Emerging Christian Images

What was the difficulty with portraying Christ? (3)

-Christ was a paradox, both 100% human and 100% divine

-Had to create images of him that showed spiritual authority and humanity

-Ancient Roman tradition was in opposition to the meaning of christs suffering

An Author that discusses Imperial art and Christian art

Felicity Harley-McGowan

What does McGowan say about the influence of Imperial art? (3)

-Discusses Grabars and other historians theories.

-Christianity needing itsown image identity in the 3rd century, pulling from pre-exhisting imperial images, placed into a Christian context.

-Tertullian depicts Christ as defeating foes in battle, conquring evil

What did Imperial art typically portray?

-Domination

-Triumph

-Humiliation

-Capture

-Superior + Inferior

How do some historians describe the church and art?

-The church as ending artistic development with its growth, observed by the naturalism of ancient Greece and then seeming absence during medieval work, revived by Renaissance.

Example of early christian and later Christian art comparison?

Transfiguration, in St Catherines, Mount Sinai, 6th C

Transfiguration by Raphael, 16th C

-Both use light

-Centring christ

-Crouching bodies

Raphael naturalistic, expression, 3d environment

St Catherines, flat, less dramatic

How does national identity influence Depictions of Christ?

Book of Kells 800ce showing Christ as a Celt, blonde braids, pale skin, wearing a torc, gripping tongues of beasts.

Ethiopian manuscript from 16thc, darker skinned, short dark hair.

An example of imperial Roman art?

The Bo’Ness Slab from Antonine wall.

How can the knots, braids and intricacy of Insular art be described?

As a technology of enchantment, Alfred Gell

Another example of local tradition in Christian art?

The Papil stone from 8thc Scotland, showing christian imagery such as the cross and St Mark as a Lion, as well as bird headed people of pagan belief.