Top of the World
The Vaso di Pandolfo Malatesta (Pandolfo Malatesta Vase) is an extraordinary work of art located in the Museo Civico del Castello Visconteo in Pavia. It is an example of 12th-century Byzantine mosaic art from the Basilica of San Giovanni Evangelista in Ravenna.The vase, about 90 cm high, is composed of glass paste tesserae of different colors, arranged on a gilded metal base. The decoration of the vase depicts biblical scenes, such as the Creation of the World, the Birth of Adam and Eve, the Exodus and the Crucifixion, along with images of saints and apostles.The Pandolfo Malatesta Vase is considered one of the masterpieces of Byzantine mosaic art and an extraordinary example of the artistry of the time. Its provenance from Ravenna, a city of great historical and cultural importance in the Byzantine period, lends it additional relevance and fascination.The vase is named after its patron, Pandolfo Malatesta, lord of Rimini and Cesena in the 13th century, who purchased it to enrich his collection of works of art. After passing through several hands over the centuries, the Pandolfo Malatesta Vase finally arrived at the Pavia Civic Museum, where it is on public display and is one of the most important attractions of the museum and the Visconti Castle.
