The altar of the Tempietto is within a frescoed, semicircular niche, with a prominent cornice. The conch of the apse is frescoed with the haloed Pantocrator holding a book. The apse or niche is framed by a heavily sculptured round arch and pediment. There are heavily worn and partly lost frescoes on the wall above, showing busts of angels in medallions.
Detail of Peter's face in the worn fresco. He is tonsured, has a white ring of hair and short beard, and large staring eyes. He holds a tall processional cross. Thick red lines sketch facial features and the edges of garments. Main colors are whites, reds, and yellows, including a super-sized golden halo bordered in red.
View of the bust of Paul, holding a book, within a square panel. The style and color scheme is like that of the fresco of Peter. The bust is against red ground. He gestures towards the small tabernacle (some evident restoration) in the center of the apse, between Peter and Paul. A pair of colonnettes support a heavily ornament cornice and pediment: architecture in miniature, like the Tempietto itself.
For Sts Peter and Paul (June 29), haunting remains of the busts of these Roman patrons in a mysterious and delightful early medieval building, the Tempietto sul Clitunno, #Umbria
#MedievalArt #SaintsInArt
