The document provides an overview of Jewish, Christian, and Islamic religious beliefs and art from early periods. It discusses the development of Jewish synagogue art, early Christian catacomb art featuring images like the Good Shepherd, and the transition to architectural forms like basilicas and central plan churches in the 4th century. Mosaics became an important form of Christian art, as seen in examples from the mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna. Manuscript illumination and ivory carving also emerged as forms of early medieval Christian artistic expression.

1. JEWISH &
EARLY CHRISTIAN ART

3. Religion Beliefs Book
Jewish God’s chosen Torah
people. Awaiting
Messiah
Christian Jesus of Bible: Old
Nazareth (Jesus Testament &
Christ) was the New Testament
son of God
(Messiah)
Trinity
Islam No Trinity. Koran (Qu’ran)
Muhammad
was the last
prophet of God.

4. EARLY JEWISH ART

5. Synagogue
Dura Europos, Syria
ca. 245-256

6. Title: Menorahs and Ark of the Covenant
Medium: Wall painting
Size: 3'11" X 5'9" (1.19 X 1.8 m)
Date: 3rd century
Source: In a Jewish catacomb, Torlonia, Rome

7. Title: The Finding of the Baby Moses
Medium: Copy in tempera on plaster
Date: 244–45
Source: Detail of a wall painting from a house-synagogue,
Dura-Europos, Syria

8. EARLY CHRISTIAN ART
Syncretic images: taking on new meaning due
to a shift in beliefs or culture (e.g. orant, Good
Shepherd)
Title: Good Shepherd, Orants, and Story of Jonah
Date: Late 3rd–early 4th century
Source: Catacomb of Saints Peter and Marcellinus,
Rome
GOOD SHEPHERD
JONAH
ORANT FIGURES
Title: The Good Shepherd
Medium: Marble
Date: later 3rd century

9. Chronology of Early Christianity
Crucifixion of Christ ca. 29
Crucifixion of St. Peter ca. 64
Persecution of Christians
Trajan Decius 249-251
Diocletian 303-305
Edict of Milan 313
Foundation of Constantinople 324
Christianity becomes state religion 390
Fall of Rome to Alaric the Visigoth 410

10. Gospels (“good
news”):
Matthew, Mark,
Luke & John
Alpha: Beginning
Omega: End
Chi Rho: first two
letters of Christ in
Greek

11. Early Church Structure

13. Catacomb showing loculi
Rome
3rd-4th centuries

14. Good Shepherd, Orants, Story of Jonah
Catacomb of Pietro and Marcellino, Rome, Italy
early 4th century
fresco

15. Why do you think the
catacombs were built
underground?

16. Architecture

17. Baptistery from Christian
Community House
Dura Europos, Syria
ca. 240-256

18. Basilica Plan
Old Saint Peter’s Basilica,
Rome
c. 320-27

19. 1. Nave
2. Aisles
3. Apse
4. Transept
5. Narthex
6. Atrium
Old Saint Peter’s Basilica (plan)
Rome, Italy
ca. 320

20. Old Saint Peter’s Basilica (section)
Rome, Italy
ca. 320

21. Title: Old
St. Peter’s
(interior)
Medium:
Painting
Date:
16th
century

22. Santa Costanza
Rome, Italy
ca. 337-351

23. Central-Plan
Church
•First used as
tombs,
baptistries, and
shrines
•Dome
•Tholos
Plan of the Church of
Santa Costanza, Rome.

24. Santa Costanza
Rome, Italy
ca. 337-351

25. Important form of
Mosaics Christian Art
Classic style
• Three-
dimensional
figures
• Using drapery
• Turned figures
• Illusionistic
Title: Parting of Lot and Abraham
Medium: Mosaic
Date: 432–40
Source: Nave arcade of the Church
of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome

26. Title: Harvesting of Grapes
Medium: Mosaic
Date: c. 350
Source: Ambulatory vault,
Church of Santa Costanza,
Rome

27. 395 CE Emperor RAVENNA
Theodosius I Western & Eastern Roman Empire: 476 CE
split Roman
Empire into
Eastern &
western
divisions, each
ruled by one of
his sons
Honorius (r. 395 – 423 CE) ruler of
the Western Roman Empire moved
the capital from Milan to Ravenna

28. Title: Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Date: c. 425–26
Source: Ravenna

29. Title: Good Shepherd, lunette over the entrance
Medium: Mosaic Date: c. 425–26

30. Title: Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. View from entrance, barrel-vaulted arms housing
sarchophagi, lunette mosaic of the Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence
Date: c. 425–26 Source: Ravenna

31. Dome Mosaic of Heaven
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Ravenna, Italy
ca. 425
tessera mosaic

32. Manuscripts
• Scroll
• Codex
• Papyrus
• Parchment
• Vellum
• Illuminated
Manuscript

33. Vienna Genesis
Early 6th century
tempera, gold, silver on purple vellum
12 1/4 x 9 1/4 in.

34. Rossano Gospels Matthew chapter 27
early 6th century Christ before Pilate
tempera on purple vellum
11 x 10 1/4 in.

35. Sculpture
• Diptych
– Two-panel
• Triptych
– Three-panel
• Monumental
sculpture

36. Title: Archangel Michael
(panel of a diptych)
Date: Early 6th century
Medium: Ivory
Height: 17 X 15 ½”
Source/location: The
British Museum, London

37. How does the stylistic treatment
of this ivory relief recall both its
classical heritage and features
that identify it as Early Christian?

38. Title: Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus
Medium: Marble Size: 4 X 8' (1.2 X 2.4 m)
Date: c. 359
Source: Grottoes of Saint Peter, Vatican, Rome

40. 4 point essay
Identify this piece of art and it’s location. Discuss the
characteristics of the work that reveal its Classical
sources.

41. Byzantine Christian art is very stylized.
Lot of mosaic or painted but usually
Contains a lot of gold.
The Hagia Sophia which was the Church of
the Holy Wisdom built by Justinian.It was
made into a mosque in 1453 after the
Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople.

42. Byzantine Emperor

43. Christ

44. Mary and Jesus surrounded by an Emperor and
Empress.

45. An Empress

46. Christ

47. Mary holding
baby Jesus

48. St. John the
Baptist

49. Emperor
Constantine

50. Emperor Justinian
holding Hagia
Sophia

52. Hagia Sophia

53. Elaborate columns with Justinians
initials

54. One small area in the center

55. Some of the Apostles

56. Christ with some Apostles

57. Damage to the faces was done during the
Iconoclast period

58. St George

61. Constantine on the left and his mother Helen on
the right.

63. A rock cut church

64. Many churches here