Dei gratia rex Sicilie: Scene d’incoronazione divina nell’iconografia regia normanna

A novel reinterpretation of Norman royal portraits from the Kingdom of Sicily (1130–1189) challenges traditional views on medieval monarchic iconography, revealing that these images served not only political propaganda but also devotional and liturgical functions. By analyzing three key scenes—St. Nicholas blessing Roger II in Bari, Christ crowning Roger II in Palermo, and Christ crowning William II in Monreale—the study integrates iconographic analysis with historical evidence to demonstrate how royal portraiture was part of a broader communicative strategy. This approach moves beyond isolated art-historical interpretation, offering fresh perspectives on the intersection of political ideology, sacral kingship, and religious practice in medieval Sicily.

Vagnoni, M. (2017). Dei gratia rex Sicilie: Scene d’incoronazione divina nell’iconografia regia normanna. In Regna: Texts and Studies on Institutions (pp. Culture and Memory in Medieval Southern Italy; ISSN 2532–9898). FedOA - Federico II University Press. https://doi.org/10.6093/978-88-6887-018-8