Byzantine Art

Ravenna timeline

Early Christian → Germanic (Theodoric) → Byzantine (Justinian)

Exterior

plain and unadorned

Interior

Highly decorated w/ many mosaics, etc., combo of basilica and central plans

Lunette

half medallion shapes

Byzantine Plans

Combo of Basilica and Central

Exonarthex

exterior porch

Christ

bearded, reclining with apostles, bread, and fish

3 sheep

John, Peter, and Paul who would also become martyrs

Impost Block

Adds height and acts as a transition between capital and upper parts

Maximianus

Bishop of Ravenna, more attention to detail

Theodora

Wife of Justinian w/nimbus, outside of church being ushered in, canopy magnifies position, became an actress in Constantinople, was noticed by Justinian at a performance

Apse Mosaic

Second Coming of Christ

Architects

Anthemios of Tralles and Isidoros of Miletos (mathmetician and scientists not actual architects)

Pendentives

curved devices from fragments of domes that transfer weight on to piers (pillars)

Icons

objects with holiness and power, sometimes seen as idols

Iconoclasm

attacking practices of making "icons/idols" causing art to be almost nonexistent

New phase of Byzantine Art

"The Second Flowering"

Crucifixion of Jesus

Triangle of figures with Christ at the center of John and the Virgin Mary

Squinch Mosaic

Annunciation

Squinch

Hollowed shell placed on corner of building to transfer weight

Icon

portable, meant to be seen by multiple people

Mappa

used to start/signal races

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, ca. 425

Highly decorated w/ many mosaics, etc., combo of basilica and central plans

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia: Good shepherd Mosaic

S. Apollinaire Nuovo, Ravenna, ca. 504

Germanic style during Theodoric’s period, Germanic feature of the cylinder tower, basilica plan

S. Apollinaire Nuovo: Miracle of Loaves and Fish

S. Apollinaire Nuovo: Last Supper

S. Apollinaire in Classe, ca. 533-549

S. Apollinaire was a martyr so his followers would be too, like martyrdom of Jesus, Medallion w/ cross and Hand of God above it in golden skyscape

S. Vitale, Ravenna, ca. 526-547 (Germanic Period), Octagonal Central plan

S. Vitale, Ravenna

S. Vitale, Ravenna (apse): Second Coming of Christ

Hagias Sophia, Anthemios and Isidoros, Constantinople, ca. 532-537 (Justinian), Central plan

Daphni Monastery, near Athens, ca. 1100

Nerezi, Lamentation over the Dead Christ, 1164

Vladimir Madonna, early 12th Cent., Icon taken to Russia

The Old Testament Trinity, Andrei Rublev, ca. 1410

St. Michael Diptych, early 6th Cent.

Anatasius Diptych, early 6th Cent.

Veroli Casket, early 11th Cent.