Late Antiquity (Early Christian) Art

Basilicas in Pagan times vs. Christian terms

They were court houses/admin buildings in Pagan times, and in Christian terms, they became churches

How does Christianity develop its visual language?

They adapted Pagan symbols (like wine) and reinvented them to a new meaning

Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus

• Belongs to Junius Bassus (converted to Christianity)
• Shows Christian stories like Adam and Eve, Sacrifice of Issac
• One relief has Jesus entering Jerusalem, which is similar to how Roman emperors enter cities

Restored view of Old St. Peter's Basilica

• Built with the help of Constatine
• Has Nave, Apse, and the Transept
• Takes the Basilica plan of the Pagans and made them into churches, not temples

Nave

the main area of a church

Apse

a large semicircular area in a church, typically at the end of the church, and usually contains the altar

Transept

Either of the two parts forming the arms of the cross shape, projecting at right angles from the nave.

Detail of the Vault mosaic in the ambulatory of Santa Costanza

• Mosaics of Santa Costanza show the harvesting of grapes, the making of wine. Evoking the Eucharist and the blood of Christ

Ambulatory

walk-ins

Tesserae

a small block of stone, tile, glass, or other material used in the construction of a mosaic.

Christ as Good Shepherd, mosaic from the entrance wall of the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

• Shows Jesus siting with his flock
• Jesus robed in purple and gold (gold= rich, purple= royalty), no beard