Unit 5: Christian and islamic art

imagery and artworks for ARTH final

Art of late antiuity

christian catacombs, symbolism, iconography, worship

christian community house

late antiquity geography: Mediterranean

Detail of the spiral frieze of the Column of Trajan,
Forum of Trajan, Rome, Italy, dedicated 112 CE

commemorates his
victorious Dacian campaigns

The High Empire: Polytheistic Temples &
Venerated Emperors

The High Empire: Polytheistic Temples &
Venerated Emperors

Portraits of the four tetrarchs, from Constantinople,
ca. 300 ce. Porphyry, 4′ 3′′ high.

shows political and economic instability, rule of 4 kings, 2 Caesars 2 augusti, period of the tetrarchy (rule of 4)

• all look same, no distinction between the rulers

the arch of constintine =

visual propaganda, attributes win to 1 god

• proclaimed religious tolerance, ending christian non tolerance

this is the…

Basilica Nova (Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine), Rome,
c. 306–313

not sure

Cubiculum N, Via Latina Catacomb, Rome, Italy, ca. 320–360.

Polytheism to
Monotheism

Polytheism: belief in multiple gods
• Monotheism: the worship of a single
all-powerful god

Catacombs:

vast subterranean
networks of passageways and
chambers designed as Christian
cemeteries

this is the…

The Good Shepherd, the story of Jonah, orants, and Seasons, frescoed ceiling of a cubiculum in
the Catacomb of Saints Peter and Marcellinus, Rome, Italy, early fourth century

list important terms in christian iconography:

iconography, lunettes, orants

iconography symbolism

christ as the good shepard, lamb(s), flock of sheep

Christ as the Good Shepherd, ca. 300–350. Marble, 3’ ¼” high.

this is an example of/means:

Sarcophagi: Early
Christian Art

details/messages of the sarcophagus of philospher

christ the good shepard, lamb, serpent, the damned

Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus

Upper register uses four biblical
Old Testament narratives to
foreshadow Jesus's suffering
under divine providence
• Classical elements employed to
portray Christ in a visual
language that viewers were
familiar with
• Central upper panel shows
Christ enthroned – similar to a
Roman emperor

LEFT] Youthful Christ between Saints Felix and Adauctus, of the Cubiculum Leonis in the Catacomb of Commodilla, Via Ostiense, Rome, Italy, ca. 370–385.
[RIGHT] Bust of bearded Christ of the Cubiculum Leonis in the Catacomb of Commodilla, Via Ostiense, Rome, Italy, ca. 370–385.

Apse mosaic of Santa Pudenziana, 4th century C.E., Rome

structuring the church: basilica

structuring

byzantine art

Works: Icons, mosaics, domed
churches
• Themes: spirituality, imperial and
religious authority
• Main question: How does Byzantine
art create a sense of divine
presence?

the empire currently

the empire

Theodosius I and attendants, relief on the southeast side of the pedestal of the obelisk
erected in the hippodrome of Constantinople (Istanbul), Turkey, 390.

Renamed Constantinople, city became the primary
capital after the fall of Rome in 476 CE
• Constantinople was a major sea-port, bringing wealth
and political power
• Churches were an important outlet for imperial
beneficence
• Emperors often exerted and enhanced their authority
through art

christian expansion

this is..

Justinian Defending the Faith, mid-sixth century. Imperial ivory plaque, 14¼ × 11 in.

Hagia Sophia, Constantinople (Istanbul), Turkey, 532–37 CE. Architects Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus.
The external buttresses and four minarets were added later

Justinian's Constantinople: 527 – 565 CE

Hagia Sophia

San Vitale (looking west), Ravenna, Italy, 526–547.

Ravenna served as a central city in
the extension of the Byzantine
military power into the West from
the 6th to the 8th century.

Apse (looking east) with mosaic of Christ between two angels, Saint Vitalis, and Bishop Ecclesius, San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy, 526–547

Justinian and his entourage, apse mosaic, north side, Church of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy,
c. 546 CE.

Justinian and his entourage, apse mosaic, north side, Church of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy,
c. 546 CE.

Theodora and attendants, mosaic on the south wall of the apse, San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy, ca. 547

hi

christ as the good shepard

examples of varying christ as the good

byzantine empire expansion, transfiguration

Transfiguration

Jesus' appearance changing dramatically to reveal his divine glory to three disciples,
Peter, James, and John, on a mountaintop

Christ blessing, icon, Monastery of Saint Catherine, Mount Sinai, Egypt, sixth century. Encaustic on wood, 2' 9" ́ 1' 6"

Icon-

Icon–an image of a religious subject used
for contemplation

the virgin mary, starts to become holy/divine figure herself, blue

Iconoclasm

Iconoclasm–the intentional destruction or rejection of
images on religious or political grounds

idoltary

worship of idols

Hagia Eirene, Constantinople (Istanbul), Turkey, 740–53

iconoclasts destroyed artworks

this is the…

Theotokos = “god bearer”

Virgin (Theotokos) and Child enthroned, mosaic in the apse of Hagia Sophia,
Constantinople (Istanbul), Turkey, dedicated 867.

pantocrater

a title of Christ represented as the ruler of the universe, especially in Byzantine church decoration.

analyse

changes overtime, narrative to icon

this shows…

baptism of christ, no nudity for christ

Iconographic:

describes the symbolic imagery in a work of art or the collection of images used to represent a particular subject.

4 key figures in christs life

lamentation

Deësis, Hagia Sophia, mosaic in the south gallery, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey), c. 1261.

Christ as Savior of Souls, icon from Saint Clement, Ohrid, Macedonia, early 14th century. Tempera, linen, and silver on wood, 3' 1/4" x 2' 2 1/2".

savior of souls

key efforts of byzantine artL

key points: