Late Antique Art200 – 550 CE

Early Christian ArtJewish Art

Main Ideas

• Overlapped late Roman empire and Constantinian traditions

• Patronage was a limiting factor in early Christian works• Christians were mostly from the underclass for the first two

centuries – no money for art – and underground (much art is found in catacombs)

• Architecture based on Roman Basilicas (axial) and Roman Temples (central plan)

• Jewish art usually lacked narration• Architecture tended to be bare on outside and elaborate

on inside, akin to the soul of a Christian

What does this statue most likely symbolize?

Christian or Jewish? Cubiculum of Leonis, Catacomb of Commodilla, near Rome, late 4th century CE.

Christian or Jewish? Menorahs and Ark of the Covenant, wall painting in a catacomb, Rome, 3rd Century CE.

Wall with Torah niche, from a house-synagogue, Dura-Europos, Syria, 245 CE. Not a continuous narrative, lack of form, God appears only as a hand, Old Testament stories depicted.

The Finding of the Baby Moses, detail of wall painting from a house-synagogue, Dura-Europos, Syria, 245 CE. Rare to find Jewish narrative. Flat figures, stylized gestures, expressionless faces, no shadow or depth. Legs?

Can you spot the Orants? What is this?

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, Italy, 425 CE. Fusion of central and axial plans, exterior brick façade represents a the exterior world (not very nice) while interior is has brightly colored mosaics representing the soul, Iconography shows path to redemption.

Eastern bays with sarcophagus niches, Martydom of St. Lawrence.

Church of Santa Costanza, Constantina was daughter of Constantine, based on tholos, central plan, mosaics on ceiling of ambulatory blend pagan and Christian symbols (putti and grape leaves – Bacchus), domed main area, plain exterior, wine turning into blood of Christ blends with pagan ritual of harvesting grapes for wine, originally a mausoleum (they were usually circular)

Harvesting of Grapes, mosaic in ambulatory vault of Church of Santa Costanza, Rome, 350 CE. Tondo in center.

Early Christian SculptureSarcophagus of Junius Bassus, marble, Museo Storico del Tesoro della Basilica di San Pieto, Rome. 359 CE. Uniform height of figures, biblical episodes not in order, man was prefect of Rome and was baptised just

before death, carved on three sides, Christ is central figure at top – in the sky and dominating pagan gods