Chapter 15 - Art History

  • Early Christian Art

    • Early Christians were oresecuted under the reigns of Nero, Trajan, and Domitian

    • Not until Emperor Constantine’s EDICT OF MILAN was Christianity tolerated

    • The Period of Persecution

      • Early Christians also adopted symbols present in Roman art for their own purposes, as a survival tactic (secrecy)

        • The study and interpretation of symbols is called ICONOLOGY

        • A work or art’s symbolic meaning is called ICONOGRAPHY

    • The Period of Recognition

      • After recognition by Constantine, CHristians put their energies into building houses of worship, using models they already knew, the basilicas of Rome

      • The plan of old St. Pteter’s whic would serve for Christian Cathedrals for centuries to come, consisted of 7 parts:

        • A gateway, called the PROPYLAEUM

        • A courtyard, called an ATRIUM

        • The NARTHEX, a portal or series of portals leading into the interior

        • The NAVE (the long center aisle)

        • The TRANSEPT that intersected the nave

        • The Eastern most portion, the APSE containing

        • The ALTAR

      • Because this layout resembles a cross, this plan is often called a LATIN CROSS PLAN, also referred to as a LONGITUDINAL plan.

        • Was most prominent in Europe. Small circular buildings with central plans were popular in the East, but only used as ancillary buildings in the West.

      • Old St. Peter’s was lavishly decorated with MOSAICS and inlaid marble

      • Byzantine Art

        • The big difference between Early Christian art and that of Byzantine, is that Early Christian art had more earthbound realism and Byzantine aimed for a more spiritual, otherworldly style.

        • SAN VITALE, RAVENNA

          • Built in the city of Ravenna during Emperor Justinian's reign.

          • The CHURCH OF SAN VITALE is one of the most elaborately decorated buildings in the BYZANTINE Style.

          • Has a CENTRAL PLAN with an octagonal perimeter

          • An octagonal dome that is supported by eight massive piers

          • Between the piers are semicircular niches that extend into a surrounding isle like petals on a flower

          • The surrounding aisle is called an AMBULATORY

        • Hagia Sophia, Constantinople

          • Although Ravenna was the capital of teh Western EMpire, Constantinople was still the capital of the Eastern Faction

        • Justinian built the Church of Holy Wisdom, or Hagia Sophia, there (pronounced Hiya Soffea)

        • Late Byzantine Art

          Byzantine art continued to flourish until the 12th century, varying between the central and longitudinal plans.

          • One other variation was the GREEK CROSS PLAN, used in ST. MARK’S CATHEDRAL in Venice.

          • In this plan, the arms of the cross are equal in length and the focus of the interior is usually a dome that rises above the intersection of these elements.

      • Early Medeival Art

        • The 1000 years that span 400-1400 CE have been called the MIDDLE AGES or DARK AGES

          • considered to be the dark time for art, when the light of Classicism was extinguished until its re-birth in the Renaissance

        • Many works of art are from the barbarian tribes who migrated across Eurasia for centuries.

          • Illuminated page from the BOOK OF LINDISFARNE is a great example of art from the EARLY MIDDLE AGES exhibiting characteristics (such as Celtic knot work) similar to those that appear in the small carvings and metalwork of the Picts and the Celts.

        • Carolingian Art

          • In the year 800, Charlemagne (Charles the Great) was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the Pope.

            • This period is called the CAROLINGIAN PERIOD.

              • Constructed the PALATINE CHAPEL (palace chapel) with 2 architectural styles in mind: Roman and the central plan of San Vitale\

            • Charlemagne’s big project was the decipherment of the true biblical text.

              • ILLUMINATION and development of distinct writing styles (CAROLINGIAN SCRIPT; looks more like a modern italic font and much easier to read) occurred during his reign.

              • Although Charlemagne was illiterate, his reign showed many areas of enlightenment.

        • Ottonian Art

          Following Charlemagne's death, internal and external strife tore apart the Holy Roman Empire and consolidated again under various rulers.

          • Most significant were 3 succeeding German Emperors, each named Otto, in what is now called the OTTONIAN PERIOD.

          • Architecture:

            • Most important, the construction of the Abbey Church of St. Michael in Hildesheim, Germany

            • St. Michael’s utilizes the modified Roman basilica plan that will serve as a basis for Romanesque architecture.

            • Most significant for the future of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, is the use of the CROSSING SQUARE to define the spaces within the rest of the church.

            • The crossing square is formed by the intersection of the nave and the transept.

              • In St. Michael’s, the nave consists of three modules that are equal in dimensions to the crossing square and marked off by the square pillars, an early example of square schematism (the crossing square determines the dimensions of the entire structure.)

              • Also uses an ALTERNATE SUPPORT SYSTEM, in which alternating structural elements (in this case pillars and columns) bear the weight of the walls and ultimately the load of the ceiling.

              • The alternate elements in St. Michael’s read as pillar-column-column-pillar

              • Its support system is then classified as a-b-b-a

          • St. Michael’s was the site of the recovery of the art of sculpture.

          • The bronze doors of St. Mary’s Cathedral (Adam and Eve Reproached by the Lord) originally commissioned forSt. Michael.

          • Represents the first sculpture cast in one piece during the Middle Ages.

      • Romanesque Art

        The Romanesque style appeared in the closing decades of the 11 th century among great changes in all aspects of European life.

        • Individual monarchies ruled areas of Europe, rivaling each other for land and power.

        • Monasticism also gained importance, as monasteries were the only places for decent education and had the added attraction for providing guarantees for eternal salvation.

        • Two phenomenon at this time reflect the medieval obsession with salvation:

          • The Crusades

          • The great pilgrimages to visit and worship at sacred shrines or the tombs of saints.

            • The pilgrim’s need for a grand place to worship at journey’s end gave motivation to church construction during the

        • Architecture:

          • Two Romanesque criteria added to the basic format: spaciousness and fireproofing

            • Large crowds from pilgrimages required larger structures with interior spaces that would not restrict the flow of movement

            • After barbarian attacks reduced churches to ashes, it was necessary to cover structures with cut stone.

        ST. SERNIN

        • Built in Toulouse France, fits all requirements of a Romanesque cathedral:

        • Nave, side aisles, narthex, a prominent transept, crowned by a spire above the crossing square, and an apse at the Eastern end.

        • The outer aisle of the narthex continues around the outer borders of the transept arm and runs into the ambulatory around the apse, all to provide free movement around the church.

        • The shift was made of a flat wood roof to a stone vault (for fireproofing).

          • Fenestration (windows) would seriously weaken the structure, so St. Sernin is dark in its interior.

          • Lack of light would become a primary concern of Romanesque architects

        ST. ETIENNE

        • In Normandy, contributed greatly to Romanesque and Gothic architecture by the development of the ceiling vault.

        • The vault of St. Etienne’s is one of the first true rib vaults.

        • the rib vault made it possible to pierce the walls directly above the tribune gallery with windows, a CLERESTORY, which will become a standard element of the Gothic Cathedral plan.

        • The façade of St. Etienne’s also served as a model for Gothic architecture.

        • The two tower, tripartite façade appears again and again in Gothic structures.

        • Sculpture:

          • Although there were occasional freestanding sculpture, most was restricted to architectural decoration around the portals.

          • Product of political and social culture of their times.

          • Manuscript illumination:

            • Early Romanesque art is full of emotion and frenzy, with unnatural body movements and drapery.

            • Toward the end of the Romanesque period, artists paid more attention to their surroundings and there is a significant increase in naturalism

        • Tapestry:

          • Noblewomen and nuns wove and decorated elaborate tapestries, clothing and liturgical vestments, using the finest linens and wools, gold and silver thread, pearls and other gemS

      • GOTHIC ART

        • Term originated by historians who thought the Goths were responsible for the style of this period.

        • Romanesque and Gothic styles are seen as distinct and responsive to the unique tempers of their time.

        • Architecture:

          • Gothic style began with the construction of the church of ST. DENIS near Paris in 1140.

          • The pointed arch was used rather than the rounded arches of the Romanesque period, allowing for the construction of rectangular bays.

          • This vault construction also permitted the use of larger areas of stained glass, dissolving the massiveness of the Romanesque wall.

        LAON CATHEDRAL

        • Although considered early Gothic, its plan resembles those of Romanesque churches, using the alternate a-b-a-b rhythm

          • There were some important innovations here:

            • A change in wall elevation from three to four levels

            • A series of arches called a triforum

            • Reducing the appearance of heaviness in the walls can also be seen on the exterior.

            • The stone is pierced by a large rose window

        NOTRE DAME

         Built on the banks of the Seine in Paris.

         A mixture of old and new elements.

         Begun in 1163 and

        not finished until

        1250, undergoing

        extensive modifications

        during the last 25 years

        of its construction

        reflecting development

        of High Gothic Style

        Chartres Cathedral " Regarded as the first High Gothic Church, although influences of its Romanesque beginnings still remain. " Planned to have a three-level wall elevation and flying buttresses, allowing for larger windows in the clerestory and admitting more light into the interior.

        In High Gothic period there is a change from square schematism to a rectangular bay system. " The interior presents several dramatic vistas, with a continuous sweep of space from the narthex to the apse. " Lots of stained glass and large clerestory windows. " The architects directed all efforts to creating a spiritual escape to another world.

        In England, Salisbury Cathedral " Small differences but still bears a striking resemblance to French Gothic style.

        ! In Italy, no strict adherence to French style "Preserved the mural quality of the structure "No flying buttresses and a huge octagonal dome "With its strong roots in Classical Rome, Italy never wholeheartedly embraced Gothicism

        ! Sculpture " Great change in mood " Judgment Day scenes replaced by apocalyptic visions " The Virgin Mary also assumed a primary role " Early Gothic Jamb figures were rigid in style to support the weight-bearing load of the columns they were carved from, but with weight and more natural position of limbs, leading to a naturalism not witnessed since classical times.