Chapter 7 Early Christian (Late Antiquity)

STYLISTIC CHARACTERISTICS Combination of Classical naturalism & late antique abstraction from late Roman art Biblical scenes & funerary orant & philosopher Basilica-like churches: plain exterior, east/west orientation, cruciform, apse, clerestory windows, timber roof, central plan Rich interior: Mosaics shallow picture plane halo thin frontal figures Image of Christ changing from beardless youth to bearded mature adult. Illuminated manuscript: text & image, silver lettering, continuous narration

Old Testament paintings, Synagogue, Dura-Europos

Samuel Anoint David,, Synagogue, Dura-Europos

Synagogue, Dura-Europos Distant outpost in the Roman Empire Examples of monotheistic creeds of Judaism and Christianity: Not approved religions of the Roman state Remarkable for it’s extensive cycle of mural paintings of biblical scenes Stylized gestures; expressionless figures; lack volume and shadow

The Good Shepherd, the story of Jonah, and orants, Flashcard Catacombs Polygonal frame loculi lunettes Orants

EARLY CHRISTIAN Catacombs Painted ceiling of a cubiculum in the Catacomb of Sts. Peter and Marcellinus (Rome) early fourth century CE catacomb Edict of Milan

EARLY CHRISTIAN Catacombs loculi and cubicula lunettes depicting the story of Jonah reference to the dome of heaven orans figures refrigerium Christ as the Good Shepherd

Orant Sarcophagus with philosopher, orant, and old and New Testament Scenes

Sarcophagus Story of Jonah Center: Orant: standing figure praying with outstretched arms Portrait of man & woman left unfinished Universal themes: Good Shepherd; child Jesus receiving baptism Future ministry of Jesus represented by hand on sheep

Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus c. 359, marble Junius Bassus Roman vs. Asiatic manner of sarcophagus decoration depiction of Christ and a sky god avoidance of the crucifixion use of Old Testament stories juxtaposed with scenes from the New Testament use of art to educate and convert

Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus Flashcard

Old St. Peter’s faculty.cva.edu/Stout/earlych/earlych.html Gardner’s Art Through the Ages Arch

Old St. Peters Old St. Peters (Rome), begun c. 320 St. Peter/ semblance of the Roman basilica/ narthex/ transept/ interior decoration/ exterior decoration/ baldacchino

Old St. Peters begun c. 320 St. Peter semblance of the Roman basilica narthex transept interior vs. exterior decoration baldacchino

Santa Sabina, Rome en.wikipedia.org Gardner’s Art Through the Ages Compare interior to section of Old St. Peter’s

Santa Costanza (Rome) c cathedral centrally planned building mausoleum ambulatory mixture of pagan and Christian imagery

Flashcard Santa Costanza Central plan Ambulatory Putti en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_architecture Gardner’s Art Through the Ages

Flashcard The parting of Lot and Abraham Head cluster Tesserae

The Parting of Lot and Abraham (Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome) use of pantomime “head clusters” stiffened simplified motion symbolic rather than descriptive settings

Christ as the Good Shepherd, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia Flashcard Cruciform Crossing tower Central plan Lunette koerbe.de/mosaiken/rav-01.htm Models in progress

Christ as the Good Shepherd (Galla Placidia, Ravenna) c. 425 Theodosius I and Galla Placidia regal depiction of Christ appears

Tesserae

Sant'Apollinare Nuovo Miracle of the loaves and fishes Flashcards annrob.foted.com/ Gardner’s Art Through the Ages

Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes (Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna) 504 emphasis on miracle economy of means appearance of a gold background less emphasis on shadowing

Vienna Genesis Rebecca and Eliezer at the well Flashcard Illuminated manuscripts Continuous narrative Deluge rubens.anu.edu.au/.../survey/00068.html Gardner’s Art Through the Ages Blessing of Ephraim & Manasseh Joseph in prison

Rebecca and Eliezer at the well (Vienna Genesis) early sixth century importance of Constantinople in Early Christian times codex vs. rotulus folio vellum and parchment persistence of Classical motifs and stylistic modes a bare narrative

Rossano Gospels rubens.anu.edu.au/.../survey/00063.html Gardner’s Art Through the Ages, 12 th ed. Compare to Roman Arch of Constantine Distribution of largess Raising of Lazarus Christ before Pilate Note: 2 pages Diptych

Christ before Pilate (Rossano Gospels) early sixth century Rossano Gospels simple ground line nimbus use of labeling

Suicide of Judas and Crucifixion of Christ the empty Sepulchre Christ carrying the Cross

Flashcard Diptych of the Nicomachi and the Symmachi Compare – Maidens, Panathenaic Festival procession frieze Compare – Ara Pacis Augustae Procession of the Imperial family commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Symmachi-Nic... Gardner’s Art Through the Ages

Priestess celebrating the rites of Bacchus right leaf of the Diptych of the Nicomachi and the Symmachi, c. 400, ivory persistence of the classical form with its emphasis on beauty diptych