The image is a reproduction of the famous 6th-century Byzantine mosaic of Emperor Justinian I found in the Basilica of San Vitale. The central figure is depicted from the chest up, facing forward with a somber, regal expression. He wears an ornate, jeweled crown and is framed by a prominent, luminous circular halo. His dark hair is neatly styled, and he wears dangling earrings that catch the light.
Justinian is dressed in a dark purple imperial robe decorated with intricate trim and a decorative brooch on his shoulder. He holds a large, shallow golden bowl, a paten, positioned at the bottom of the frame. His hands are pale and stylized, characteristic of the Byzantine artistic tradition. The entire composition is set against a vibrant, shimmering gold-leaf background that glows with depth and texture.
The artwork is rendered in the classic mosaic style, composed of thousands of individual stone or glass tesserae. The colour palette is dominated by rich, warm gold, deep regal purple, and earth-toned greens and whites. A horizontal black strip interrupts the middle of the image, featuring the text "MOSAICI-PUZZLE imperatore giustiniano" in white and blue lettering. The entire piece captures the iconic, flattened perspective and symbolic grandeur of early medieval religious and imperial art.