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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 up Sinope 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 Testament Christ 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