Early Christian Period Art

Period of Persecution33A.D.- 313 A.D.

• During the late Roman Empire Roman Rulers (Caesars) were considered gods.

• Worshiping anyone but the Caesar was outlawed.

• Christians were forced to worship in private– underground in the same places that were used as tombs.

Period of Recognition313A.D.- 527A.D.

• In 313 A.D. the Roman Emperor Constantine is reported to have received a vision from God.

• Constantine would then declare Christianity the accepted religion of the Roman Empire.

• Christians were able to worship in public.

Byzantine Art

• As the Roman Empire expanded it became difficult to manage and split into East and West.

• The Eastern Empire would become known as the Byzantine Empire. The styles of its art reflected an Asian influence.

The Haggia Sophia

Justinian- The Christian Emperor of the Byzantine Empire built the magnificent Haggia Sophia in his capital.

The Carolingian Empire

• After 527 the Roman Empire collapsed overtaken by German barbarians

• By the late 700s stability was retuned by the strong leadership of Charlemagne.

• Art began to thrive under government sponsorship.

Ottonian Period• After the death of

Charlemagne the European empire was in chaos until the rise of Otto I of Bavaria around 900 A.D.

• Art generally suffered except in Otto’s empire. He attempted to recreate Roman styles in his “ Holy Roman Empire”.

Romanesque1000 - 1200

• Art forms imitated Roman artistic style thrived in Europe.

• This style would later be referred to as Romanesque.

Gothic Art1200-1300s

• Gothic Art is originally named for the Goths (Germans) who destroyed the Roman Empire.

• Many critics saw the forms and subjects as barbaric even though Gothic art was produced much later.