In the magnificent paradise gardens of the early Christian and Byzantine
mosaics of Ravenna, rich in both native and exotic animal species,
the starling only appears in the Archiepiscopal Chapel. It is depicted
against a rich golden background, framed by four rosettes, and is part
of the splendid hortus conclusus of the vestibule. The starling was a
very common bird that moved in flocks and lived in communities. The
dark and shimmering feathering, speckled with tiny white feathers,
resembles a starry sky. The mosaic artist has rendered this feature
through the juxtaposing of white, black and grey tesserae, arranged
in a checkboard pattern and following a precise rhythm. The black
tesserae, laid in a sinuous pattern, define the beak, the shape of the
head, wings and legs. The style of the mosaic is suspended between
Hellenistic naturalistic observation and stylisation and mysticism,
maximally expressed by the golden background, of Oriental origin.