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Chapter 7 based on Stokstad's Art History book.
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Chapter 7: Early Christian, and Byzantine Art
Magister RicardArt History
Questions to Consider
1. What are the architectural elements of a basilica plan church and a central plan church?
2. How does the dome of the Hagia Sophia differ from that of the Parthenon?
3. How does the mosaic Justinian and His Attendants display the Byzantine Style?
CHRISTIAN ARTChapter 7
Christian Art: Life of Jesus
• For Christians, Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament
• Incarnation and childhood: the birth, infancy, and childhood of Jesus
• Public ministry: Critical events like the 12 apostles, performing miracles, and sermons
• Passion: Events of his arrest, trial, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension
Christian Literary Sources
• Art is drawn from New Testament– 4 evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
(four gospels)• Art that draws on Old Testament prefigure the
coming of the Messiah• Draws on the book of Revelation and images
of the Last Judgment
Christian Underground
• Throughout its young history during the Roman empire, Christianity had to go underground to escape persecution
• This lead to the creation of the catacombs• This is where Christian imagery was
developed, founded on classical imagery
BYZANTINE ARTChapter 7
Byzantine Art
• Extends from Constantinople • Based in the eastern portion of Roman empire– Western Rome ruled by Germanic tribes in 476– Eastern Rome continues on until 1453 with invasion
of Ottoman Turks• Influenced predominantly by Christian themes
and imagery• Not focused on realism and naturalism• Concerned with religion and teaching
Byzantine Art: Characteristics
• Flat – figures appear flat, lacking volume• Floating – figures appear to hover, appear
weightless• Frontal – oriented toward the viewer in a
planar format, in same picture plane as viewer• Gold – interest is in central figures, little detail
in backgrounds, depthless, but full of gold
Byzantine Art: Chronology
Early Byzantine: 5th – 8th centuries
Middle Byzantine: 9th -13th centuries
Late Byzantine: 13th – 15th centuries
Justinian I
• Besides Constantine, important Byzantine ruler• His rule (527-565 AD) typified the early Byzantine
era• Reclaims large portions of former western Roman
empire– Ravenna is administrative capital in the west
• Suppresses all other religions, proclaims Orthodox Christianity official religion– Creates a theocratic state in which emperor was head of
the church and state
Byzantine Art: Devotional Objects
• Workshops in Constantinople produced excellent works of gold, carved ivory, and textiles
• Scriptoria (a scriptorium) were sponsored by Byzantine elites for the production of manuscripts
Byzantine Art: Devotional Objects
• Vienna Genesis• Page from book of
Genesis• In codex form• Written in Greek• Illuminated due to use
of color• Vellum dyed purple
Icons and Iconoclasm
• Christians were more open towards the religious use of icons when compared to Jews and Muslims
• Church doctrine was ambivalent• Used to help when praying and aid in meditation• In 726 Emperor Leo III launched campaign against
use of icons – iconoclasm• Byzantine figural art ceases until 843 when icon
production is resumed– Abstraction of religious symbols was used instead
Icon: Virgin of Vladmir
• Medium: Tempera – egg yolk mixed with pigment
• 11th-12th century, Moscow• Stylized – adheres to set
features of Byzantine style• Flat appearance, golden
background• Mary’s thin nose, yet
expressive• Believed to have miraculous
powers of protection
Conclusion
• Christian art would develop upon the Classical images it inherited and would eventually rescue that imagery from oblivion
• Byzantine art, although heavily stylized, would also have a heavy influence on European art
• What it lacks in realism it makes up for by portraying matters of the spirit and establishes a recognizable art style
Questions to Consider
1. What are the architectural elements of a basilica plan church and a central plan church?
2. How does the dome of the Hagia Sophia differ from that of the Parthenon?
3. How does the mosaic Justinian and His Attendants display the Byzantine Style?