Art History Exam 3 (Roman and, Early Christain, and Byzanine Art)

Barrel Vault

A tunnel with a continuous arched ceiling

Groin Vault

formed by the intersection of two barrel vaults

Veristic

True Realism

Syncratism

Merging diffrent cultural traditions, styles, and ideas to create a new form of art (when the Romans copyed the Greeks).

Aquaduct

Structure that moves water

Basilica

Greek word that means ‘King’. Basically a church

Augustus of Primaporta (Rome)

• Contropossto pose

• Was painted - they were awful at painting them

• He is Julius Caesar’s nephew, and became emperor when Caesar was assassinated.

• Actively giving some sort of order with how his hand is raised

• Baby is cupid (Eros), riding a dolphin

• 6ft 8 in

• Bare foot because of his divinity

Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius (Rome)

• Bronze

• One of the largest statues

• Hidden and buried which is why he is still here - not melted down and used for other things.

Colosseum, Rome (Rome)

• Can evacuate it in 15 minutes

• They had a fabric cover to protect from the sun

• To view gladiators and other entertainment 

• Was burned down, after done rebuilt, celebration of 100 days of games 

• The ground floor columns are tuskan but later became doric. The second layer features ionic and the top features Cathordin capitals.

• Made up of concrete but wrapped in marble 

Pantheon (Rome)

• Pantheon means worshiping multiple gods.

• At one point it did have a frieze 

• Cathorin capitals to the columns 

• The name of Augustus friend inscribed on the pediment 

• Had a fire, was rebuilt 

• There is a circle making a hole at the top of the dome called the oculus. Geometrical architecture allows the light to move and hits the statues of the gods inside, but doesn’t let a lot of rain inside it. 

• Everything is an equal circle 

Column of Trajan, Rome (Rome)

• A single ribbon of storytelling that starts at the base and ends at the top

• 656 ft of narrative storytelling detailing his conquests and how amazing he is

• 150 ft high 

• There is a staircase inside

• Ribbon is 50 in tall, wrapping around. Film strip vibe 

Arch of Titus (Rome)

• Concrete with a marble face (shell?)

• Way to enter Rome

• Inside it depicts the emperor Titus as god like

• Depicts soldiers stealing things from other emperors + his conquest 

• Intended to be imposing 

Portrait of a Woman, lower Egypt (Rome)

• Hot wax with pigment on wood

• Royal coloring (red) gold jewelry

• Death panel 

• symbolic numbers (3 on her earrings for the trinity etc)

Still Life Painting of Peaches and Water Jar (Rome)

• Weird ass perspective 

• Clear jar tho ! !

• likely intended to welcome guests and symbolize generosity

Portrait head of Constantine the Great

• Head is 8 feet tall - so full sculpture would have been like 40 ft tall

• Constantine changed the religion of Rome from paganism to christianity because he said that this christian icon on my shield is going to make me win the war and he won so people just followed that. 

• Looking up at god

What architectural achievements did the Romans produce? How did the combine the Greek with the Etruscan architectural innovations to create Roman architecture?

Innovations in technology:

• Aqueducts

• Basilicas

• crosswalks

• cityscapes

• large public baths.

Utilizing Greek and Etruscan styles of building, including column capital types and friezes.

Catacombs

Underground passages used for burial

Lunettes

Semi Circles

Mosaic

A design composed of small pieces of colored material in plaster or mortar

Symbols

Something that stands for or represents something else

Icon

A holy picture carving or state of Jesus Christ, the virgin Mary, or a saint.

Iconoclasm

The destruction of religious images used in worship, or opposition to their use in worship

Christ, Mount Sinai, Egypt

• Lots of icons:

  • the 3 circles on the book (holy trinity)

  • halo

  • the book (bible)

  • his hand movement means peace.

  • The 4 groups of three white dots. the three is holy trinity and the 4 is representing the 4 bibles

San Vitale, Ravenna

• Lots of mosaics on the entire top register of the inside. (as known for Byzantine art)

Emperor Justinian and his attendants, San Vitale (B

• Halo on the emperor Justinian

• Constantine’s symbol on the warriors shield 

• His Advisors in white robes

Doryphorus (Spear Bearer) (Greek - for an essay question)

• Contrapposto: positioned against a support

• Spear likely was wood, and would have laid against his shoulder 

Christogram

A symbol for Christ

Chi Rho

Used to signify Christ’s identity, victory, and divine authority. It was popularized by Emperor Constantine

Tau Cross

T shaped cross, comes from the greek letter

Latin Cross

Most commonly known cross

Virgin and Child Enthroned Between Saints and Angles, Egypt (Byzantine)

• Mary is wearing blue and holding baby jesus who has a halo.

• Angles at the top and warrior saints to holding the staffs

• Encaustic: Painted with wax on wood

Byzantine Art

known for dancing feet, acorn heads, and mosaics, big eyes

The Crucifixion

• Mosaic 

• Mary is wearing blue on the left

• And john evangelist on the right (crying)

• Stylized; plants, blood+water, no nipples 

• Skull means death 

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul

• Earliest large church was built in Istanbul

• Title means ‘holy wisdom’

• Built in 5 years

• Changed from a Basilica to a masque later; the four corner towers were added the

• crazy concreate dome that was the perfect size, crazy architecture concrete

Madonna Enthroned

• Mary (always wearing blue) and Christ Child seated on a throne

• Saints and angels arpund them

• Halos around everyones heads

• Everyone’s looking at the baby and Mary

Empress Theodora and Her Attendants

• Pictures Empress Theodora with her own attendance

• She’s holding a chalice of wine (blood of christ)

• Opposite of the Emperor Justinian and his attendants (her husband). 

• Has a cathoridan column as an homage to rome

• She’s wearing purple (doesn’t look like that in photo) because she’s royal and rich

• She’s was the leader over her husband because her husband was a little bitch

• She has a halo (rare for a woman) and also was a commoner that came into power

Iconoclastic Controversy

a dispute over the use of religious images (icons) in the Byzantine Empire.

• Iconoclasts (didn’t like the images) - thought it violated the Old Testament prohibition against "graven images" in the Ten Commandments

• Iconodules (liked images) -  thought images were not worshipped as divine in themselves, but served as a symbolic

Ultimately banned the use, but then they were reinstated.

Rooms in the Basilica Floor Plan

Nave

Apse

Narthex

Atrium

Aisle

Center Floor Plan

Symmetrical design organized around a central point, often a dome

Nave (Basillica)

Long hallway in the Basillica, leading to the Transept from Narthex

Apse (Basillica)

Back of the Basillica, where the most important people and officials would be seated, where the alter would be

Narthex (Basillica)

an entrance area for those not allowed in the main sanctuary; unbaptized people and sinners doing penance

Atrium (Basillica)

Outdoor area walled in by the Narthex, a fountain in it

Aisle (Basillica)

lining the Nav