In the narthex of St. Mark's, Venice, the mosaic of the Creation of the World is followed by the story of Noah, of Abraham, of Joseph and of Moses. The Deluge, the universal flood which was God's response to wickedness was taken to be an image of Christian baptism, and the manna which fed the Israelites as they faced starvation on their journey from Egypt to the Holy Land was an image of the Eucharist. They were of events which pre-figured Christianity, and therefore appropriate for the outer porch of the church.
The representation of the Flood, as described in Genesis, 6,7, and 8, is one of the Noah series in the narthex, and it remains as Ruskin described it. The mosaics were originally from the thirteenth century, and in style, as befits mosaics in what Ruskin calls ( Works, 9.38) the 'central building of the world', they draw on Byzantine and Romanesque elements.
Unknown artist n.d.
[a representation of the Deluge] 13th Century
Mosaic in ceramics, size unknown
Further Comments: This mosaic is part of the 'Story of Noah' series in the church.
Collection: St. Marks, Venice (outer porch)
We regret that an image could not be located for this artistic work