praj-17/QA-MCQ-Open-ended huggingface dataset:
Title: Mosaic
Context: Another great undertaking by Constantine Monomachos was the restoration of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem between 1042 and 1048. Nothing survived of the mosaics which covered the walls and the dome of the edifice but the Russian abbot Daniel, who visited Jerusalem in 1106–1107 left a description: "Lively mosaics of the holy prophets are under the ceiling, over the tribune. The altar is surmounted by a mosaic image of Christ. In the main altar one can see the mosaic of the Exhaltation of Adam. In the apse the Ascension of Christ. The Annunciation occupies the two pillars next to the altar."

question: Who restored the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the 1040's? 

answer: Constantine Monomachos

question: Who left the only description of the mosaics at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre? 

answer: the Russian abbot Daniel

question: What survives of the mosaics that adorned the walls and dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre? 

answer: Nothing

question: Where did the Russian abbot Daniel travel in 1106-07? 

answer: Jerusalem
Title: Mosaic
Context: The 9th- and 10th-century mosaics of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople are truly classical Byzantine artworks. The north and south tympana beneath the dome was decorated with figures of prophets, saints and patriarchs. Above the principal door from the narthex we can see an Emperor kneeling before Christ (late 9th or early 10th century). Above the door from the southwest vestibule to the narthex another mosaic shows the Theotokos with Justinian and Constantine. Justinian I is offering the model of the church to Mary while Constantine is holding a model of the city in his hand. Both emperors are beardless – this is an example for conscious archaization as contemporary Byzantine rulers were bearded. A mosaic panel on the gallery shows Christ with Constantine Monomachos and Empress Zoe (1042–1055). The emperor gives a bulging money sack to Christ as a donation for the church.

question: When were the Byzantine mosaics of the Hagia Sophia created? 

answer: The 9th- and 10th-century

question: The tympana under the dome had images of whom displayed? 

answer: prophets, saints and patriarchs

question: What does the Empress give to Christ as depicted by the mosaic? 

answer: a bulging money sack

question: When did the Empress Zoe die? 

answer: 1055

question: Who was depicted with the Empress Zoe on a panel in the gallery of the Hagia Sophia? 

answer: Constantine Monomachos
Title: Mosaic
Context: There are very few existing mosaics from the Komnenian period but this paucity must be due to accidents of survival and gives a misleading impression. The only surviving 12th-century mosaic work in Constantinople is a panel in Hagia Sophia depicting Emperor John II and Empress Eirene with the Theotokos (1122–34). The empress with her long braided hair and rosy cheeks is especially capturing. It must be a lifelike portrayal because Eirene was really a redhead as her original Hungarian name, Piroska shows. The adjacent portrait of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos on a pier (from 1122) is similarly personal. The imperial mausoleum of the Komnenos dynasty, the Pantokrator Monastery was certainly decorated with great mosaics but these were later destroyed. The lack of Komnenian mosaics outside the capital is even more apparent. There is only a "Communion of the Apostles" in the apse of the cathedral of Serres.

question: Why are there so few surviving mosaics from the Komnenian period? 

answer: accidents of survival

question: Where is the only existing 12th century mosaic in Constantinople? 

answer: Hagia Sophia

question: The empress Eirene had what color hair? 

answer: red

question: What deity does the 12th century mosaic in the Hagia Sophia depict? 

answer: the Theotokos

question: The only surviving mosaic from the Komnenos dynasty outside Constantinople is in what church? 

answer: the cathedral of Serres
Title: Mosaic
Context: A striking technical innovation of the Komnenian period was the production of very precious, miniature mosaic icons. In these icons the small tesserae (with sides of 1 mm or less) were set on wax or resin on a wooden panel. These products of extraordinary craftmanship were intended for private devotion. The Louvre Transfiguration is a very fine example from the late 12th century. The miniature mosaic of Christ in the Museo Nazionale at Florence illustrates the more gentle, humanistic conception of Christ which appeared in the 12th century.

question: How big were the tesserae in the Komnenian period miniature mosaic icons? 

answer: 1 mm or less

question: What were the tesserae usually set in for miniature mosaic icons? 

answer: wax or resin

question: The more humanistic conception of Christ appeared when? 

answer: in the 12th century

question: What was the intended purpose of the miniature mosaic icons? 

answer: private devotion
Title: Mosaic
Context: The Church of the Holy Apostles in Thessaloniki was built in 1310–14. Although some vandal systematically removed the gold tesserae of the background it can be seen that the Pantokrator and the prophets in the dome follow the traditional Byzantine pattern. Many details are similar to the Pammakaristos mosaics so it is supposed that the same team of mosaicists worked in both buildings. Another building with a related mosaic decoration is the Theotokos Paregoritissa Church in Arta. The church was established by the Despot of Epirus in 1294–96. In the dome is the traditional stern Pantokrator, with prophets and cherubim below.

question: When was the Church of the Holy Apostles built?  

answer: 1310–14

question: Who removed the gold tesserae in the background of the mosaic at the Church of the Holy Apostles? 

answer: some vandal

question: Where is the Theotokos Paregoritissa Church located? 

answer: Arta

question: Who established the Theotokos Paregoritissa Church in 1294-96? 

answer: the Despot of Epirus

question: The same team of mosaicists worked on the Church of the Holy Apostles in Thessaloniki as which other building? 

answer: Pammakaristos
Title: Mosaic
Context: The greatest mosaic work of the Palaeologan renaissance in art is the decoration of the Chora Church in Constantinople. Although the mosaics of the naos have not survived except three panels, the decoration of the exonarthex and the esonarthex constitute the most important full-scale mosaic cycle in Constantinople after the Hagia Sophia. They were executed around 1320 by the command of Theodore Metochites. The esonarthex has two fluted domes, specially created to provide the ideal setting for the mosaic images of the ancestors of Christ. The southern one is called the Dome of the Pantokrator while the northern one is the Dome of the Theotokos. The most important panel of the esonarthex depicts Theodore Metochites wearing a huge turban, offering the model of the church to Christ. The walls of both narthexes are decorated with mosaic cycles from the life of the Virgin and the life of Christ. These panels show the influence of the Italian trecento on Byzantine art especially the more natural settings, landscapes, figures.

question: where is the greatest mosaic work of the renaissance? 

answer: the Chora Church in Constantinople

question: How many mosaic panels from naos have survived? 

answer: three

question: The panels of naos are only capped in importance by which other location? 

answer: the Hagia Sophia

question: Who commissioned the mosaics at naos? 

answer: Theodore Metochites

question: The panels from naos show what influence on Byzantine art.  

answer: Italian trecento
Title: Mosaic
Context: The last great period of Roman mosaic art was the 12th–13th century when Rome developed its own distinctive artistic style, free from the strict rules of eastern tradition and with a more realistic portrayal of figures in the space. Well-known works of this period are the floral mosaics of the Basilica di San Clemente, the façade of Santa Maria in Trastevere and San Paolo fuori le Mura. The beautiful apse mosaic of Santa Maria in Trastevere (1140) depicts Christ and Mary sitting next to each other on the heavenly throne, the first example of this iconographic scheme. A similar mosaic, the Coronation of the Virgin, decorates the apse of Santa Maria Maggiore. It is a work of Jacopo Torriti from 1295. The mosaics of Torriti and Jacopo da Camerino in the apse of San Giovanni in Laterano from 1288–94 were thoroughly restored in 1884. The apse mosaic of San Crisogono is attributed to Pietro Cavallini, the greatest Roman painter of the 13th century. Six scenes from the life of Mary in Santa Maria in Trastevere were also executed by Cavallini in 1290. These mosaics are praised for their realistic portrayal and attempts of perspective. There is an interesting mosaic medaillon from 1210 above the gate of the church of San Tommaso in Formis showing Christ enthroned between a white and a black slave. The church belonged to the Order of the Trinitarians which was devoted to ransoming Christian slaves.

question: When was the last period of Roman mosaic art? 

answer: the 12th–13th century

question: Where is the church of Santa maria? 

answer: Trastevere

question: Who does the facade at the Santa Maria church depict? 

answer: Christ and Mary

question: When were the mosaics at Torriti and Jacopo fully restored? 

answer: in 1884

question: What year was the medallion above the gate of the church of San Tommaso? 

answer: 1210
Title: Mosaic
Context: The great Navicella mosaic (1305–1313) in the atrium of the Old St. Peter's is attributed to Giotto di Bondone. The giant mosaic, commissioned by Cardinal Jacopo Stefaneschi, was originally situated on the eastern porch of the old basilica and occupied the whole wall above the entrance arcade facing the courtyard. It depicted St. Peter walking on the waters. This extraordinary work was mainly destroyed during the construction of the new St. Peter's in the 17th century. Navicella means "little ship" referring to the large boat which dominated the scene, and whose sail, filled by the storm, loomed over the horizon. Such a natural representation of a seascape was known only from ancient works of art.

question: Who created the Navicella mosaic in the Old St. Peter's church? 

answer: Giotto di Bondone

question: Who commissioned the Navicella mosaic? 

answer: Cardinal Jacopo Stefaneschi

question: Who did the navicella mosaic depict walking on water? 

answer: St. Peter

question: What century was the majority of the Navicella mosaic destroyed? 

answer: the 17th

question: Navicella means what in Italian? 

answer: "little ship"
Title: Mosaic
Context: The heyday of mosaic making in Sicily was the age of the independent Norman kingdom in the 12th century. The Norman kings adopted the Byzantine tradition of mosaic decoration to enhance the somewhat dubious legality of their rule. Greek masters working in Sicily developed their own style, that shows the influence of Western European and Islamic artistic tendencies. Best examples of Sicilian mosaic art are the Cappella Palatina of Roger II, the Martorana church in Palermo and the cathedrals of Cefalù and Monreale.

question: Why did the Normans adopt a Byzantine art style? 

answer: enhance the somewhat dubious legality of their rule

question: when was the height of mosaic art in sicily? 

answer: the 12th century

question: Who was influenced by Western European and Islamic tendencies? 

answer: Greek masters working in Sicily

question: Who adopted the Byzantine mosaic tradition? 

answer: Norman kings

question: The Martorana church is an example of the best mosaic art in what part italy? 

answer: Sicily
Title: Mosaic
Context: The Martorana church (decorated around 1143) looked originally even more Byzantine although important parts were later demolished. The dome mosaic is similar to that of the Cappella Palatina, with Christ enthroned in the middle and four bowed, elongated angels. The Greek inscriptions, decorative patterns, and evangelists in the squinches are obviously executed by the same Greek masters who worked on the Cappella Palatina. The mosaic depicting Roger II of Sicily, dressed in Byzantine imperial robes and receiving the crown by Christ, was originally in the demolished narthex together with another panel, the Theotokos with Georgios of Antiochia, the founder of the church.

question: When was the Martorana church decorated? 

answer: around 1143

question: Who is featured in the mosaic at the Martorana church? 

answer: Christ

question: The Martorana church was likely decorated by the same greek masters who decorated which church? 

answer: the Cappella Palatina

question: Who was the founder of the Martorana church? 

answer: Georgios of Antiochia

question: Who is receiving a crown from christ in the mosaic originally in the narthex? 

answer: Roger II
Title: Mosaic
Context: The Monreale mosaics constitute the largest decoration of this kind in Italy, covering 0,75 hectares with at least 100 million glass and stone tesserae. This huge work was executed between 1176 and 1186 by the order of King William II of Sicily. The iconography of the mosaics in the presbytery is similar to Cefalu while the pictures in the nave are almost the same as the narrative scenes in the Cappella Palatina. The Martorana mosaic of Roger II blessed by Christ was repeated with the figure of King William II instead of his predecessor. Another panel shows the king offering the model of the cathedral to the Theotokos.

question: What is the name of the largest mosaics in Italy? 

answer: The Monreale mosaics

question: At least how many tesserae are used in the the Monreale mosaics? 

answer: 100 million

question: Who commissioned the Monreale mosaics between 1176 and 1186? 

answer: King William II of Sicily

question: Who is displayed getting crowned by christ in the Monreale mosaics? 

answer: King William II

question: What is the king offering Theotokos in the Monreale mosaics?  

answer: the model of the cathedral
Title: Mosaic
Context: Southern Italy was also part of the Norman kingdom but great mosaics did not survive in this area except the fine mosaic pavement of the Otranto Cathedral from 1166, with mosaics tied into a tree of life, mostly still preserved. The scenes depict biblical characters, warrior kings, medieval beasts, allegories of the months and working activity. Only fragments survived from the original mosaic decoration of Amalfi's Norman Cathedral. The mosaic ambos in the churches of Ravello prove that mosaic art was widespread in Southern Italy during the 11th–13th centuries.

question: What region of italy was part of the Norman empire? 

answer: Southern

question: The only surviving mosaic from Norman held souther Italy is what? 

answer: pavement of the Otranto Cathedral

question: The mosaics in churches of Ravello prove what? 

answer: mosaic art was widespread

question: What year were the mosaic pavements installed at the Otranto Cathedral? 

answer: 1166

question: What survives from the mosaics of Amalfi's Norman Cathedral? 

answer: Only fragments
Title: Mosaic
Context: In parts of Italy, which were under eastern artistic influences, like Sicily and Venice, mosaic making never went out of fashion in the Middle Ages. The whole interior of the St Mark's Basilica in Venice is clad with elaborate, golden mosaics. The oldest scenes were executed by Greek masters in the late 11th century but the majority of the mosaics are works of local artists from the 12th–13th centuries. The decoration of the church was finished only in the 16th century. One hundred and ten scenes of mosaics in the atrium of St Mark's were based directly on the miniatures of the Cotton Genesis, a Byzantine manuscript that was brought to Venice after the sack of Constantinople (1204). The mosaics were executed in the 1220s.

question: Which area in Italy besides Sicily did mosaic art not go out of fashion in the middle ages? 

answer: Venice

question: Which church in Venice is decorated with elaborate golden mosaics? 

answer: St Mark's Basilica

question: When were the oldest scenes in St. Mark's mosaics completed? 

answer: the late 11th century

question: The majority of the mosaics in Venice were created by who? 

answer: local artists

question: When was the sack of Constantinople? 

answer: 1204
Title: Mosaic
Context: Other important Venetian mosaics can be found in the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Torcello from the 12th century, and in the Basilical of Santi Maria e Donato in Murano with a restored apse mosaic from the 12th century and a beautiful mosaic pavement (1140). The apse of the San Cipriano Church in Murano was decorated with an impressive golden mosaic from the early 13th century showing Christ enthroned with Mary, St John and the two patron saints, Cipriano and Cipriana. When the church was demolished in the 19th century, the mosaic was bought by Frederick William IV of Prussia. It was reassembled in the Friedenskirche of Potsdam in the 1840s.

question: Where is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta? 

answer: Torcello

question: When were the mosaics in the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta built? 

answer: the 12th century

question: Where is the Basilica of Santi Maria e Donato located? 

answer: Murano

question: Who purchased the 13th century mosaic from the the San Cipriano Church? 

answer: Frederick William IV of Prussia

question: Where did Frederick William IV relocate the mural he purchased? 

answer: the Friedenskirche of Potsdam
Title: Mosaic
Context: The Abbot of Monte Cassino, Desiderius sent envoys to Constantinople some time after 1066 to hire expert Byzantine mosaicists for the decoration of the rebuilt abbey church. According to chronicler Leo of Ostia the Greek artists decorated the apse, the arch and the vestibule of the basilica. Their work was admired by contemporaries but was totally destroyed in later centuries except two fragments depicting greyhounds (now in the Monte Cassino Museum). "The abbot in his wisdom decided that great number of young monks in the monastery should be thoroughly initiated in these arts" – says the chronicler about the role of the Greeks in the revival of mosaic art in medieval Italy.

question: Who hired Byzantine experts to decorate a rebuilt abbey church? 

answer: The Abbot of Monte Cassino

question: After what time did the Abbot of Monte Cassino send for Byzantine mosaicists? 

answer: 1066

question: What animal was on the only surviving mosaics created by the greeks at the rebuilt abbey? 

answer: greyhounds

question: Where are the only remaining greek mosaic panels now kept? 

answer: in the Monte Cassino Museum
Title: Mosaic
Context: Sometimes not only church interiors but façades were also decorated with mosaics in Italy like in the case of the St Mark's Basilica in Venice (mainly from the 17th–19th centuries, but the oldest one from 1270–75, "The burial of St Mark in the first basilica"), the Cathedral of Orvieto (golden Gothic mosaics from the 14th century, many times redone) and the Basilica di San Frediano in Lucca (huge, striking golden mosaic representing the Ascension of Christ with the apostles below, designed by Berlinghiero Berlinghieri in the 13th century). The Cathedral of Spoleto is also decorated on the upper façade with a huge mosaic portraying the Blessing Christ (signed by one Solsternus from 1207).

question: What was special about St Mark's Basilica in Venice? 

answer: façades were also decorated

question: When was the latest addition to the facade at St Mark's Basilica in Venice? 

answer: from 1270–75

question: the Cathedral of Orvieto has a mosaic facade, done first in which century? 

answer: the 14th

question: The Cathedral of Spoleto is signed by who? 

answer: Solsternus

question: the Basilica di San Frediano in Lucca has a large golden mosaic facade depicting which figure? 

answer: Christ
Title: Mosaic
Context: Only scant remains prove that mosaics were still used in the Early Middle Ages. The Abbey of Saint-Martial in Limoges, originally an important place of pilgrimage, was totally demolished during the French Revolution except its crypt which was rediscovered in the 1960s. A mosaic panel was unearthed which was dated to the 9th century. It somewhat incongruously uses cubes of gilded glass and deep green marble, probably taken from antique pavements. This could also be the case with the early 9th century mosaic found under the Basilica of Saint-Quentin in Picardy, where antique motifs are copied but using only simple colors. The mosaics in the Cathedral of Saint-Jean at Lyon have been dated to the 11th century because they employ the same non-antique simple colors. More fragments were found on the site of Saint-Croix at Poitiers which might be from the 6th or 9th century.

question: What proves mosaics were used in the early middle ages? 

answer: scant remains

question: Where is the Abbey of Saint-Martial? 

answer: Limoges

question: When was the crypt of the Abbey of Saint-Martial re-discovered? 

answer: the 1960s

question: What was found under the Basilica of Saint-Quentin? 

answer: 9th century mosaic

question: What common element do mosaic panels from the 11th century have? 

answer: simple colors
Title: Mosaic
Context: Later fresco replaced the more labor-intensive technique of mosaic in Western-Europe, although mosaics were sometimes used as decoration on medieval cathedrals. The Royal Basilica of the Hungarian kings in Székesfehérvár (Alba Regia) had a mosaic decoration in the apse. It was probably a work of Venetian or Ravennese craftsmen, executed in the first decades of the 11th century. The mosaic was almost totally destroyed together with the basilica in the 17th century. The Golden Gate of the St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague got its name from the golden 14th-century mosaic of the Last Judgement above the portal. It was executed by Venetian craftsmen.

question: What would replace the labor intensive technique of mosaic? 

answer: fresco

question: When was the the mosaic at the Royal Basilica of Hungarian Kings destroyed? 

answer: the 17th century

question: Who created the Last judgement mosaic in the St. Vitus Cathedral? 

answer: Venetian craftsmen

question: What is the Royal Basilica of the Hungarian kings also known as? 

answer: Alba Regia

question: Where is the Royal Basilica of the Hungarian kings? 

answer: Székesfehérvár
Title: Mosaic
Context: The Crusaders in the Holy Land also adopted mosaic decoration under local Byzantine influence. During their 12th-century reconstruction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem they complemented the existing Byzantine mosaics with new ones. Almost nothing of them survived except the "Ascension of Christ" in the Latin Chapel (now confusingly surrounded by many 20th-century mosaics). More substantial fragments were preserved from the 12th-century mosaic decoration of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The mosaics in the nave are arranged in five horizontal bands with the figures of the ancestors of Christ, Councils of the Church and angels. In the apses the Annunciation, the Nativity, Adoration of the Magi and Dormition of the Blessed Virgin can be seen. The program of redecoration of the church was completed in 1169 as a unique collaboration of the Byzantine emperor, the king of Jerusalem and the Latin Church.

question: Where is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre located? 

answer: Jerusalem

question: Where is the mosaic "Ascension of Christ" located? 

answer: in the Latin Chapel

question: What nation influenced the Crusaders mosaic styles? 

answer: Byzantine

question: What is the name of the lone surviving mosaic of the Crusader period? 

answer: "Ascension of Christ"

question: The Byzantine emperor, the king of Jerusalem and the Latin Church came together in what year to redecorate the Church of the Holy Sepulchre? 

answer: 1169