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Altar of the Church of San Vitale in Ravenna
An example of imperial religious propaganda. Unlike the early Christians, who mainly focused on religious scenes, this alter focuses on the imperial court of the Byzantine Empire. Emperor Justinian with a halo is surronded by religious leaders and 12 soliders (like the 12 apostles) with Christ’s intials, Chi Rho, on there shields. Justinian is equating himself to Jesus and his authority over the state to Jesus' authority over the sou
Religious Icons
Icons that were revered as holy and followed set themes and motifs recycled again and again like Mary Theotokos (Mary, the Bearer of God) or Christ Pantocrator (Christ, the All Powerful)
Iconoclasm
A period when icons and other images were destoryed for religious or political reasons.
What were the Byzantines mosaics made out of?
Colored glass like the Christians
Why is it diffiuclt to speak definitively about Byzantine Art?
The Byzantine empire went through several periods of Iconoclasm, during which religious images were destroyed.
How does early Byzantine art differ from the early art of the Christians?
Christian art is mostly religious, and Byzantine art blends religion and politics.
Characteristics of Eastern Orthodox religious icons
A golden background and distinct halos and a cartoonish look.
Why is there a tigh blend of imperial and religious symbolism in Byzantine Art?
Because the Roman style of imperialism survived longer in the East than in the West. Since Byzantine was a Christian empire and the emperor had authority over the Church, the empors in hopes of uniting the empires with religion
Icons
Wood panel with scared images of important church figures like Jesus and Mary painted on one or both sides
Iconophiles
People who loved + supported icons and wanted them to remain
Iconoclasts
People who wanted icons removed and destroyed
What emperor started the iconclasm in the Byzantine Empire and why?
After the loss of majority of the land Emperor Justinian won, Leo III believed that icons were the problem because he believed that the icons depicted were the actual person represented in the image. The Arab leader condemned icon in his territories earlier and his empire boomed and Leo III hoped the same woudl happened for the Byzantium
What monasteries has the greatest collection of Byzantine icons today?
Saint Catherines Monastery in Egypt
Church of Christ in Chora
Depicts anastasis scene while he is also raising Adam and Eve from their tomb. Still has elements of early Byzantine Art like strong, solide lines, but there is a ground + mountainous background unlike previous flat gold backgrounds.
Iconstasis
Churchs display of icons and religious painting
What is the captial of Byzantine Empire?
Constantinople
Anastasis Scene
A scene depicting the triump of Christ over death
What are the major changes in styles in late Byzantine Art?
Realistic spatial depth and perspective into their backgrounds, which created more realistic scenes.
Annuciation Scene
Archangel Gabriel tells Mary she is pregnant
Michael VIII Palaelogos
Recaptured Constantinople from the Latins which marked the rebirth in classical studies and traditional Byzantine education. Refered to as the Palaeolgoan Renaissance.
313 Edict of Milan
Made Christianity a tolerable religion
Theodosisus the Great
Promoted Christianity throughout the Byzantine Empire where it overtook Paganism. He also closed famous philosophical schools in Athens, wher Plato and Aristotle had taught.
The Language Shift of the Byzantine Empire
Courts official language was Latin, so laws and offical documents were in Latin. Greek was primarily spoken language. After Justinian’s reign, Byzantine Greek became the primary language spoken and for written docs.
Great Schism
The differing languages of Eastern Greeks and Western Latin led to differenced in customs and beliefs in religion. The two faction split forming two separa religions the Greek Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church
Fourth Crusade
Intended to recapture Jerusalem formt he Muslims but majority of the forces didn’t make it to the Holy Land. Instead, they sacked Constantinople.
What led to the end of the Byzantine Empire?
When the Ottoman Turks sacked Constantinople in 1453 and renamed the city Istanbul
Emperor Justinian
Brought the Byzantien Empire to its greatest height. The Empire expanded across the entire Mediterranean coast even captured Ravenna (captial of Roman Empire in 5th century).
Emperor Justinian Building Program
Emperor Justinian wanted to keep the empire together and wanted to be respected. Justinian had more than 30 Orthodox churches built in Constantinople and built church across his empire. Helped to spread the Byzantine art and culture
Greek Cross vs Latin cross
A greek cross where all four arms are the same length. The latin cross has long has a small cross-section
Pendentives
Use of arches to make a sphere which acted as triangular support for enormous domes like Hagia Sophia to rest on.
Characteristics of Early Byzantine Art
Stylistically intricate, but flat with bold lines and gold background. The art tends to be abstract as a reflection of holiness
What was the main religion practice in Byzantine Empire?
Eastern Orthodox
What was one of the major reasons that the Byzantines used slightly abstract style?
As a rejection of Roman styles in favor of a distinct aesthetic
Byzantine Architecture vs. Early Christian Architecture
Both used mosaics, focus on apse, clerestory. Byzantine was just bigger and more.
Byzantine used rounder, domed, and central-plan style churche
Clerestory
Windows at a high level to bring in light
Central-Plan Style
Based on the on the Eastern renditions of the cross. Church as wide as they are long creating round churches
For Justinian, what was the advantage of building the Hagia Sophia?
Giving Justinian great deal of political and religious power. Also helped further establish the Eastern Orthodox church .
Hagia Sophia
A massive church in Constantinople created by Justinian. The Hagia Sophia exemplifies early Byzantine architecture like it huge dome.
The Byzantine Empire started out as the eastern half of what great Empire?
The Roman Empire
What happened to the artwork in the Hagia Sophia during the time of the Ottoman Empire and why?
It was removed or destroyed because in islam
What does Hagia Sophia mean in English language?
Sanctuary of Wisdom
Emperor Diocletian’s Rule
Division of the Roman empire into the eastern and western halves. The eastern half so stabilized, but the Western half would fall to visigoths and ostrogoths leding to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire
Late Antiquity
Period between the classical antiquity and the middle ages in Europe. Artist expression changed shifting more inot religiou themes relating to Christianity
Why was the division of the Roman Empire significant?
It signified the start of Late Antiquity.
Prior to the 3rd century, what primarily influenced Roman art?
Ancient Greece
Where did Christian monasticism begin?
Egypt
What did the migration of the Germanic tribes in the 4th century bring about?
Eventual collapse of the Western Roman Empire
Towards the end of the late Antiquity, what became the primary religion of the region?
Christianity
How was Jesus depicted in the Late Antiquity?
Commonly Jesus was protrayed as a teacher or shepherd, but Jesus instead expressed Roman elite status. He was given purple robes draped like an emperor also he was given orb and scepter.
Christian Monasticism
Originally operated in secret outside the authority of the Church. It later became the primary Christian practice in the region.
Jewish Art
The art mostly displayed religious themes but it also used pagan motifs like zodiac with menorahs and torah shrines
Second Commandment
prohibits creating artisitc working representing human figures
Synagogues
Place of worship for jews
What caused the development of synagogues?
The destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans and the expulsion of Jews from Jerusalem.
Rooms in a Synagogue
Main prayer hall, a study hall, and social hall
Mural Paintings
narrative form of visual art
Ceiling mosaics found in the synagogues from the Late Antiquity period often depicted which of the following?
Zodiac symbols and wheels
What motifs were commonly used for the murals decorating the walls of the synagogues in Late Antiquity?
Biblical scenes and key elements from the Second Temple
Why were the Jewish manuscripts from Late Antiquity known as illuminated manuscripts?
Because of the glitter of the gold and silver used for decoration.
What was a cause of the aniconism that probably prevented Jewish people from producing more art during Late Antiquity?
The Second Commandment
Dura-Europos
Found in Syria, which was originally held by the Parthian later captured by the Roman eventually transformed into a synagogue. It was once a house that was transformed into a synagogue. It did contuine to appear like a modest home one the outside because the Roman persecuted the Jewish.
Dura-Europos: Artwork
The temple was covered in murals of biblical scene and characters. Many of the frescos depict scenes from the Torah like Jacob and his children. Interestly, there was a militaristic element to his work. It is believed to reference the belief that a Messiah would lead a rebellion and expell the Romans or to represent members of the congregation that are part of the military. Also Orpheus, figure from Greek mythology, makes an appearance with the Hebrew hero David.
Why is the Dura-Europos so well preserved?
It is believe to be well preserved because of war. The luming threat of the Persians caused the Romans to make thicker walls and cover the outlying building in dirt and sand. When the residents were expelled, the city was later buried by the conquerors protecting the synagogue from the elements.
There are many clues in the Dura-Europos synagogue which indicate a degree of acculturation with which empire?
Romans
Why is it surprising to find frescoes inside the Dura-Europos synagogue?
Representational art was highly taboo in Jewish tradition.
Catacombs
Underground cemeteries run miles underneath the cities created first by the Jewish and later the Christians. In Rome, there is six jewish catacombs and 40 Christain catacombs. Unlike the Romans, Jew and Christian didn’t believe in cremation but Romans didn’t permit burial cites in the city. So, wealthy Jewish and Christian families would donate land under their house to be turned into cemeteries.
Composition of the Catacombs
Composted primarily of loculi/burial niches throughout the passages. Rich family chose to build cubicula or burial chambers filled with loculi and arcosolia or burial nooks for sarcop
Who were buried in the catacombs
Christian martyrs, people who refused to renounce there faith, were buried in the catacombs. Christians would look up to and pray to the martyrs. Even after Christianity was legal, the Christian would still return to the catacombs to pray to the mart
Art of the Catacombs
Art was either narrative or non-narrative. If it didn’t tell a story, then it was filled in symbols that illustrate Christianity. The narrative painting depict scene of Jesus Christ like the miracles and last supper as well as the Old Testament.
Symbol: Chi-Rho
A Christian symbol that combines first two letter of Christ’s name in greek
Symbol: fish
A Christian symbol of Jesus
Symbol: Dove
A Christian symbol of peace and the Holy Spirit
Symbol: Anchor
A Christian symbol that expresses Christian hope and incorporate the cross
Symbol: Grapes and Wheat
A Christian symbol for Eucharist
Symbol: Orant
A Christian symbol for a figure whose arms are raised in prayer
Symbol: Palm Branches
A Christian symbol to show Christ’s victory
Symbol: Peacock
A Christian symbol of eternal life
Early Christian Sculptures
Christian avoid creating monumental sculpture fearing it would be considered idolatry. Any sculpture made were purely for decor not for prayer. An example of the sculpting is the stone sarcophagi.
Early Christian Mosaics
Made with colored glass instead of natural colored stone. They didn’t just cover the floor but the walls and ceiling. The subject of the mosaic was biblical.
What made it possible for illuminated manuscripts to be produced?
The ancient world shifted from tightly wounded scrolls of papyrus to the bound codex or books.
Why did early Christians avoid monumental sculpture?
The Bible forbaded the creation of graven images or idols
What was the earliest Christian symbol?
The fish
What kind of artwork was found in early Christian catacombs?
Frescoes
Good Shepherd, Orants, and Story of Johan
Located in the Catacomb of Saints Peter and Marcellinus. It combines early Christian symbolism, old Testament stories, and the image of Christ as Good Shepherd.
Catacomb of Priscilla
Depict Christ as a shepherd and one of the first depiction of Virgin Mary and Jesus. It also includes adoration of magi, sacrifice of Isaac and other religious stories.
Sacrophagus of Junius Bassus
Full of reliefs about old Testament stories, life of Christ, lives of early Christian saints, and traditional Roman elements like putti (small child-like winged figure) harvesting grapes
Basilicas
A building used by the Romans as a meeting place but also held judicial proceedings in the center of towns. They were eventually transformed into Christian Churches
Santa Pudenziana
A baslicia with a apse mosaic of Christ as king an law giver, St Peter, St. Paul, a gold cross, and women who symbolize the Jews and Gentiles
Baptisteries
special building with Christian were baptized
Early Christian Churchs Interior vs Exterior
The exterior was plain, but the interior was extremely ornate. A reason exterior was very plain because there was still a lot of animosity towards the church and it better to make it stick out too much. Another reason for the exterior was because it was suppose to invoke all the fears and foreboding of the world. The interior was suppose to represent the heavenly delights and the splendor of heaven
Why did early Christians have to meet in secret?
Their beliefs were illegal
Edict of Milan
A document that guaranteed religious freedom
House Churches
Since Christians had to worship in secret, they met in house churches which were private homes modified to accommodate the celebration of Christian sacraments
Emperor Constantine
Passed the Edict of Milan in 313 CE which legalized Christianity and gave it a protected status
Catechumens
People who wish to become Christian
Nave
Basilica’s central gathering area
Apse
A semicircular area that contains the altar and the cathedra, or bishop’s chair
Propylaeum
The entrance of the Basilica church
Atrium
A courtyard and second room of the Basilica
