Byzantine and Islamic Art 476-1453

In 324 AD Emperor Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire to Constantinople, which is mainly inhabbited by pagan Greeks. For several centuries Constantinople represents both the end of the Roman empire and the beginning of the Byzantine empire. Meanwhile Rome gradually establishes a new identity - as the seat of the Christian pope.

Byzantine Art Byzantine Art focus is on human figures, whose identities reveal three main elements in the formation of the Byzantine Empire. Most famous are the holy figures of the Christian faith: Christ, the Virgin Mary, the saints, and the apostles. Angels often are represented in their company. However, images of cherubs, mythological heroes, gods and goddesses show that they were still greatly influenced by the Greek and Roman civilizations of the past.

Emperor Justinian and His Attendants, 547 AD Mosaic, S. Vitale Empress Theodora and Her Attendants, 547 AD Mosaic, S. Vitale

Good Shepherd, 425 AD mosaic, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste Ivory relief icon from Constantinople, 10th century According to a Bishop in 370AD, forty soldiers were condemned by Licinius in 316AD to stand naked on a frozen pond until they froze to death. The next day the bodies were burned, but some relics were gathered by Christians and several churches were resurrected in their honour. Byzantine artists were fascinated with the subject that allowed them to graphically show human despair. The martyrs in this relief are shown at the point when they were about to freeze to death, "shivering from the cold, hugging themselves for warmth, or clasping hands to their faces or wrists in pain and despair".

Sta. Costanza, Rome

Hagia Sophia (Church of Holy Wisdom), Istabbul After the Turkish conquest in 1453 it became a mosque, the mosaics were then hidden under white wash. Notice how the sense of weight once inside disapears.

Link to Byzantine art slide show on U Tube…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsFWrUrEPbs

Islamic Art Unlike Byzantine Art, human figures were discouraged as subjects in art. Human figures in Islam were associated with idols, which were not allowed. Even the prophet Mohammad did not allow images of himself to be drawn. You will not find any images of humans in any Islamic temple. The Christian belief of the holy trinity was rejected by Islamic cultures as it was seen as a contradiction to monotheism (the belief in one god or creator).

Mosque, Cordova Taj Mahal, 1632-1648 Mosque of Ahmed I, 1609

The Byzantine empire's interaction with Islamic culture had a profound effect on its art. Islam's rise and military success were the greatest threat to the stability of the empire and its territories. Mirroring the political climate, art became a medium of confrontation and cooperation between the two sides Page from an Illuminated Gospel, late 14th century, Ethiopia, Highland region, Parchment (vellum), wood Design inspired by Islamic ornamentation known as harag, which means the tendril of a climbing plant.

Link to documentary, Paradise Found; Islamic Art…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL4QpirJcYk

You can see the influences of the Byzantine and Islamic style through out the middle ages. Celtic art, Carolingian Renaissance, Romanesque, Gothic

Sources Byzantine Art under Islam | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ac59#ixzz173gsYAKv