Christ is depicted as young and beardless. His face, while more
schematic and less expressive than those in the Neonian Baptistery, is
realised with tesserae arranged in curved patterns that define volume
through white areas. The long hair, falling in waves over the shoulders,
is outlined with black tesserae, giving it a graphic look.
The large eyes, with sclerae emphasized by white tesserae, convey a
sense of otherworldly detachment. The mouth, rendered with red and
orange tesserae, appears concrete. The massive body, though stylised,
is interpreted by some scholars as an allusion to Christ’s human nature,
subordinate to the divine nature of the Father, in line with Arian faith.
The background, made of dazzling gold tiles, crystallises the entire
scene into an immaterial and transcendent world.