Byzantine Art

• Ravenna timeline: Early Christian → Germanic (Theodoric) → Byzantine (Justinian)
• Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, ca. 425
    * for half sister of the ruler Honorius
    * Exterior: plain and unadorned
    * Interior: Highly decorated w/ many mosaics, etc., combo of basilica and central plans
    * Mosaics:
      * starry sky above lunette
      * lunette containing good shepherd type Jesus holding a cross shaped staff
      * Lunette: half medallion shapes
      * Old Classical, volume, 3D, foreground and background
      * Large tesserae
• $Byzantine Plans: Combo of Basilica and Central$
• S. Apollinaire Nuovo, Ravenna, ca. 504
    * $Exonarthex: exterior porch$
    * Germanic style during Theodoric’s period
    * has very Germanic feature of the cylinder tower
    * basilica plan
    * Mosaics:
      * 3 tiers
      * Upper 2 belonging to Germanic period seen to be heretical
      * Miracles of the Loaves and Fishes
        * Christ wearing imperial gold and purple, beardless
        * flat figures, ambiguous, quick read/understanding
      * Last Supper
        * Christ: bearded, reclining with apostles, bread, and fish
        * no background context
• S. Apollinaire in Classe, ca. 533-549
    * relocated church for S. Apollinaire
    * Basilica plan
    * Mosaics:
      * S. Apollinaire was a martyr so his followers would be too, like martyrdom of Jesus
      * Medallion w/ cross and Hand of God above it in golden skyscape
      * Moses and Elijah above
      * 3 sheep: John, Peter, and Paul who would also become martyrs
• S. Vitale, Ravenna, ca. 526-547 (Germanic Period)
    * Paid for by Julian Argentarious
    * Under Bishop Eclesius
    * Octangular ambulatory, and apse,
    * Octangular Central plan somewhat mixed w/ Basilica
    * Upside down pyramid capitals w/ floral and geometric patterns
    * Impost Block: Adds height and acts as a transition between capital and upper parts
    * Mosaics:
      * Justinian in center w/ nimbus and flanking figures
      * Maximianus: Bishop of Ravenna, more attention to detail
      * Theodora: Wife of Justinian w/nimbus, outside of church being ushered in, canopy magnifies position, became an actress in Constantinople, was noticed by Justinian at a performance
      * Glass in different shapes
• Apse Mosaic: Second Coming of Christ
    * Imperial colors on Christ and Justinian
    * Christ flanked by Michael and Gabriel

Constantinople

• Hagias Sophia, Anthemios and Isidoros, Constantinople, ca. 532-537 (Justinian)
    * Central plan
    * Architects: Anthemios of Tralles and Isidoros of Miletos (mathmetician and scientists not actual architects)
    * Weight from domes transferred to square shapes of the building
      * $Pendentives: curved devices from fragments of domes that transfer weight on to piers (pillars)$
    * Gallery for upper class and nobles so they could be separated from common folk
    * From church to Mosque to museum
• Daphni Monastery, near Athens, ca. 1100
    * Icons: objects with holiness and power, sometimes seen as idols
    * $Iconoclasm: attacking practices of making “icons/idols” causing art to be almost nonexistent$
      * $New phase of Byzantine Art: “The Second Flowering”$
    * Mosaics:
      * Crucifixion of Jesus: Triangle of figures with Christ at the center of John and the Virgin Mary
        * Gold Background
        * Symbolic rather than pain and suffering
      * $Squinch Mosaic: Annunciation$
        * Angle on the left, VM on the right, looking at each other
    * Squinch: Hollowed shell placed on corner of building to transfer weight
• Nerezi, Lamentation over the Dead Christ, 1164
    * Scene of Christ before he is put into the tomb for 3 days
    * Highly Emotional
• Vladimir Madonna, early 12th Cent.
    * Icon: portable, meant to be seen by multiple people
    * Icons return in huge demand after Iconoclasm repeal
    * Madonna w/ Melancholic expression as if recognizing her Son’s sacrifice
• The Old Testament Trinity, Andrei Rublev, ca. 1410
    * pyramidal form like Daphni mosaic
    * strong lines and colors to differentiate between figures
• St. Michael Diptych, early 6th Cent.
    * Classical depiciton and facade
    * figures seem to float in space
    * still somewhat ambiguous
    * Older style
• Anatasius Diptych, early 6th Cent.
    * Emperor Anastasius holding a Mappa on a throne
    * Mappa: used to start/signal races
    * More Contemporary Style
• Veroli Casket, early 11th Cent.
    * Mythological scenes
    * Putti seen taking part in a hunting scene (bottom)
    * Agamemnon sacrificing his daughter for favorable outcomes at Troy (top)