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Early Christian Art
Early Christian art developed from the 1st to 5th centuries AD. Key events that influenced its development included the spread of Christianity by St. Paul and its acceptance by Emperor Constantine in the 4th century. Art forms included frescoes, mosaics using small cubes called tesserae, sculptures, and illuminated manuscripts with illustrations and ornamental borders. Mosaics became more advanced and were used to decorate walls and vaults of churches. Illuminated manuscripts were decorated gospel books that were costly to produce. Ivory carvings were made into luxury religious objects like boxes and diptychs. The era saw the rise of early Christian basilica churches that set the architectural template for future churches.
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Early Christian Art
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- 2. Early Christian Art: earliestperiod-350/525 AD
- 3. 250 AD. Timeof Decian Persecution
- 4. Middle stage: AD250- AD406
- 5. AD406: Christianity atthe time of Gothic and Germanic invasions
- 6. Key Events Two importantmoments played a critical role in the development of early Christianity: 1. The decision of the Apostle Paul to spread Christianity beyond the Jewish communities of Palestine into the Greco-Roman world. St. Paul Preaching in Athens By Raphael, 1515
- 7. Key Events • 2.When the Emperor Constantine accepted Christianity and became its patron at the beginning of the fourth century Baptism of Emperor the Great In 337 AD
- 8. Timeline 29 AD, Crucifixionof Christ 249-251, Persecution, Trajan Decius 303-305, Persecution, Diocletian 313, Edict of Milan 380, Christianity proclaimed State religion of Roman Empire
- 9. Edict of Milan •Refers to the February 313 agreement to treat Christians benevolently within the Roman Empire. • Western Roman Emperor Constantine I, and Licinius, who controlled the Balkans, met in Milan, and agreed to change policies towards Christians. • Early Christian art: Pre-Constantinian • Period of the First 7 Ecumenical Churches • First Council of Nicea (325 AD): ecumenical assembly of Christian bishops
- 10. Key Points • UnderConstantine, Christianity became an imperially sponsored religion. • Constantinian shift Colossal marble head of Emperor Constantine the Great, Roman, 4th AD
- 11. • Supported thechurch financially. • Had a large number of basilicas built. • Granted privileges (tax exemptions) to clergy. San Giovanni Laterano, Italy
- 12. Old St. Peter’sBasilica, 319-333 AD
- 13. • Promoted Christiansto high-ranking offices. • Returned properties confiscated during the Great Persecution of Diocletian. • Endowed the Church with land and other wealth. Hagia Eirene, the first church commissioned by Constantine in Constantinople.
- 14. Other Legacies: • AbolishedCrucifixion for reasons of Christian piety • Declared Sunday as the official rest day. • Publicly displayed gladiatorial games were ordered to be eliminated in 325 AD.
- 15. Key Points • Christianthemes became a staple of many of the greatest works of Western art. Leonardo da Vinci The Last Supper 1495-1498 tempera on gesso
- 16. Caravaggio The Conversion onthe Way to Damascus Oil on canvas 1601
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- 18. Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo ChristianVirgins Exposed to the Public oil on canvas 1884
- 19. Key Points • EarlyChristian basilican churches stood as the template for future shrines up to the present.
- 21. Basilica de SantaSabina Rome, Italy 422-432 Interior of Santa Sabina
- 22. Santa Constanza, Rome,337-351
- 23. EARLY CHRISTIAN ARTFORMS
- 24. Early Christian ArtForms/Motifs • Frescoes • Mosaics • Sculptures • Illuminated manuscripts Adaptation of Roman pagan motifs • Peacock • Grapevine • Good Shepherd • Fish (ikhtus)
- 25. Mosaics • Simple beginnings •Invented to provide simple and inexpensive flooring • Pebble mosaics of geometric shapes Gordium floor mosaics, The oldest extant tile mosaic Western Turkey 8th century BC
- 26. Mosaics • 3rd BC •Invention of a new kind of mosaic • Used “tesserae” (Latin for cubes or dice) • Used to decorate walls and vaults The parting of Lot and Abraham Mosaic in nave of Santa Maria Magiorre Rome, Italy
- 27. Mosaics Christ as theGood Shepherd, mosaic Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, Italy, 423 AD
- 28. Mosaics • Tesserae weremade of glass so as to reflect light and make the surface sparkle Miracle of the loaves and fishes Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo Ravenna, Italy, ca 504
- 29. Illuminated Manuscripts • Manuscriptin which the text is supplemented by the addition of decorations • Time consuming and costly to produce • Borders • Marginalia • Miniature illustrations • From Latin, “illuminare” –to light upSinope Gospels Illuminated Greek Gospel book
- 30. Illuminated Manuscripts • Goldor silver • Illuminators were humble craftsmen • Painter’s guild or book trade guild • Earliest preserved illuminated book that contains illustrations of the New TestamentChrist before Pilate Rossano Gospels, folio 8 6th century
- 31. Illuminated Manuscripts • Oldest,well-preserved , surviving, illustrated biblical codex • Probable origin, Syria • First half of the 6th century • Written on purple dyed vellum Vienna Genesis, folio 7 6th century
- 32. Ivory Carvings • Ivorycarving – luxury art much admired in the Early Christian period • Book covers, boxes, chests Suicide of Judas and Crucifixion of Christ Plaque from a box Unknown Roman sculptor 420 AD
- 33. Ivory Carvings • IceAge European mammoths • India • Africa • Carved ivories • Mesopotamian • Egyptian sites Carved ivory plaque from Nimrud showing a winged sphinx with apron and crown in the Egyptian style. 8th – 7th century BC. Phoenician style
- 34. Ivory Carvings Statuette ofa camel and rider Mesopotamia or the Levant, 8th or 9th century; ivory, carved, with some traces of black pigment, 25 x 23.5 x 12 cm
- 35. Ivory Carvings • Nimrudivories • Carved ivory plaques and figures • 9-7th centuries BC • Nimrud, Assyria (now, Ninawa, Iraq) • 2011, British Museum, UK • Iraqi institutions Ivory plaque with traces of paint and original gold leaf 9th-7th century BC, Neo-Assyrian Nimrud
- 36. Ivory Carvings • Origins:Levant or Egypt • Motifs typical of the region • Sir Austen Henry Layard • 1845 • Decoration for high status items like furniture One of the Nimrud ivories, made in Egypt, depicting two Egyptians facing each other
- 37. Ivory Carvings The Nicomachiand Symmachi diptych Ivory relief Rome, 388-401 depict female figures engaged in religious ritual before sacrificial altars Nicomachi –Paris Symmachi – London References two important senatorial families Was commissioned by the family of Q. Aurelius Symmachus
- 38. Ivory Carvings Diptychs fashionedout of ivory: • Ceremonial and official purposes • Announce election of consul • Marriage between 2 wealthy families • Commemorate death of an important citizen The London panel
- 39. Key Terms • Constantinianshift • Apse • Nave • Aisle • Narthex • Transept • Mosaic • Tessarae • Nimrud ivories • Illuminated manuscripts • Diptych