Chapter 7: Early Christian, and Byzantine Art

Magister RicardArt History

Questions to Consider

1. What are the architectural elements of a basilica plan church and a central plan church?

2. How does the dome of the Hagia Sophia differ from that of the Parthenon?

3. How does the mosaic Justinian and His Attendants display the Byzantine Style?

CHRISTIAN ARTChapter 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 ARTChapter 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

Early Byzantine: 5th – 8th centuries

Middle Byzantine: 9th -13th centuries

Late Byzantine: 13th – 15th centuries

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

1. What are the architectural elements of a basilica plan church and a central plan church?

2. How does the dome of the Hagia Sophia differ from that of the Parthenon?

3. How does the mosaic Justinian and His Attendants display the Byzantine Style?