View
222
Download
1
Category
Tags:
Preview:
Citation preview
LATE ANTIQUE AND EARLY CHRISTIAN ART
CHRONOLOGY OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY
PAGANS, JEWS, AND CHRISTIANS
THE CATACOMBS AND FUNERARY ART
SCULPTURE
ARCHITECTURE AND MOSAICS
LUXURY ARTS ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS
VOCABULARY
LATE ANTIQUE AND EARLY CHRISTIAN ART
LunetteSemicircular frames.
Orants Praying figures.
Torah The scroll containing the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Hebrew scriptures.
Galla Placidia The half-sister of Honorius, emperor of the Western Roman empire. She ruled after his death, after being returned from a kidnapping by the Visigoths, one of whom she had married.
Sol Invicturs Christ represented as a pagan deity, the Invincible Sun (Helios in Greek).
Theodoric King of the Ostrogoths who conquered Ravenna in 476. He ordered the construction of a three-aisled basilica later known as Sant’Apollinare Nuovo.
Visigoths
Pagan invaders of the Roman empire from the northwest, ruled by Alaric.
Codex
Like a modern book, it is composed of separate leaves enclosed within a cover and bound together at one side. This form superseded the manuscript scroll.
Continuous narrative
Separate episodes of a story appearing in the same frame.
Diptych
A hinged writing tablet, often of ivory and carved on the external sides.
Illuminated manuscript
Luxurious painted books produced before the invention of the printing press.
Vellum
Calfskin used as a writing surface.
Crucifixion of Christ ca. 29
Crucifixion of St. Peter ca. 64
Persecution of ChristiansTrajan Decius 249-251Diocletian 303-305
Edict of Milan 313
Foundation of Constantinople 324
Christianity becomes state religion 390
Fall of Rome to Alaric the Visigoth 410
CHRONOLOGY OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY
Synagogue
Dura Europos, Syria
ca. 245-256
PAGANS, JEWS, AND CHRISTIANSDura Europos contained both a synagogue and a Christian community house
Synagogue InteriorWall paintings of Old Testament scenes
from Dura Europos, Syria
ca. 245-256tempera on plaster
Synagogue InteriorWall paintings of Old Testament scenes
from Dura Europos, Syria
ca. 245-256tempera on plaster
Samuel Anoints DavidSynagogue InteriorWall paintings of Old Testament scenesfrom Dura Europos, Syriaca. 245-256tempera on plaster
Although the Jews did not worship idols, Biblical scenes were painted on synagogue walls and used to illustrate manuscripts. God is never shown except as a hand.
Synagogue InteriorWall paintings of Old Testament scenes
from Dura Europos, Syria
ca. 245-256tempera on plaster
Ark of the Covenant in the Temple of Dagon
True or False God appears as an old man in the synagogue frescoes at Dura-Europos.False God never appears in synagogue paintings or illustrated Bibles
Reconstruction of Christian Community House
Dura Europos, Syria
ca. 240-256
Baptistery from Christian Community House
Dura Europos, Syria
ca. 240-256
Baptistery from Christian Community House
Dura Europos, Syria
ca. 240-256tempera paintings Christ Walks on Water
Baptistery from Christian Community House
Dura Europos, Syria
ca. 240-256tempera paintings
Christ the Good Shepherd
Baptistery from Christian Community House
Dura Europos, Syria
ca. 240-256tempera paintings Christ Healing the Paralytic
Catacomb showing loculiRome3rd-4th centuries
The catacombs were subterranean networks of galleries and chambers designed as cemeteries for the Christian dead, many of them sainted martyrs. They also housed the graves of Jews and other groups, to a lesser extent.
THE CATACOMBS AND FUNERARY ART
Catacombs included galleries, cubiculae, and loculi
Good Shepherd, Orants, Story of JonahCatacomb of Peter and Marcellinus, Rome, Italyearly 4th centuryfresco
Jonah symbolism for Early Christians;
Jonah prefigured Christ, because he spent three days in the belly of a sea monster (or whale) before being spat back out. Christ was buried for three days in the tomb before emerging alive.
Jonah and the Whale is a biblical story that prefigured Christ's resurrection
Good Shepherd, Orants, Story of Jonah
Catacomb of Peter and Marcellinus, Rome, Italy
early 4th centuryfresco
True or False A cubiculum is a catacomb chamber.True
Good Shepherd
Catacomb of Pietro and Marcellino, Rome, Italy
early 4th centuryfresco
Christ was most often represented during the Period of Persecution as;
“The Good Shepherd,” a youthful and loyal protector of the Christian flock.
A teacher or learned philosopher.
Orant figure
Catacomb of Priscilla, Rome,Italy
3th centuryfresco
Three attributes he acquired during the Period of Recognition;
Halo.
Purple robe.
Throne.
Sarcophagus with Old and New Testament Scenesfrom Rome, Italyca. 270marble1 ft. 11 1/4 in. x 6 ft. 2 in.
SCULPTURE
Borrowed Classical motifs is a feature of the Santa Maria Antiqua sarcophagus and is typical of the emerging Early Christian style
Sarcophagus with Old and New Testament Scenes
from Rome, Italy
ca. 270marble1 ft. 11 1/4 in. x 6 ft. 2 in.
Sarcophagus with Old and New Testament Scenes
from Rome, Italy
ca. 270marble1 ft. 11 1/4 in. x 6 ft. 2 in.
Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus
from Rome, Italy
ca. 359marble3 ft. 10 1/2 in. x 8 ft.
One of the scenes depicted on the Junius Bassus Sarcophagus is the Entry into Jerusalem
Significance themes that appear on the Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus;Christ seated between Saints Peter and Paul:
He is a teacher enthroned between his chief apostles.Christ on a donkey:Christ’s earthly triumph, entering Jerusalem; the pose is reminiscent of Roman equestrian portraits of emperors and generals.Adam and Eve:Their Original Sin of eating the apple required Christ’s death to atone for their sin. In the New Testament Christ is considered the new Adam and Mary the new Eve.
Sarcophagus of Junius Bassusfrom Rome, Italyca. 359marble3 ft. 10 1/2 in. x 8 ft.
Sarcophagus of Junius Bassusfrom Rome, Italyca. 359marble3 ft. 10 1/2 in. x 8 ft.
Significance themes that appear on the Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus;Daniel and the lions:
Daniel is saved by his faith, prefiguring Christ’s triumph over death.Abraham and Isaac:Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his only son prefigures God’s sacrifice of his son Jesus.Christ before Pontius Pilate:This is the only scene that alludes to his death; the crucifixion was not shown in the earlier era of Christian art.
Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus
from Rome, Italy
ca. 359marble3 ft. 10 1/2 in. x 8 ft.
Raising of Lazarus Fall of Adam and Eve
Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus
from Rome, Italy
ca. 359marble3 ft. 10 1/2 in. x 8 ft.
Christ Entering Jerusalem
Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus
From Rome, Italy
ca. 359marble3 ft. 10 1/2 in. x 8 ft.
Christ Enthroned
The fourth-century marble statue of Christ Enthroned is one of the rare examples of early Christian full-round sculpture
Christ Enthroned
ca. 350-375marbleapproximately 2 ft. 4 1/2 in. high
ARCHITECTURE AND MOSAICS
Old Saint Peter’s Basilica (plan)
Rome, Italy
ca. 320
1. Nave
2. Aisles
3. Apse
4. Transept
5. Narthex
6. Atrium
True or False An atrium is a passage around the apse of a church.False. An atrium is a open colonnaded courtyard
The St. Peter's relics were located in the transept of Old St. Peter's.
Old Saint Peter’s Basilica (restoration drawing)Rome, Italyca. 320
Two architectural sources for the Early Christian Basilica of Old St. Peter's in Rome were the Basilica Ulpia in the Forum of Trajan and the Aula Palatina at Trier.
The Early Christian builders modified the plan of the Roman pagan basilica in order to convert it to Christian use modifying the transept, or transverse aisle, ran perpendicular to the nave and lay just before the apse. It housed relics of St. Peter in the Old St. Peter’s basilica and much later became a standard element of church design when its crossing with the nave and apse took on the symbolism of the cross.
Old Saint Peter’s Basilica (section)
Rome, Italy
ca. 320
The narthex was the entrance porch of Old St. Peter's in Rome.
Aula Palatina (basilica)Trier, Germanyearly 4th century
Aula Palatina (basilica)
Trier, Germany
early 4th century
Aula Palatina (basilica)
Trier, Germany
early 4th century
Santa Sabina
Rome, Italy
ca. 422-432
Like Old St. Peter's and other early Christian churches, Santa Sabina features a timbered ceiling
Santa Sabina
Rome, Italy
ca. 422-432
Santa Costanza
Rome, Italy
ca. 337-351
Santa CostanzaRome, Italyca. 337-351
The Church of Santa Costanza differs from basilican churches in that it has a central plan, where the building’s parts are all of equal dimension around the center; in this case round.
Its original purposec ould have been the mausoleum for Constantina, the daughter of Constantine.Which of the following is a centrally-planned structure?Church of Santa Costanza
Santa Costanza
Rome, Italy
ca. 337-351
Longitudinal Section
Plan
Santa Costanza vault mosaic
Rome, Italy
ca. 337-351tessera mosaic
Santa Costanza vault mosaicRome, Italyca. 337-351tessera mosaic
Early Christian mosaics distinguish them from earlier Roman examples in that;
Tesserae are usually made of glass, in order to create sparkle and to catch and reflect the light.Tesserae in Christian mosaics were larger because they were situated far above spectators’ heads.
The mosaic of the grape harvest at Santa Costanza symbolizes the Eucharist and blood of Christ
Santa Maria Maggiore
Rome, Italy
432-440tessera mosaic Drowning of the Egyptians in the
Red Sea
Qualities of the mosaic medium that made it the favorite of Early Christian and Byzantine artists:
Glass tesserae mosaics caught light flooding through windows and could direct attention towards a composition’s most important features.
Christ as Sol Invictusfrom the Mausoleum of the Julii
Rome, Italy
late 3rd centurytessera mosaic
Christ appears as Sol Invictus, a familiar pagan diety, in the mosaic from the Mausoleum of the Julii.
THE PARTING OF LOT AND ABRAHAM, c.432-40, a mosaic in the nave arcade of the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome.
Roman illusionistic elements retained in the Early Christian mosaic The Parting of Lot and Abaham:The background and city were similar to those on Trajan’s Column. The figures are solidly represented with cast shadows and modeled in light and dark.Their purpose:
The realistic illusionism used here emphasizes that this scene occurred in the earthly world, whereas the flat images used in later Christian art emphasized the spiritual world.
Santa Maria Maggiore
Rome, Italy
432-440tessera mosaic Hospitality of
Abraham
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Ravenna, Italy
ca. 425
Christ as the Good Shepherdfrom the entrance wall of the Mausoleum of Galla PlacidiaRavenna, Italyca. 425tessera mosaic
Two remnants of Roman illusionism that can be found in the mosaic Christ as the Good Shepherd in the mausoleum of Galla Placidia.
The landscape extends from foreground to background in a naturalistic way.All the forms cast shadows and have three-dimensional bulk.
Christ as the Good Shepherd appears in Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Ravenna, Italy
ca. 425tessera mosaics
Dome Mosaic of HeavenMausoleum of Galla Placidia
Ravenna, Italy
ca. 425tessera mosaic
Teodorico Mausoleum - Ravenna, Italy.
The type of palace church erected in Ravenna by Theodoric is known as a Basilica.
Two features of the mosaics of St. George at Thessalonika that will become standard for Byzantine art is:
The formality of the poses and flat, curtainl-ike drapery.Golden background.
The Martyrs Onesiphorus and PorphyriusLate 4th century
Saint Apollinare Nuovo
Ravenna, Italy
dedicated 504
Saint Apollinare Nuovo
Ravenna, Italy
dedicated 504
Saint Apollinare Nuovo
Ravenna, Italy
dedicated 504
Saint Apollinare Nuovo
Ravenna, Italy
dedicated 504tessera mosaic
Raising of Lazarus
Saint Apollinare Nuovo
Ravenna, Italy
dedicated 504tessera mosaic
Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes
Saint Apollinare Nuovo
Ravenna, Italy
dedicated 504tessera mosaic
Christ Foretelling Peter’s Denial
Saint Apollinare Nuovo
Ravenna, Italy
dedicated 504tessera mosaic
Ascension of Christ
Vienna Genesis
Early 6th centurytempera, gold, silver on purple vellum12 1/4 x 9 1/4 in.
LUXURY ARTSILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS
The Vienna Genesis is a/an continuous narrative
Vienna Genesis
Early 6th centurytempera, gold, silver on purple vellum12 1/4 x 9 1/4 in.
Genesis chapter 32
Jacob travels to meet EsauJacob travels over the Jabbok brookJacob wrestles with the AngelJacob blessed by the AngelJacob’s 11 sons
Vienna Genesis
Early 6th centurytempera, gold, silver on purple vellum12 1/4 x 9 1/4 in.
Genesis chapter 24:15
Rebecca Leaves Nahor Rebecca and Eliezer at the Well
An early Christian manuscript can also be called a codex
Rossano Gospels
early 6th centurytempera on purple vellum11 x 10 1/4 in.
The Rossano Gospels is the earliest illuminated manuscript that contains illustrations of the New Testament
Rossano Gospels
early 6th centurytempera on purple vellum11 x 10 1/4 in.
Matthew chapter 27
Christ before Pilate
Pilate Washing his Hands, Christ Carrying the Cross, Denial of Peter
from a casketca. 420ivory3 x 3 7/8 in.
Suicide of Judas and Crucifixion
from a casketca. 420ivory3 x 3 7/8 in.
Basilica Nova reconstruction drawingRome, Italy306-312 C.E.
Old Saint Peter’s Basilica (plan)Rome, Italyca. 320
Compare the basilica of Old St. Peter's with the reconstruction of the Basilica Nova. What similarities and what differences do you see in the plans, elevations, and building materials used? How did the purposes of the varying parts of the two buildings differ? How was the more "spiritual" purpose of the Christian building reflected in the structure?
Basilica Nova reconstruction drawingRome, Italy306-312 C.E.
Old Saint Peter’s Basilica (plan)Rome, Italyca. 320
Sarcophagus of Junius Bassusfrom Rome, Italyca. 359marble3 ft. 10 1/2 in. x 8 ft.
Write at least a page in analysis of the Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus which contains a number of Christian scenes. First describe the architectural framework that surrounds the scenes. What types of columns and capitals do you see? How many are there? What type of entablature is used on the top row and what on the bottom? What sorts of arches are used and what type of creatures decorate the spandrels.
Recommended