Ewish & early christian art

JEWISH & EARLY CHRISTIAN ART

ReligionReligion BeliefsBeliefs BookBook

JewishJewish God’s chosen God’s chosen people. people. Awaiting Awaiting MessiahMessiah

TorahTorah

ChristianChristian Jesus of Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus Nazareth (Jesus Christ) was the Christ) was the son of God son of God (Messiah)(Messiah)

TrinityTrinity

Bible: Old Bible: Old Testament & Testament & New TestamentNew Testament

IslamIslam No Trinity. No Trinity. Muhammad Muhammad was the last was the last prophet of God.prophet of God.

Koran (Qu’ran)Koran (Qu’ran)

EARLY JEWISH ART

Synagogue

Dura Europos, Syria

ca. 245-256

Title: Menorahs and Ark of the CovenantMedium: Wall painting Size: 3'11" X 5'9" (1.19 X 1.8 m)Date: 3rd century Source: In a Jewish catacomb, Torlonia, Rome

Title: The Finding of the Baby Moses Medium: Copy in tempera on plasterDate: 244–45 Source: Detail of a wall painting from a house-synagogue, Dura-Europos, Syria

EARLY CHRISTIAN ARTSyncretic images: taking on new meaning due

to a shift in beliefs or culture (e.g. orant, Good Shepherd)

Title: Good Shepherd, Orants, and Story of JonahDate: Late 3rd–early 4th centurySource: Catacomb of Saints Peter and Marcellinus, Rome

Title: The Good Shepherd Medium: Marble Date: later 3rd century

JONAH

GOOD SHEPHERD

ORANT FIGURES

Chronology of Early Christianity

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

Gospels (“good news”): Matthew, Mark, Luke & John

Alpha: BeginningOmega: EndChi Rho: first two

letters of Christ in Greek

Early Church Structure

Catacomb showing loculi

Rome

3rd-4th centuries

Good Shepherd, Orants, Story of Jonah

Catacomb of Pietro and Marcellino, Rome, Italy

early 4th centuryfresco

Why do you think the catacombs were built

underground?

Architecture

Baptistery from Christian Community House

Dura Europos, Syria

ca. 240-256

Old Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome

c. 320-27

Basilica Plan

Old Saint Peter’s Basilica (plan)

Rome, Italy

ca. 320

1. Nave

2. Aisles

3. Apse

4. Transept

5. Narthex

6. Atrium

Old Saint Peter’s Basilica (section)

Rome, Italy

ca. 320

Title: Old St. Peter’s (interior) Medium: PaintingDate: 16th century

Santa Costanza

Rome, Italy

ca. 337-351

Central-Plan Church

Plan of the Church of Santa Costanza, Rome.

•First used as tombs, baptistries, and shrines

•Dome

•Tholos

Santa Costanza

Rome, Italy

ca. 337-351

MosaicsImportant form of

Christian Art

Classic style• Three-

dimensional figures

• Using drapery• Turned figures• Illusionistic

Title: Parting of Lot and Abraham Medium: MosaicDate: 432–40Source: Nave arcade of the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome

Title: Harvesting of Grapes Medium: MosaicDate: c. 350Source: Ambulatory vault, Church of Santa Costanza, Rome

RAVENNA395 CE Emperor Theodosius I split Roman Empire into Eastern & western divisions, each ruled by one of his sons

Honorius (r. 395 – 423 CE) ruler of the Western Roman Empire moved the capital from Milan to Ravenna

Western & Eastern Roman Empire: 476 CE

Title: Mausoleum of Galla Placidia Date: c. 425–26Source: Ravenna

Title: Good Shepherd, lunette over the entrance Medium: Mosaic Date: c. 425–26Source: Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna

Title: Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. View from entrance, barrel-vaulted arms housing sarchophagi, lunette mosaic of the Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence Date: c. 425–26 Source: Ravenna

Dome Mosaic of HeavenMausoleum of Galla Placidia

Ravenna, Italy

ca. 425tessera mosaic

Manuscripts

• Scroll• Codex• Papyrus• Parchment• Vellum• Illuminated

Manuscript

Vienna Genesis

Early 6th centurytempera, gold, silver on purple vellum12 1/4 x 9 1/4 in.

Rossano Gospels

early 6th centurytempera on purple vellum11 x 10 1/4 in.

Matthew chapter 27

Christ before Pilate

Sculpture

• Diptych–Two-panel

• Triptych–Three-panel

• Monumental sculpture

Title: Archangel Michael(panel of a diptych)Date: Early 6th centuryMedium: IvoryHeight: 17 X 15 ½” Source/location: The British Museum, London

How does the stylistic treatment of this ivory relief recall both its classical heritage and features

that identify it as Early Christian?

Title: Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus Medium: Marble Size: 4 X 8' (1.2 X 2.4 m)Date: c. 359Source: Grottoes of Saint Peter, Vatican, Rome

4 point essay

Identify this piece of art and it’s location. Discuss the characteristics of the work that reveal its Classical

sources.

Byzantine Christian art is very stylized. Lot of mosaic or painted but usually

Contains a lot of gold. The Hagia Sophia which was the Church of the Holy Wisdom built by Justinian.It was

made into a mosque in 1453 after the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople.

Byzantine Emperor

Christ

Mary and Jesus surrounded by an Emperor and Empress.

An Empress

Christ

Mary holding baby Jesus

St. John the Baptist

Emperor Constantine

Emperor Justinian holding Hagia

Sophia

Hagia Sophia

Elaborate columns with Justinians initials

One small area in the center

Some of the Apostles

Christ with some Apostles

Damage to the faces was done during the Iconoclast period

St George

Constantine on the left and his mother Helen on the right.

A rock cut church

Many churches here