The Late Roman and Early Medieval Periods (476-768 AD)

From the fall of the Western Roman Empire to Charlemagne

triumphal arch (in Christian churches)

the chancel arch surrounding the apse

Chronology

• 476 AD: Odoacer (chieftain of a Germanic tribe) deposed Romulus Augustus - ending the western Roman Empire

• 493-526 AD: Theoderic killed Odacer at banquet celebrating their joint rule

• 527-565 AD: Justinian (rules in Constantinople, where Empire has not collapsed)

Basilica of Santa Pudenziana, Rome, 384 AD

• converted by St. Peter in 1st century

• significantly remodeled in 4th century

• oldest Christian Church in all of Rome - said to be built over the house St. Peter lived in for 7 years

• apse mosaic is oldest in Christian Roman Churches

Apse Mosaic of Santa Pudenziana (410-417 AD)

• celebrates that it was not destroyed in the sack of 410 AD (inscription suggests Christ protected the Church)

• Christ wears empirical robes + poses like a philosopher

• each Apostle is unique

• symbols of the 4 Evangelists

  • winged man = Matthew

  • winged lion = Mark

  • winged bull = Luke

  • eagle = John

Santa Maria Maggiore (434 AD… still Imperial)

• 1st church dedicated to Mary :) 

• Largest papal church

• Designed to be a station church

• Patron: Pope Sixtus III

• original was destroyed in sack of 410

  • hypothetical atrium

  • nave

  • deambulatory - or…it is likely that the apse was the outer wall of the Church

Triumphal Arch Mosaic of Santa Maria Maggiore (434 AD)

• allusion to 2nd coming of Jesus

• empty throne, prepared (hetoimasia)

• Chi-Rho

• compare to the column of Trajan from 113 AD

• Left = Annunication

  • Mary like empress

  • Gabriel like a winged victory

  • Halos on angels

  • St. Joseph looks surprised (emotion!)

  • Sybil fo Cuma (pagan art)

  • holy innocents - Herod has a halo

• Right = Appearance of Lord to Hebrew People

  • presentation

  • flight into Egypt can be compared to the adventus of Hadrian

  • Magi and herod

  • Walls of Jeweled cities (Bethlehem and Jerusalem

The Nave Mosaics in Santa Maria Maggiore are…

…the only ones we have from this time and place.

• Ex. The Parting of Abraham and Lot to Sodom and Canaan (434)

• Redemption in the Old Testament fulfilled in triumphal arch with Christ

hetoimasia

“prepared throne”

Chi-Rho (XP)

early Christian symbol containing the 1st two letters of the name Christos written in ancient Greek

Sybil of Cuma

an ancient mythical figure with prophetic powers cited by Virgil in the fourth Eclogue

adventus

arrival

centrally-planned basilica (Greek cross Church)

church in which the parts of structure are of equal or almost equal dimensions around center

Byzantine style

stiff with very little movement; frontal; on gold background

The Middle Ages / Medieval Period

• begins after the fall of West Roman Empire

• So-called “Dark Age”

• Christianity flourished in Europe

• Roman Empire slowly fragments into smaller political entities

• Visual arts prosper - has its own aesthetic value

• Not a lot of artists are named

Name the 5 Stages of art in the Middle Ages …

1. Early Medieval (500-768)

2. Carolingian (768-877)

3. Ottonian (919-1024) did not really occur in Italy

4. Romanesque (1050-1200)

5. Gothic (1200-1400)

San Vitale (Ravenna) 547 AD

• dedicated under Justinian (ruling from Constantinople)

• he wanted a foothold in Italy without actually going there

• centrally-planned basilica

• gold-backed mosaics

• elaborate mosaic floors

• apse mosaic of Christ

• mosaic of Justinian and Theodora 

Mosaic of Christ in the Apse of San Vitale 

• youthful Christ

  • holds a scroll

  • sits on the orb of the world with 4 rivers

  • royal clothing

  • large halo and three bars (Trinity/Cross)

  • bishop holds model of Church of San Vitale and gives it to Christ

• stiff figures floating on a golden background

Mosaics of Justinian and Theodora (AD 527-565)

• both wear royal purple

• both have halos - rulers

• unclear whether Justinian or the bishop is at the front

• Chi-Rho symbol on shields of the Royal Guard

• Theodora is of elevated status (she is important enough to be included)