Ch 7 Arh

Chapter 7: Early Christian, and Byzantine Art
Magister Ricard
Art History

Questions to Consider
What are the architectural elements of a basilica plan church and a central plan church?
How does the dome of the Hagia Sophia differ from that of the Parthenon?
How does the mosaic Justinian and His Attendants display the Byzantine Style?

Christian Art
Chapter 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 Art
Chapter 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

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
What are the architectural elements of a basilica plan church and a central plan church?
How does the dome of the Hagia Sophia differ from that of the Parthenon?
How does the mosaic Justinian and His Attendants display the Byzantine Style?

Ch 7 Arh

by John Ricard on Feb 07, 2010

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