Early Christianity and The Byzantine Empire AP Art History Moreno Valley High School Erica Ness

Chronology of Early Christianity Crucifixion of Christ ca. 29 Crucifixion of St. Peter ca. 64 First Description of the Eucharist 155 Persecution of Christians Trajan Decius 249-251 Diocletian 303-305 Edict of Milan 313 Foundation of Constantinople 324 Christians were blamed for social issues during the periods of Persecution. Edict of Milan gave rights for people to practice Judaism and Christianity. 323 Rome becomes a Christian Nation under Constantine.

Judaism

West Wall of Dura Europos Synagogue Dates: c. 425 Medium: Tempera On Plaster Location: Dura Europos, Syria Three levels of Old Testament scenes and figures arranged horizontally that are interpreted by a Torah nitche. Torah contains a parchment or leather scroll that has the text of the Pentateuch or the first five books of the Old Testament. (Name given by the Christians) These form the basis of Jewish Teaching. These included Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Dueteronomy, and Numbers. These would be read alound on the sabath.

Early Christian Mosaics and Frescos

Good Shephard Date: 4th Century Medium: Fresco Location: Catacomb of Pietro and Marcellino, Rome Early painting were like Roman works, but with Christian icons. This image is broken up in lunettes (semi-circular frames, each of these contains images from the bible.

Mosaics in the Santa Costanza Date: c. 350 Medium: Mosaic Location: Rome The Barrel Vault is decorated with a fusion of Christian and Classical ideology and imagery.

The presence of grape vines, while once associated with Dionysus is now associated with the Eucharist and the blood of Christ represented in wine. The images of Cupid are representative of the body and the images of Psyche represent the Soul, imagery associated with Christ.

Niche with Two Apostles (Above)and the St. Lawrence Mosaic (Below) Date: c. 425-426 Medium: Mosaic Location: Galla Placidia Mausoleum, Ravenna, Italy Figures raise their right hands in the gesture of Roman Senators, but represent Christian Apostles. Two doves represent Christian souls who drink of the baptismal water of eternal life. The St. Lawrence mosaic depicts his sainthood.

Christ as the Good Shepherd Date: c. 425-426 Medium: Mosaic Location: Galla Placidia Mausoleum, Ravenna, Italy Staff is that of a martyr representing his only death by crucifixion. Gold Robe represents him as royal and his status as the king of heaven, Rock he sits in has three levels to represent the trinity and the role of St. Peter as the “rock” in establishing the church. There is a continued considerations for Hellenistic style referenced through the creation of a more natural space through perspective techniques.

Early Christian Sculptures

Sarcophagus Date: 4th Century Medium: Marble Location: Rome Christians rejected cremation, the wealthiest followed the standard of pagan contemporaries and built marble sarcophagi. The sarcophagus shown has imagery that connects the old and new testaments. Comparing the story of Jonah with the rebirth of young Christ in baptism. Also contains imagery of the Good Shephard and trees which represent the Cross. Early christians condemed the reproduction of God and Christ so houses of worship had no “cult statues” As a result christian “idols” are rare.

Jonah emerging from the Fish Old Testament story

St. John Baptizing young Christ New Testament story

Early Christian Architecture The Basilica and Centrally Planned Churches

Catacomb Date: 3rd and 4th Centuries Medium: Stone Location: Under Rome We know very little about the artwork of the early christians - most of what we do see is artwork created with christian themes, but this doesn’t begin to show until later in the art The earliest monuments are very inconspicuous like this catacomb which was a network of galleries or passageways, and chambers that served as cemetaries. As many as 4 million bodies were burried in the tombs around the Roman Empire. By the 4th century Christians fell into disuse except as holy places where martyrs would visit. Churches were often built right above the catacombs.

Old St. Peters Basilica Date: 333-390 Location: Rome This was built over the burial site of St. Peter, his grave was marked by the marble canopy in the apse. Building was known as a matyrium or building over the grave of a Martyr St. Peter was the first Bishop of Rome. Constantine was obligated to still uphold the Roman Religion even though he was a Christian himself. Constantine still remained an important patron of Christian Architecture, constructing basilicas, memorials, and mausoleums not only in Rome. The St. Peter’s Basilica was built on the outskirts to not upset the Pagans at the time. This will eventually be replaced by the modern St. Peter’s Basillica in the Papal city. This was built next to the River were Constantine claimed that Peter had been buried. Basillicas were converted because they weren’t filled with Greco-Roman Icons. The exteriors were plain, but the interiors were painted with Frescos MAIN CHANGE BETWEEN A ROMAN BASILICA AND CHRISTIAN WAS THE ADDITION OF THE TRANSCEPT.

1. Nave 2. Aisles 3. Apse 4. Transept 5. Narthex 6. Atrium

Cross Section of St. Peter’s Basilica

Aula Palatina (Basilica) Early Basilicas were easily modified because of the lack of Pagan Religious Imagery. Aula Palatina (Basilica) Trier, Germany

Santa Costanza Date: c. 350 Location: Rome A centrally planned structure This was build for Constantine's Daughter Constantina who died in 354. Her Sarcophagus was placed opposite of the door so that it was in the visitors direction.

Interior of Santa Costanza Inner colonnade of paired columns separeating the central space from the ambulatory (or walk around). These support the round arches. The columns are composite created using the Ionic Volute and Corinthian acanthus leaves. The central space is framed by a drum topped with a dome. Barrel vaults rest over the ambulatory and are illustrated with mosaics that combine classical themes with Christian ideology.

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia Date: c. 425-426 Location: Ravenna, Italy BLIND NICHES or slight recess in the surface of the walled. Continuous Cornice and four pediments. Each arm forms a vault and the central area has an interior dome. Was built for Galla Placidia, daughter of Emperor Theodosius I, who was captured by the Gauls and married the king of the Gauls. When he died in 415 she returned to her family in Constantinople and was regent and empress under her son Valerian III.

Byzantine Timeline Constantinople becomes Roman Capital 330 Rome is sacked by the Visigoths 410 Rome is sacked by the Vandals 455 End of the Western Roman Empire 476 Justinian Crowned Emperor 527 Great Schism 1054 Ottoman Turks Capture Constantinople Fall of the Empire 1453

Justinians and Byzantine Style Mosaics

Apse Mosaic Date: c. 547 Medium: Mosaic Location: San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy The apse depicts a young beardless christ, based on Western Prototypes. His halo contains the Cross and he wears a purple robe. He is seated on a globe and flanked by two angles. On the right Eclesius (Bishop) holds the church. There is only a hint of a natural space being shown.

Court of Justinian Date: c. 547 Medium: Mosaic Location: San Vitale , Ravenna, Italy Part of a set that shows the court of Justinian and his Empress Theodora. These are to the left is the court of Justinian. The central figure is that of Justinian. To his right in a gold robe is Maximaim (who the church was finished under). On the left we see the military guard which protects his rule. The gold background removes this from nature and makes it a spiritual image.

Court of Theodora Date: c. 547 Medium: Mosaic Location: San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy In this image Theodora is in an abbreviated apse with her court ladies on the right and two churchmen on the left. The vertical frontal pose with dioagonal feet indicate their support on the floor. Repetitions create a sense of movement in the image. Theodora was in the theater in her youth and was a courtesan until she married the emperor. She served as a capable leader in the Eastern Empire, and became co-regent only four years after their marriage. The presence of gold backgrounds on these images created a sense of light and the reflected tesseare created the literal scene of Christ as the light of the world. Representing halos on Theodora and Justinian was to create their spirituality. The positions of the figures indicates status. The co-regents hold offerings up to the image of Christ in the Apse. Justinian was never present in Ravenna and the images of him and his wife served as a reminder of his power and spirituality despite his absence. re·gent/ˈrējənt/ Adjective: Acting as regent for a monarch. Noun: A person appointed to administer a country because the monarch is a minor or is absent or incapacitated

The Transfiguration Date: c 550-565 Medium: Mosaic with Gold Location: Mount St. Catherine, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt The expansion of Justinian Rule went int areas like the Balkans, Near East and Africa. The most striking image is from the Sinai Peninsula. All traces of landscape are eliminated Christ is supported in a DORLA which is an almond shaped Aureola. And where white for his spiritual transfiguration. Three apostles (John, Peter, and James) fall back in awe. Elijah and Moses remain calm on the outisde. Christ is more Mystical than in his images as a Shepherd.

Justinians and Byzantine Style Architecture

San Vitale Date: 526-547 Location: Ravenna, Italy The church was Byzantine and dedicated under Ecclesius, the city bishop. Ravenna became the focus of artistic patronage of the Byzantine Emperor. San Vitale was dedicated to Saint Vitalis, a roman slave and Christian Martyr who became the object of a growing cult from the end of the 4th century. Octagonal shape. The surface is made of brick and is unbroken except by buttresses and windows.

The central domed area is similar to the Nave It is ringed by eight large pillars supporting 8 arches which have seven niches called exedrae An ambulator space surrounds it which has a second storry known as the gallery, which was likely reserved for women. All levels have windows to admit light into the church.

Interior of San Vitale Looking Eastward Date: 540-547 Medium: Gold Marble, Mosaic Location: San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy The Yellow glow comes from the gold in the mosaics

Hagia Sophia Architects: Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus Date: 537 Location: Constantinople (Istanbul) Means Holy wisdom. Was built by Justinian after the suppression of revolt in 532. Architects were two Greek Mathematicians. Based off work of Archimedes interest in circles, parabolas and curved architectural surface. Combined the Basilica was rising vaults. Stands even today as the largest domed space in the West. The Dome is placed over four arches and have what are known as pendatives to support the dome. (triangular segments with concave sides. Provides the transition from square to circle. The dome required enormous buttressing because of its sheer size.

The interior space was lined with gold giving it a glowing qualitiy The space has since been turned into a Mosque and has had four Minarets added to the corners.

Images and Iconography The Codex Images and Iconography

Vienna Genesis Date: early 6th C. Medium: Illuminated Manuscripts on Purple Vellum This is one of 24 surviving manuscripts that were originally 96. Each sheet is purpose which indicated the imperial patron. The Gold and Silver writing is characteristically Byzantine. The narative on the pages is continuous without frames or dividers between scenes and is like the continuous freeze on Trajan’s column. A Codex is the ancestor of the modern day book. It was created by having Minature images accompany written text. Unlike the rolls used in Rome, Greece, and Egypt. The codex was more easily managed and sheets were flat and bound together on one side. It allowed for illustrations or illuminations to be added with richer colors.

Genesis chapter 32 Jacob travels to meet Esau Jacob travels over the Jabbok brook Jacob wrestles with the Angel Jacob blessed by the Angel Jacob’s 11 sons