LATE ANTIQUITY GARDINER 11-3 PP. 301-308

RAVENNA 324 -> founding of Constantinople, the new Rome in the East 327 -> the death of Constantine -> pace of Christianization of Roman Empire quickens 380 -> Emperor Theodosius issues edict establishing Christianity as the state religion 391 -> ban on pagan worship 394 -> Olympic Games abolished 404 -> capital is moved from Rome to Ravenna 410 -> Rome falls to Alaric and the Ostrogoths 476 -> Ravenna falls -> first German king of Italy 493 -> Thoedoric, king of the Ostrogoths, establishes his capital at Ravenna 539 -> Ravenna falls to the Byzantine emperor Justinian RAVENNA

MAUSOLEUM OF GALLA PLACIDIA Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, Italy, ca. 425 CRUCIFORM (cross shaped) chapel w/ barrel vaulted arms and a tower at the crossing Arms are of unequal length = longitudinal orientation, but emphasis is on the tall crossing tower w/vault resembling a dome Fusion of the two basic Late Antique plans -> longitudinal + central Unadorned brick exterior Interior -> rich ensemble of mosaics

MOSAICS Christ as the Good Shepherd, mosaic from the entrance wall of the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, ca. 425 Jesus sits among his flock -> haloed and robed in gold and purple Landscape and figures cast shadows and have three- dimensional bulk -> still rooted in the naturalistic classical tradition

SANT’APOLLINAIRE NUOVO Interior of Saint’Apollonaire Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy, dedicated 504 Three aisled basilica constructed by Theodoric as his palace-church Rich mosaic decoration on the nave walls -> divided into 3 zones Old testament figures stand between clerestory windows -> above them are scenes from Christ’s life

Miracle of the loaves and fishes, mosaic from the top register of the nave wall (above the clerestory windows) of Sant’Apollonaire Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy, 504 Sharp contrast w/the 80 yr earlier mosaics of Galla Placidia Beardless Jesus in imperial dress of gold and purple -> cross inscribed nimbus (halo) signifies divinity No attempt to supply details of the event -> it is a miracle removed from time -> the blue sky has given way to the otherworldy splendor of heavenly gold Weightless figures with flat curtain like garments

LUXURY ARTS “MINOR ARTS” = jewelry, metalwork, cameos, ivories, and other “crafts” “MAJOR ARTS” = sculpture and painting These terms refer to size not importance or quality Luxury Arts = another term for the minor arts

ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS – VATICAN VERGIL The old farmer of Corycus, folio 7 verso of the Vatican Vergil, ca. 400-420, tempera on parchment The oldest surviving painted Latin manuscript is a collection of the poet Vergil’s works This page includes part of the text of the Georgics and a pastoral scene reminiscent of Roman landscape murals

ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS – VIENNA GENESIS Rebecca and Eliezer at the well, folio 7 recto of the Vienna Genesis, early 6th century Tempera, gold, and silver on purple vellum Sumptuously painted book is the oldest well preserved manuscript containing biblical scenes Two episodes of the Rebecca story appear in a single setting filled with classical motifs

MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPT ILLUMINATION CODEX = type of book that replaces scrolls VELLUM (calfskin) and PARCHMENT (lambskin) replace papyrus ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS = luxurious painted books produced before the invention of the printing press

ROSSANO GOSPELS Christ before Pilate, folio 8 verso of the Rossano Gospels, early 6th century, tempera on purple vellum The sources for medieval manuscript illiustratrions were diverse The way people form an arch around Pilate on this page suggests that the composition derives from a painting in a church apse Below – Jesus and the bound Barrabas

IVORY CARVING Ivory has been prized since earliest times Ivory sources were the elephants of India and Africa Carved ivories found at Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and ancient Aegean sites Most often for household items – votive offerings and gifts to the deceased Ivory was rare and costly Only highly skilled artists capable of working w/ivory In Late Antiquity and early medieval -> used for book covers, chests, boxes, and diptychs DIPTYCH = pair of hinged tablets w/a wax layer on the inner sides for writing letters and other documents Diptychs made of ivory were created for ceremonial and official purposes

IVORY CARVING – CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST Suicide of Judas and the Crucifixion of Christ, plaque from a box, ca. 420, ivory This plaque from a luxurious ivory box is the first known representation of the Crucifixion Christ is a beardless youth who experiences no pain

DIPTYCH OF THE SYMMACHI Woman sacrificing at an altar, right leaf of the diptych of the Nicomachi and Symmachi, ca. 400, ivory This displays the endurance of pagan themes and patrons and the classical style Idealized human beauty is the focus The classical tradition lives on and was never fully extinguished in the Middle Ages Contrast this w/ the non-naturalistic Late Antique aesthetic featuring wafer thin frontal figures