Two recently discovered mural paintings and the development of monumental painting in twelfth-century Jerusalem

The present chapter presents two fragmentary murals which were recently discovered in Jerusalem. However, scholars have since begun to acknowledge the consistent Byzantine character of monumental painting in the Kingdom, as well as the diversity of this character, created both by Byzantine artists and by local Syro-Palestinian and Western artists who faithfully turned to Byzantine models. The head of the angel from Saidnaiya seems to have been part of this artistic activity within the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, also showing that stylistic similarities can be found between mural cycles that were commissioned for Latin as well as for Orthodox churches. Patronage by Emperor Manuel Comnenus could also have been a factor strengthening the possibility of the existence of a rich corpus of monumental painting in Orthodox churches. The murals discussed here, which must have been considerable in their full scope, attests to the importance of mural painting and its prevalence even in lesser edifices.