What does the photograph above show? describe any known history of info you recall about this structure/piece of art?

The photograph shows the Basilica of San Vitale, one of the last surviving examples of the Early Byzantine art.

Explanation:

The Basilica of San Vitale belongs to the Early Byzantine. This art is a mixture of the Roman architecture, and the Byzantine style. Such a combination is perceived in predominantly octagonal shape and the dome (segments of Roman culture); narrow bricks and especially mosaics (characteristics of the eastern part). It is considered one of the main buildings with Byzantine features, due to its large number of mosaics - some very famous. Most of them represent excerpts of stories from the holy bible, and it is considered the building that has the largest and most preserved mosaics outside Constantinople.

based on the images pictured above, the major difference between the two cathedrals: the cathedral of notre dame and the amiens cathedral, is that the cathedral of notre dame emphasizes the horizontal lines while the amiens cathedral emphasizes the vertical lines.