HISTORY

1. Byzantine Art
The name – Byzantine art is the artistic products of the Eastern Roman as well as the nations
and states. The art of Byzantine is developed out of the art of Roman Empire. Byzantine art
never lost sight of this classical heritage.
Byzantine art is divided into four period – the Early period, the middle (high period), the
Period of Latin Occupation and the Late period.
During Early Byzantine art, there were two important fundamental in the development of a
unique. First is the Edict of Milan and the second is the dedication of Constantinople.
Constantine put a great effort on the decoration of Constantinople by adorning its public
spaces with ancient statuary and building a forum( a porphyry column that carried a statue of
himself ). Most of the Constantinopolitan church is built by Constantine and his son. Only few
Constantinopolitan monuments survive due to the rebuilding and destruction. The
development of monumental can still be traced through surviving structure. Early byzantine
art was marked by the cultivation of ivory carving. Another important form of luxury art is
silver plates.
In the Age of Justinian I, Byzantine art changed. Massive building program was a significant component of
Justinian’s project of imperial renovation. Justinian renovated, rebuilt or founded anew countless churches within
Constantinople and also built a number of churches and fortications. The eastern provinces of the Eastern Roman
and later the Byzantine Empires inherited a strong artistic tradition from the Late
Antiquity. The Christian mosaic art start from the 4th
century. The first fully preserved
illuminated biblical manuscripts date to the first half of the sixth century.
During seventh-century crisis, the most significant surviving monumental projects
were undertaken outside of the imperial capital. The Hagios Demetrios church rebuilt
after a fire and Koimesis church is destroyed. The church of Rome include important
surviving decorative program. Byzantine mosaicists also contributed to the decoration
of the early Umayyad monuments. The most notable surviving are Syriac gospel
books. The veneration of acheiropoieta is not made by human hands become
significant phenomenon( credited with saving cities from military assault. Certain
saints images had come to be viewed as “windows” through which one could
communicate with the figure depicted. The beginning of a theology of icon is shown
with these developments.
Empire’s military situation improved, patronage of art and architecture also increased in
the 9th
and 10th
centuries. New churches were commissioned, architectural form and
decorative scheme of the Middle Byzantine church were standardized. The late antique
technique of ivory carving is shown during Macedonian period.
In Palaeologan age, Byzantine artists developed a
new interest in landscapes and pastoral scenes, and
the traditional mosaic-work. The icons became a
favoured medium for artistic expression.