ARTH111

Medium: Tufa + Fresco

Key Points:

• Priscilla = wealthy Roman woman who donated her land for Christian burials.
  
  

• Catacombs stretch ~5 miles underground, eventually containing ~40,000 tombs.
  
  

• Started as burial place for her family → expanded for Christians.
  
  

• Frescoes show similarities to Roman domestic art (minus eroticism).
  
  

• Skilled artists painted upper-class tombs; lower-class ones done by unskilled workers.
  
  

• Christians rejected cremation (common among Romans) because they believed in bodily resurrection.
  
  

• Christians met in catacombs during persecution (but catacombs were mainly for burials, not worship).
  
  

• 313 CE: Edict of Milan — Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity, ending persecutions.
  
  

Fresco Interpretation Slide

Image: Woman with hands raised, surrounded by scenes.

Possible Meanings:

1. Depicts the life of the woman buried there.
   
   

2. Illustrates Isaiah 7:14: “A virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
   
   

Good Shepherd Fresco

• Symbolizes Christ as the Good Shepherd who rescues sinners.
  
  

• NOT a literal portrait of Jesus — early Christians used symbolic imagery, not direct depictions.
  
  

• Common motif in early Christian art because it was safe, familiar, and non-persecutable.
  
  

Basilica Architecture (Early Christian churches)

Floor Plan Terms

Narthex (1,2,3,4 on diagram):

• Entry area / lobby at the west end of a basilica.
  
  

Nave (6):

• The long central hall where congregation gathered.
  
  

Aisles:

• Side walkways divided by columns.
  
  

Altar (7):

• Sacred focal point for Christian liturgy.
  
  

Apse (8):

• Semi-circular area behind the altar, often with the bishop’s seat or important imagery.
  
  

Atrium:

• Open courtyard before entering the narthex (common in early basilicas).
  
  

Basilica with Transept (Cruciform Plan)

Key components:

• Narthex — entrance
  
  

• Nave — central space
  
  

• Aisles — side areas
  
  

• Transept — cross-arm giving the church a cross-shape
  
  

• Crossing — where nave + transept meet
  
  

• Choir — area for clergy behind crossing
  
  

• Ambulatory — walkway behind apse
  
  

• Chapel/Chevet — small radiating chapels around ambulatory
  
  

Hagia Sophia (532–537 CE)

Location: Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey)

Meaning: “Holy Wisdom”

Historical Changes

• Originally a Christian basilica (Justinian I).
  
  

• Converted to a mosque in the 15th century after Ottoman conquest.
  
  

• Became a museum in 1935.
  
  

• Reconsecrated as a mosque in recent years.
  
  

Architectural Features

• Emperor Justinian built many Orthodox churches; Hagia Sophia was his greatest.
  
  

• Massive dimensions:
  
  

  • 270–240 ft wide
    
    

  • Dome rises 180 ft above the floor
    
    

  • Dome is 180 ft in diameter
    
    

• Original dome collapsed in 558 → rebuilt; also restored in the 9th + 14th centuries.
  
  

Scale:

• Rivaled anything in Rome — the dome dominates visually.
  
  

Buttresses:

• Massive buttresses help support the structure; some were added after earthquakes and Ottoman renovations.
  
  

Pendentives

• Hagia Sophia = first major building to use pendentives.
  
  

• Pendentives = triangular curved elements that allow a round dome to rest on a square base.
  
  

• Revolutionary engineering breakthrough.
  
  

Spolia

• Marble columns taken (“appropriated”) from:
  
  

  • Rome
    
    

  • Ephesus
    
    

  • Other ancient Greek sites
    
    

• Using spolia connected Christian architecture to imperial Roman legacy.
  
  

QUICK STUDY POINTS TO MEMORIZE

• Priscilla catacombs → Christian burial + symbolic art + persecution era.
  
  

• Good Shepherd → symbol, not portrait.
  
  

• Basilica plan → nave, aisles, narthex, apse, altar, transept.
  
  

• Hagia Sophia → pendentives + massive dome + Justinian + mosque conversion.
  
  

• Spolia → reused classical materials.
  
  

Theodora Panel (San Vitale, Ravenna)

Date: 547 CE

Medium: Mosaic

Key Points:

• Depicts Empress Theodora, wife of Emperor Justinian.
  
  

• Rich mosaic full of purple, gold, jewels, showing imperial power.
  
  

• Slight asymmetry—Theodora is placed slightly off-center, indicating she holds a secondary role to her husband.
  
  

• She carries a chalice, symbolizing her participation in Christian ritual/authority.
  
  

• Emphasizes Byzantine values: spirituality, hierarchy, front-facing iconic figures, flattened space.
  
  

Spolia (Important Term)

Definition:

Reuse of architectural or sculptural pieces taken from older buildings and placed in newer ones.

Why it matters:

• Shows political dominance by re-using materials from conquered cultures.
  
  

• Connects new architecture to the prestige of the ancient world.
  
  

• Example: Hagia Sophia uses columns taken from Rome, Ephesus, and older Greek temples.
  
  

Nave (Basilica Interior Slide)

The Nave:

• Central, long hall of a basilica where congregation gathers.
  
  

• Flanked by aisles divided by rows of columns.
  
  

• Clearstory windows provide illumination.
  
  

• Spolia columns often used here.
  
  

Hagia Sophia (Revisited Slides)

Meaning: “Holy Wisdom”

Original Structure: 532–537 CE under Emperor Justinian I

Location: Constantinople (now Istanbul)

Key Architectural Features

• Enormous dome: 180 ft high and 180 ft wide.
  
  

• Innovative structural support using pendentives (first building to use them).
  
  

• Required rebuilding after collapse in 558 CE; major restorations in 9th & 14th centuries.
  
  

• Massive buttresses added for stability over time.
  
  

Historical Timeline

• Christian church → Mosque in 15th century after Ottoman conquest → Museum in 1935 → reconsecrated as Mosque recently.
  
  

• Minarets added during Ottoman period.
  
  

Pendentives

Definition:

Triangular curved supports that allow a round dome to rest on a square base.

Why they matter:

• Revolutionary engineering innovation.
  
  

• Made the enormous dome of Hagia Sophia possible.
  
  

• Allowed churches to have more open interior space.
  
  

San Vitale (Ravenna, Italy)

Period: Early Byzantine Europe

Date: 526–547 CE

Materials: Marble and stone veneer

Why important:

• Home of the Justinian and Theodora mosaics.
  
  

• Central-plan (octagonal) church rather than basilica form.
  
  

• Reflects Byzantine imperial influence in the West.
  
  

Islamic Art & Culture Slides

Five Pillars of Islam

1. Shahada – Profession of faith: “There is no god but God, and Muhammad is His prophet.”
   
   

2. Salat – Pray 5 times daily facing Mecca.
   
   

3. Sawm – Fast from dawn to dusk during Ramadan.
   
   

4. Hajj – Pilgrimage to Mecca.
   
   

5. Zakat – Give alms to the poor.
   
   

(These are essential for understanding Islamic belief + context in Islamic art.)

Tessellation

Definition: Repeating geometric patterns created through mathematical precision.

Purpose in Islamic Art:

• Seen in tiles, metalwork, architecture, and screens (jalis).
  
  

• Reflects order, unity, infinite nature of God.
  
  

• Avoids figural images, which are discouraged in sacred Islamic contexts.
  
  

Arabesques

Definition: Flowing, intricate, symmetrical patterns based on floral or organic motifs.

Where seen:

• Architecture (mosques)
  
  

• Manuscripts
  
  

• Textiles
  
  

• Decorative arts
  
  

Symbolism:

• Represents infinite, divine nature of creation.
  
  

Calligraphy (Islamic Art)

Definition: Highly ornamental, decorative handwriting used as the highest form of art in Islam.

Key Features:

• Considered the most sacred art form because it transmits the Qur’an.
  
  

• Kufic script (square, angular) used for official texts and early Qur’ans.
  
  

• Arabic script written right to left.
  
  

• Used on architecture, manuscripts, objects, textiles, and coins.
  
  

FAST TEST PREP SUMMARY

Byzantine Art

• Flat, frontal, gold backgrounds, spiritual not naturalistic.
  
  

• San Vitale: Justinian & Theodora mosaics → imperial power + church authority.
  
  

• Hagia Sophia: pendentives, massive dome, spolia.
  
  

Islamic Art

• No figural images in sacred spaces.
  
  

• Emphasis on geometry, arabesque, calligraphy.
  
  

• Five Pillars underpin cultural and artistic expression.
  
  

Mihrab

Definition:

A central niche in a mosque that indicates the qibla—the direction of Mecca toward which Muslims pray.

Features:

• Often richly decorated with tilework, calligraphy, and geometric patterns.
  
  

• Symbolic focal point of the prayer hall.
  
  

Pyxis of al-Mughira (968 CE)

Material: Ivory

Location: Louvre, Paris

Region: Muslim Spain (Al-Andalus)

Key Points:

• Used as a container for perfumes, cosmetics, or aromatics.
  
  

• Gift for the Caliph’s younger son (luxury court object).
  
  

• Horror vacui: “fear of empty space”—surface is completely filled with decoration.
  
  

• Decorated with:
  
  

  • Arabesques
    
    

  • Tessellations
    
    

  • Calligraphy
    
    

• Contains eight medallions depicting courtly pleasures—hunting, music, celebrations.
  
  

• Suggests elite, luxurious lifestyle of Umayyad courts.
  
  

Basin (Baptistère de St. Louis)

Artist: Muhammad ibn al-Zain

Date: 1320–1340 CE

Material: Brass inlaid with gold + silver

Location: Louvre, Paris

Key Points:

• Artist signed it six times (rare—shows pride and high craftsmanship).
  
  

• Original use: handwashing during official ceremonies at Mamluk court.
  
  

• Decoration includes:
  
  

  • Hunting scenes
    
    

  • Battle scenes
    
    

  • Mamluk hunters & Mongol enemies
    
    

  • Marine life (fish, eels, crabs, frogs, crocodiles) decorating the bottom
    
    

• Horror vacui: every space intricately filled.
  
  

• Although later used as a baptismal font in France, this was not its intended purpose.
  
  

The Kaaba (Mecca, Saudi Arabia)

Date: 631–632 CE

Material: Granite masonry; covered with silk curtain embroidered with gold + silver thread.

Key Points:

• Most sacred site in Islam.
  
  

• Believed to have been built by Ibrahim (Abraham) and Ishmael.
  
  

• Houses the Black Stone in its eastern corner—only surviving element of the original structure.
  
  

• Covered annually in a new embroidered cloth called the Kiswah.
  
  

• Millions of Muslims circumambulate the Kaaba during Hajj.
  
  

Minarets

Definition:

Tall towers on mosques used by the muezzin (caller to prayer) to announce the call to prayer.

Key Points:

• Symbol of Islamic religious architecture.
  
  

• Found in mosques around the world; stylistically vary by region.
  
  

Dome of the Rock

Location: Jerusalem

Date: 691–692 CE

Materials: Stone masonry, wood roof, glazed ceramic tile, mosaics, gilded dome (aluminum + bronze).

Key Points:

• NOT a mosque—it’s a shrine.
  
  

• Built over a sacred rock associated with:
  
  

  • Adam’s burial,
    
    

  • Abraham nearly sacrificing Isaac,
    
    

  • Muhammad’s ascension to Heaven (Night Journey).
    
    

• Site of the Temple of Jerusalem in ancient times.
  
  

• Exterior features rich mosaic, calligraphy, tessellations, and a large golden dome.
  
  

• Interior uses spolia columns from earlier Roman buildings.
  
  

• One of the earliest surviving Islamic buildings.
  
  

FAST FACTS FOR EXAM MEMORIZATION

• Mihrab → niche pointing to Mecca.
  
  

• Pyxis of al-Mughira → ivory luxury object, horror vacui, 968 CE, Muslim Spain.
  
  

• Basin of Muhammad ibn al-Zain → brass luxury object, signed 6 times, hunting scenes, horror vacui.
  
  

• Kaaba → holiest site, Abraham/Ishmael, Black Stone.
  
  

• Minarets → call to prayer towers.
  
  

• Dome of the Rock → 691–692 CE, sacred rock, major Islamic shrine with geometric + calligraphic decoration.
  
  

SAN VITALE & BYZANTINE ART

Theodora Panel (547, mosaic)

• Located in San Vitale, Ravenna.
  
  

• Empress Theodora shown with attendants.
  
  

• Slightly off-center → symbolizes her secondary status to Justinian.
  
  

• Rich robes, halo-like crown, heavy symbolism of imperial + spiritual power.
  
  

BASILICA ARCHITECTURE

Nave

• Central aisle of a church.
  
  

• Important concept: Spolia
  
  → Reuse of earlier architectural or sculptural pieces in new buildings.
  
  

HAGIA SOPHIA (532–537 CE, Constantinople)

Key Facts

• Built by Emperor Justinian.
  
  

• Justinian restored/erected over 30 Orthodox churches.
  
  

• Massive dome: 180 ft above floor, 270 ft long, 240 ft wide.
  
  

• Original dome collapsed in 558 → rebuilt in later centuries.
  
  

• Converted to a mosque in the 15th century, museum in 1935, now a mosque again.
  
  

Architectural Innovations

• First building to successfully use a dome supported by pendentives (triangular curved supports).
  
  

SAN VITALE (526–547, Ravenna)

• Early Byzantine church.
  
  

• Materials: marble + stone veneer.
  
  

• Centrally planned design.
  
  

ISLAMIC ART & ARCHITECTURE

Five Pillars of Islam

1. Shahada – Profession of faith
   
   

2. Salat – Pray 5x daily facing Mecca
   
   

3. Sawm – Fast during Ramadan
   
   

4. Hajj – Pilgrimage to Mecca
   
   

5. Zakat – Almsgiving to the poor
   
   

Key Islamic Art Concepts

Tessellation

• Repeating geometric patterns.
  
  

• Seen in architecture, tilework, decorative arts.
  
  

Arabesques

• Flowing, symmetrical floral patterns.
  
  

• Highly intricate and mathematical.
  
  

Calligraphy

• Beautiful, decorative handwriting.
  
  

• Kufic script often used for official texts.
  
  

• Arabic reads right to left.
  
  

Mihrab

• Niche in a mosque wall indicating the direction of Mecca (qibla).
  
  

Pyxis of Al-Mughira (968 CE, Ivory, Louvre)

• Luxury container for perfumes/aromatics.
  
  

• Gift for caliph’s younger son.
  
  

• Horror vacui → fear of empty space, extremely dense decoration.
  
  

• Features arabesques, tessellations, calligraphy.
  
  

• Shows scenes of royal court life.
  
  

• From Muslim Spain (Al-Andalus).
  
  

Basin of Muhammad ibn al-Zain (Brass inlaid with gold/silver, 1320–1340)

• Also called the Baptistère of Saint Louis.
  
  

• Signed six times by the artist.
  
  

• Used for washing hands in ceremonies.
  
  

• Alternating hunting + battle scenes.
  
  

• Includes Mamluk hunters and Mongol enemies.
  
  

• Bottom decorated with aquatic animals.
  
  

• Uses horror vacui.
  
  

Kaaba (631–632 CE, Mecca, Saudi Arabia)

• Granite masonry covered with black silk cloth decorated in gold/silver embroidery.
  
  

• Said to be built by Abraham & Ishmael.
  
  

• Contains the Black Stone (only surviving part of original structure).
  
  

• Center of Islamic pilgrimage.
  
  

Minarets

• Tall towers used by muezzins to call for prayer.
  
  

• Common at mosques worldwide.
  
  

Dome of the Rock (691–692 CE, Jerusalem)

• Stone masonry + wood roof.
  
  

• Decorated with glazed ceramic tile, mosaics, gilt metals.
  
  

• Houses a sacred rock:
  
  

  • Where Adam was buried
    
    

  • Abraham nearly sacrificed Isaac
    
    

  • Muhammad ascended to heaven
    
    

  • Location of ancient Jewish Temple
    
    

• Influenced by centrally planned buildings.
  
  

• Contains oldest surviving Qur’an verses in architecture.
  
  

Taj Mahal (1632–1648 CE, Agra, India)

• Built from marble + precious/semi-precious stones.
  
  

• Mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal, beloved wife of Shah Jahan.
  
  

• She died giving birth to their 14th child.
  
  

• Shah Jahan is buried next to her.
  
  

ROMANESQUE ART

Sainte-Foy

• Pilgrimage church.
  
  

• Radiating chapels used for holding relics.
  
  

• Cruciform ground plan (cross-shaped).
  
  

Bayeux Tapestry (1066–1080)

• Embroidery on linen.
  
  

• Depicts the Norman Conquest (Battle of Hastings).
  
  

GOTHIC ART & ARCHITECTURE

Historical Background

• “Gothic” originally used as an insult by Renaissance Italians, linking it to “barbarian Goths.”
  
  

• Re-evaluated in 19th century; now recognized for innovation.
  
  

Advancements

• Rib vault
  
  

• Bays
  
  

• Rose window (circular stained glass)
  
  

• Pointed arch (influenced by Islamic architecture in Spain)
  
  

• Flying buttresses (external supports)
  
  

• Pinnacles
  
  

Gothic Cathedral Diagram

• Key parts:
  
  

  • Nave
    
    

  • Gallery
    
    

  • Clerestory
    
    

  • Vault
    
    

  • Arcade
    
    

  • Aisles
    
    

  • Flying buttress
    
    

  • Pinnacle
    
    

  • Gargoyles
    
    

Flying Buttress

• External arched supports that allow for:
  
  

  • Taller walls
    
    

  • Thinner walls
    
    

  • Large stained glass windows
    
    

Stained Glass Windows

• Used to teach Biblical stories.
  
  

• “Heavenly light” effect.
  
  

Golden Haggadah (1320)

• Illuminated manuscript, pigment on vellum.
  
  

• Jewish Passover text.
  
  

• Mix of Gothic + Islamic design elements.
  
  

• Panels show:
  
  

  • Miriam dancing with tambourine
    
    

  • Distribution of matzah and haroset
    
    

  • House cleaning for Passover
    
    

  • Sheep being slaughtered + tools purified
    
    

Golden Haggadah (1320) – Illuminated Manuscript, pigment on vellum

Key Facts

• Created in Spain around 1320.
  
  

• Illuminated manuscript used for Passover; read right to left.
  
  

• Contains 56 miniature scenes with a gold-leaf background.
  
  

• Likely made for a wealthy Jewish family.
  
  

Important Details

• Although Judaism bans images in temples, medieval Jews sometimes commissioned illustrated manuscripts for private devotion.
  
  

• Influences:
  
  

  • Greco-Roman narrative scenes.
    
    

  • French Gothic manuscript style.
    
    

  • Islamic design motifs (seen in patterns and decorations).
    
    

• Illustrated by two unknown Christian artists; text written by a Jewish scribe.
  
  

Scenes from the Slide

• Upper Right: Miriam (Moses’s sister) with a tambourine, maidens dancing.
  
  

• Upper Left: Master of the house giving matzah (unleavened bread) and haroset to children.
  
  

• Lower Right: Family cleaning house for Passover.
  
  

• Lower Left: People slaughtering sheep and purifying utensils.
  
  

Arena (Scrovegni) Chapel (1303), Padua, Italy

Basic Info

• Brick chapel commissioned by Enrico Scrovegni.
  
  

• Built to atone for his father’s sin of usury (charging interest).
  
  

• Contains one of the most complete fresco cycles from the Late Medieval period.
  
  

Interior by Giotto

• Giotto’s most famous work.
  
  

• Dramatic use of blue vaulted ceiling with stars.
  
  

• Fresco cycles show:
  
  

  • Life of the Virgin Mary
    
    

  • Life of Christ
    
    

  • Last Judgment
    
    

Giotto’s Lamentation (from the Arena Chapel)

Why it matters

• One of the MOST important early Renaissance / Late Medieval works.
  
  

• Shows Giotto’s mastery of emotion, depth, and naturalism—a major shift away from Byzantine style.
  
  

Key Visual Features from the Slide

• Diagonal cliff directs the viewer’s eye toward the emotional center (Christ and Mary).
  
  

• Light falls from upper right, adding realism and volume.
  
  

• Figures seen from the back create depth and focus attention.
  
  

• Emotional expressions:
  
  

  • Followers mourning
    
    

  • Mary cradling Christ
    
    

  • Saint John flinging his arms back (symbol of the eagle)
    
    

  • Angels are frantic in the sky, showing grief.
    
    

• Leafless tree symbolizes death.
  
  

• Christians believed Christ’s sacrifice relates to the fall from Eden → theological symbolism.