GUIDE 8 .docx

GUIDE 8
UNIT 2
Name:
Date:
EARLY CHRISTIAN ART
BYAZANTINE ARTCathedral of the Holy Wisdom in
Kiev (Ukraine) preserves much of its original Byzantine
interior. 1037.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Sophia_Cathedral_in_Kiev
CHRISTIAN ART FROM
CATACOMBS TO CATHEDRALS
We are entering another thousand-year period in the
history of humanity and art.
Before you start reading this section, we need to touch the
historical aspect of what happened with the powerful Roman
Empire and Classical art (or Greco-Roman art).
In the 4th century the Roman Empire was divided into two
parts: Western Roman Empire and Eastern Roman Empire (or
Byzantine Empire). These parts would have very different
historical fates. They will also provide two major branches for
the Christian Church –Catholic (in the West) and Orthodox (in
the East).
WEST
EAST
Roman Empire

Western Roman Empire
Capital: Rome
Eastern Roman Empire
Or Byzantine Empire
Capital: Constantinople
Christian Church
Catholic Church
Head of Church: Pope
Orthodox Church
Head of Church: Patriarch
The Latin-speaking Western Empire with its centre in Rome,
would face the barbarian invasions, undergo a slow decline for
200 years and eventually fell under the barbarians. The Greek-
speaking Byzantine Empire, centred in Constantinople, would
grow to a powerful state. I would offer you to
stick with the following simple timeline.
CHRISTIAN ART
1000 years
EARLY CHRISTIAN ART
BYZANTINE ART
First 3 centuries A.D.4th - 14th centuries
Period of Persecution Period of Recognition
Since the very beginning of human history, art and religion have
been closely connected. In the first unit you have learned that
art played a central role in prehistoric magic rituals, as well as
in Egyptian religious ceremonies to ensure the afterlife. Why
so? Have you ever heard music –a church choir or organ -in the
cathedral with beautiful stained glass windows? Yes, this is the
answer – art has an ability to deliver a strong emotional
message to the human soul.

Early Christian Art
Western Empire
Rome
Let us follow the events happening in the both parts of
crumbling Roman Empire.
Name two key events that took place in the 3rd century.
* - The Edict of Milan, 313.
*
Two periods into which the Early Christian art is divided:
*
*
The Period of Persecution
As Christianity developed, and Christian church formed a sort
of federative republic within the heart of Rome, the Romans
began to fear it. In 302, when Christians refused to join in
Roman religious ceremonies, the emperor Diocletian instituted
his terrible persecution of the “mutinous” sect, wherein two
thousand Christians died.
Catacombs - What wastheir purpose? How did they look?
*
*
*
Lunette- *
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunette
Catacombs, Via Latina

Early Christian artistic expression was limited to hidden places
like
catacombs, such as those at Via Latina, Rome. The fresco in the
lunette
derived from the Roman style of art, and contain Christian
iconography.
Oran -
*
Orans were common in Early Christian wall paintings in the
Roman catacombs.
Photograph by Araldo de Luca/Corbis
Iconography –
*An iconography, through which Christian concepts were given
visual expression, developed. For example, Christ was
symbolized by a fish, a cross, or a lamb, or by the combined
Greek letters chi and rho (ΧΡ, the first two letters of the Greek
spelling of “Christ”) as a monogram. Christ the Good Shepherd
was often shown as a beardless young man, derived from pagan
Roman embodiments of Apollo, an image that persisted into the
6th century in Italy. -
http://uk.encarta.msn.com/encnet/refpages/RefArticle.aspx?refid
=761579100
Eikōn - *This is where Russian icon came from …
www.depauw.edu/galleries
In what way was Christian art connected to the Greco-Roman
art? Analyze the ceiling fresco in the catacomb of Saints Pietro
and Marcellino.
*

Symbols in Christian art
Examples:
Fish – was a symbol of *
Grapes - *
Cross - * (find in the paragraph about the
catacomb of Saints Pietro and Marcellino)
Symbol – an image or sign representing something else by
association, resemblance or convention.
The Period of Recognition
How did the situation change in the 4th century after Emperor
Constantine adopted Christianity?
*
What changes do we observe in regards to the places and way
the first Christians worshiped?
*
St. Pete’s Cathedral in Rome - “one of the most important
buildings to be erected during
the Early Christian
period”
Why is it considered to be that important? - *
Describe the cathedral’s plan. You have to remember that it
was based on the basilica’s plan.
*
The following parts will appear in the countless cathedrals of
the later centuries:

(Give definitions and find them on the plan in
your book)
PORPILAEUM - *
ATRIUM - *
NARTHEX - *
AISLES - *
NAVE - *
TRANSEPT - *
APSE - *
ALTAR - *
There were two major types of churches– (1) longitudinal and
(2) central circular.
(1) Latin cross plan or *
Where the Latin cross was most prominent?
*
And where were the smaller circular churches with central plans
more popular?
*
Mosaic
What can you say about the art of mosaic, which was widely
used for decoration in the Christian churches? Did the first
Christians invent this technique? Analyze the style of the
mosaic Christ as the Good Shepherd. From whom was the art of
mosaic adopted?

Define the artistic style of the Period of Recognition. What
style was it modeled after?
*
Martyrfrom the mausoleum ofGalla Placidia (Ravenna, Italy)
[Mausoleum – a large stately tomb or a building housing such a
tomb or tombs]
*
Byzantine Art
Eastern Empire
Constantinople
How did the term Byzantine originate?
*
Byzantine art was not produced only in the town of Byzantium
but had spread across many Eastern regions. Name them.
*
*
*
*
*
*

Now you understand better why the cathedral from Ukraine has
ended up on the cover of this guide, don’t you?
Church ofSan Vitale in *_ (city & country) built by the
emperor *_
Find on the map (see next Medieval section) this city that was a
capital of the western empire at this time. What did you learn
about it?
*
What type of architectural plan was used in San Vitale? - *
During reign of which Roman emperor Ravenna attained
stability, arts began to flourish, and San Vitale was built? - *
When was Justinian Age in Ravenna? - * [century] (look at
the dates under pictures)
AMBULATORY - *
San Vitale looks simple from outside. What can you say about
its interior decoration?
*
Justinian and Attendants
This mosaic from San Vitale apse represents the Byzantine style
at its peak.
What does the mosaic commemorate? - *
Are the human figures naturalistically depicted, or their bodies
are rather weightless?
*
What about their gestures and stares? - *

Is their any deep three-dimensional space, in which they
placed? - *
Do they really stand on the ground or rather are “hovering”
above the earth? - *
What kind of background is this? !) - *… [Note, this is very
typical for Byzantine art]
Now please go back to the first paragraph of “Byzantine Art”
section. Write down the major characteristics of Byzantine art.
Specify the difference between it andEarly Christian art.
*
*
*
In 330 A.D. Constantine moved the capital of the Roman
Empire from Rome to *…
How did he rename it? -*
What happened after his death? - *
What is the modernname of this city? -*
In what present day country is it located? -*
Hagia Sofiain Constantinople - a masterpiece
of Justinian architecture.
What does Hagia Sophia mean in Greek?
hagia means *
sophia -

It has served as:
*
*
*
When was it built? *__ [Date, see next to picture]
*__ [Century - I just want you to practice –]
I would like to emphasize one more time – there were two
branches of the Roman Empire, and they were called Western
Roman Empire (old Rome) and Eastern Roman Empire, but
officially it was still one Roman empire.
Notice that this cathedral was built by the emperor Justinian –
same emperor who is depicted in the mosaics of San Vitale
Church in Ravenna.
What are the most striking aspects of this outstanding Church?
*
*
Size:* (Just to have an idea)
Which ingenious architectural idea produces the impression of
the hovering dome?
It is particularly well seen from inside – see it above; you can
also see the similar effect in the St. Mark’s in Venice.
*
Later Byzantine Art

Until which century did Byzantine architecture continue to
evolve?
*
St. Mark’s cathedral in *… .
When was built? Date: * Century: *
Greek cross plan - *
How is it different from the Latin cross plan?
To wrap up this section, I would like to show you a beautiful
Russian church built in the Byzantine traditions (central plan).
There were thousands and thousands of them all over Russia.
Many churches were destroyed by the Bolsheviks after the
Communist revolution in 1917 or used as the storage buildings.
Others had been neglected and slowly deteriorated with time.
Church “Pokrov” on the Nerli River. Photo:
William Sokolenko
After Constantinople fell to the Turks in 1453, Russia continued
for several centuries to develop national art that had grown out
of the middle Byzantine period.
NOTE:
* From now on we will be omitting [A.D].
As you know, it goes without saying when you talk
about Anno Domini (or Common Era – C.E.).

*The traditions of Byzantine art are still alive today
- they are well preserved in Orthodox art.

GUIDE 8 .docx

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