Fa124 1 - early christian art

Early Christian Art

EARLY CHRISTIAN ART

Early Christian Art

Byzantine Art

Early Christianity

One, the decision of Apostle Paul to spread Christianity beyond the Jewish communities of Palestine and into the Greco-Roman World.

Ephesus, Corinth, Thessalonica, Rome

Emperor Constantine accepted Christianity and became its patron

During Roman Empire

Roman empire

Christian art was necessarily and deliberately ambiguous

using pagan imagery but had special meaning for Christians

Earliest surviving Christian Art are in the walls of Christian tombs in the catacombs of Rome

Hercules killing the serpent - Jesus triumphing over Satan

Peacock - ‘resurrection’

Fall of the Roman Empire

After the Eastern capital was established in 330 AD, Roman Empire functioned as two separate sections, East and West

In the West, emperors gradually lost their influence and prestige. Soon, The West fell to Barbarian Invaders.

Emperors lost their power. The church, governed by popes, assumed its place as the central authority in the West.

Decline of Roman empIre

During the decline of the Roman Empire, a new source of power was born: The Christian Church

Church was the dominating power

Characteristics of Christian Art

Characteristics

Early Christian artists show little interest in the beauty strength and grace of the human body.

Main intention is to illustrate the power and glory of Christ

Christian art was meant to tell the story of Christ’s life here on earth.

Why did Early Christian Art Develop?

Importance of images in the Greco-Roman culture

Aside from images, changes in burial practices have changed from cremation to inhumation

SymbolsEarly Christian Art

Ichthys

Ichthys (ΙΧΘΥΣ) translates to ‘Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior’

I (iota) is the first letter of Iēsous, Greek for ‘Jesus’

Chi (ch) is the first letter of Christos, Greek for ‘Anointed’

Theta (th) is first letter of Theou, Greek for ‘God’s’

Ypsilon (y) is the first letter of yios, Greek for ‘Son’

Sigma (s) is the first letter of Soter, Greek for ‘Savior’

Ephesus

Peacock

The Good Shepherd

Anchor

Dove

Chi rho

xP

combined Greek letters used as a monogram

Frescoes

Frescoes

Churches then were normal houses converted as a place of worship

Frescoes portray simple Biblical scenes

Jonah Vomited from the Whale,Catacomb of Sts. Marcellinus and Peter,

3rd century Rome

Daniel in the Lion’s Den

Noah Praying in the Ark

Moses striking the rock in the desert

Catacomb of Domitilla

Three Hebrews in the Furnace

architecture

Architecture

Under imperial sponsorship, Early Christian architecture flourished throughout the empire on a monumental scale

Two Building Types:

Longitudinal Hall or Basilica

Centralized Building or Baptistry, Martyrium or Mausoleum

1. BasilicaThe basilica is an ancient Roman building type which early Christian churches were based

It has a long central hall, separated from side isles by rows of columns

Nave or Bema or Apse - raised platform where the altar typically stood

Roofed porch or narthex - where people enter

Atrium - square courtyard

Old Saint Peter’s

Basilica Plan

Saint AppolLinareRavenna, Italy

Church of Nativity

Church of nativity

2. Centralized Building

Baptisteries, mausoleums, and martyria or martyr shrines were built in centralized form

Circular or polygonal

The object of veneration visible to the faithful from the cloister or aisle circling the site.

Santa Constanza, RomeMausoleum, 354 AD

Mosaics

Mosaic - decoration with small pieces of glass and stone set in cement.

Walls are richly decorated with mosaics, placed on walls where lights from windows and candles caused them to flicker and glow mysteriously.

Galla Placidia MausoleumRavenna, Italy

Sta. Pudenziana, RomeApse Mosaic

Meanwhile in Byzantium...

In 285, Emperor Diocletian divided the Roman Empire between eastern and western halves.

Emperor Constantine I transferred eastern capital from Nicomedia to Byzantium which became Constantinople

Constantinople ‘City of Constantine’ or ‘New Rome’.

Meanwhile in Byzantium...

Eastern part of the Roman Empire remained strong and unified, it continued to thrive for another millennium.

Constantinople, the capital became the largest city in the medieval world and a great cultural center with grand public buildings and art treasures.

The art glorified Christian religion

Justinian I reconquered most of western Mediterranean including north Africa, Italy and Rome

Byzantine Art

Byzantine Architecture

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia or ‘Holy Wisdom’ was built in Constantinople (now Istanbul) between 532 and 537 under Emperor Justinian I.

Innovative Byzantine technology allowed Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus to design a basilica with an immense dome over an open, square space.

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia’s most impressive feature is the huge dome. The dome rests on 4 huge piers, massive vertical pillars that support arches made of cut stone.

It is the finest example of a centrally planned Byzantine church.

Hagia Sophia

Use of piers and arches for the dome allows erection of thinner walls and more windows to light the interior of the church

Four pedentives support the dome’s great weight, triangular portions at the corners of each arch.

Hagia Sophia

served as a former Orthodox basilica, seat of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Roman Catholic cathedral, mosque, and now as a museum in Istanbul, Turkey.

epitome of Byzantine architecture.

Hagia Sophia

After Constantinople was conquered by Ottoman Turks under Sultan Mehmed II, the building was subsequently converted to a mosque.

Bells, altar, iconostasis, sacrificial vessels were removed

mosaics were plastered over

Islamic features such as the mihrab, minbar and minarets were added.

Characteristics of Byzantine Art

The most salient feature is the Byzantine ‘abstract’ or anti-naturalistic character

Abandoned realistic attempt in favor for symbolism.

Subject matter: Primarily religious and imperial

Mosaics in Hagia Sophia

Mosaics are large and brilliantly colored

One mosaic shows the Virgin Mary and Christ Child between two figures.

The left figure is Emperor Justinian carrying a small church, while Emperor Constantine is bearing a small city.

The message of the mosaic clearly tells the emperors are proclaiming the loyalty and dedication of the church and state to the Virgin and Christ.

Christ Pantocrator in the upper southern gallery of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople

He is flanked by the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist.

12th century

Mosaic of Justinian I

Ravenna, Italy

Ravenna

In the Italian city of Ravenna, Byzantine style was still obvious.

Ravenna became the Western Capital, isolated and safe refuge from barbarian invaders.

Captured in 476 AD but recaptured by Justinian in 540 AD.

San Vitale ChurchRavenna, Italy

San Vitalle Church

526-547 AD, built under Emperor Justinian I.

Characteristics: domed, centralized, octagonal core

San Vitale Interior

Choir and Apse

Emperor with the archbishop, deacons, soldiers and attendants

Body language = bishop is leader of all people, including emperor

Theodora and her attendants

Halo around their heads = symbol of virtue and innocence

Galla PlacidaRavenna, Italy