Espace et art de la formule visuelle à Rome sous le pontificat de Pascal Ier (817-824) : l’exemple de la basilique Sainte-Praxède

Through the example of the monumental mosaic decoration of St Prassede’s basilica, we propose some comments about the omnipresence of Pope Pascal 1st (817-824) in a space connected with the church and in the urban area of the renascent Rome in the IXth century. The other delimitation of a space which was at once material, liturgical and visual became a major tool of the assertion of the autority of Pope Pascal 1st. In fact, the Pope resorted to efficient visual forms. Moreover some of them were regenerated. The aim was to claim a sense of consistency with his predecessors and with the origins of the first centuries’Urbs. These visual forms are fused together in the St Prassede’s decoration and helped to enhance the office of the sovereign pontiff. In this decorated set, Pascal 1st was placed in a half-position between Roman founder martyrs, the apostles and Jesus-Christ.