Emperor Otto II confirmed "privileges" in 971, but times got tough. Already in 1013 Bishop Alibrando (aka "Hildebrand") replaced the "ruined church", endowed by the Emperor Henry II (aka "Saint Henry") and his wife Cunigunde (aka "Saint Cunigunde"). 5 years later Alibrando consecrated the "Basilica di San Miniato al Monte". Most of today´s church got remodeled and altered in the 11th and 12th century. The nave ends at a freestanding chapel ("Cappella del Crocefisso"). The arches open to a very large (and dark) crypt. The choir above the crypt is raised. Here is the floor of the nave, that looks like a carpet runs down to the chapel. It is dated to ~ 1210. This is a fantastic mosaic in a decorative, geometric style called "cosmatesque". This style actually goes back to the Roman family Cosmati, the leading family workshop of marble craftsmen for generations. It is said, that Laurenzo Cosmati (~ 1150) was apprentice of Greek / Byzantine Masters. His sons continued the work. Most works of the Cosmati family are in and around Rome, some are even signed. Upto about 1300 the comatesque style spread all over Europe. A detail of the nave´s floor. Lions, birds, griffins - all pairwise in a geometric pattern. Looks like lace from a certain distance.

Florentina was established in Roman times as a settlement for veteran soldiers. The name had changed already, when young Charlemagne conquered the town in 774. It became part of the Duchy of Tuscany, with Lucca as capital. Around 1000 Margrave Hugo chose Florence as residency instead of Lucca. After the death of Matilda of Tuscany (1115), the Florentines formed a republic was ruled by a council. The town prospered, despite a constant fight between the different factions and noble families. In the 15th century, Florence was among the largest and wealthiest cities in Europe. This was, when the Medici family entered the political scene. As a dynasty of art loving, power hungry bankers, they made Florence the birthplace of the Renaissance. There are is legend about St. Miniato. He was an Armenian prince, who either came to Florence serving in the Roman Army or had come to Italy on a pilgrimage and lived as a hermit here... Anyway Emperor Decius, persecuting Christians, sentenced him to death. Wondrously he survived furnace and lapidation and even a lion in the amphitheater refused to devour him. Finally he was beheaded near the Arno river. Being a kephalophor (like Saint Denis, Saint Sever, Saint Gohard, Saint Élophe..) Miniato picked up his head and carried it away. He crossed the Arno and walked uphill to die finally in his hermitage. A small convent developed on the spot later. In 783 Charlemagne endowed property to the convent. Emperor Otto II confirmed "privileges" in 971, but times got tough. Already in 1013 Bishop Alibrando (aka "Hildebrand") replaced the "ruined church", endowed by the Emperor Henry II (aka "Saint Henry") and his wife Cunigunde (aka "Saint Cunigunde"). 5 years later Alibrando consecrated the "Basilica di San Miniato al Monte". Most of today´s church got remodeled and altered in the 11th and 12th century. The nave ends at a freestanding chapel ("Cappella del Crocefisso"). The arches open to a very large (and dark) crypt. The choir above the crypt is raised. Here is the floor of the nave, that looks like a carpet runs down to the chapel. It is dated to ~ 1210. This is a fantastic mosaic in a decorative, geometric style called "cosmatesque". This style actually goes back to the Roman family Cosmati, the leading family workshop of marble craftsmen for generations. It is said, that Laurenzo Cosmati (~ 1150) was apprentice of Greek / Byzantine Masters. His sons continued the work. Most works of the Cosmati family are in and around Rome, some are even signed. The comatesque style spread all over Europe and can still be find in England (Westminster Abbey) and Austria (Gurk Cathedral).