1. Early Christian and Byzantine Art and Architecture
IMPORTANT CULTURAL and POLITICAL EVENTS:
33 CE Jesus Christ is Crucified
CE Christianity spreads among lower Roman classes, Roman persecution of Christians (similar to the later Inquisition of Jews) Christians worshipped in catacombs.
313 CE Constantine issues Edict of Milan granting religious tolerance (particularly to Christians)
330 CE Establishment of Byzantium (Eastern Roman capital)
527 CE Justinian rules Eastern Roman Empire
6th-7th Centuries CE Epidemics devastate Roman populace, Empire in decline. Classical gives way to Eastern Orthodox.
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2. Old Saint Peter’s Basilica
Alter in the Apse east
Narthex at west
Triumphal arch frames apse
Modelled after a basilica/forum
Gabled roof
Nave
Transepts form cruciform
Christ crucified in apse
Christ as judge
Syncretism
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3. San Vitale Ravenna 547 CE Central dome Buttress
Ravenna – center of Justinian’s Empire
Central plan – Eastern convention
Alter (sanctuary) on the eastern side of the church
Buttresses support outward thrust
Exterior is simple brick
GREAT SITE!!!!
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4. San Vitale Ravenna Interior
Gallery
Clerestory Windows
Apse
Sanctuary (altar)
Nave
Mosaic and marble interior – lots of light!
Gallery may have been reserved for women
Alter (sanctuary) on the eastern side of the church
Nave is circular under dome, ambulatory is equivalent of side aisles
Clerestory windows third story for additional light
GREAT SITE!!!!
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5. Byzantine Mosaics
Mosaic tesserae are a sandwich of glass tiles and gold leaf
Tesserae placed in irregular tilt to reflect light in a glittering manner
Lack of perspective and limited naturalism
Gold background creates spiritual plane
Hierarchical order and specific conventions
Court of Justinian, c. 547 CE, Mosaic, San Vitale, Ravenna
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6. Icon of St. Peter
ICON: Painting intended to be a devotional object. Usually a panel painting (on wood)
Other paintings may have iconic imagery but are decorative not devotional.
Three tondos (circles) represent John the Evangelist, Christ, and Mary
St. Peter was crucified – the tondos are people present at Christ’s crucifixion , and the cross also represents that event…
Encaustic: Wax, resin, and pigment melted and applied to an artwork
6th or 7th century, encaustic on wood panel
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7. Romanesque Architecture
ROMANESQUE: roughly 10th through 12th centuries ( CE)
Name literally means in the Roman style (stone basilica) but includes some Byzantine elements
Large spaces to accommodate large numbers of travelers on pilgrimage
Crusades
More funding available as economy and society stabilized
Feudalism
Slightly different based on region (influences of various : Byzantine, Islamic, Viking, Hiberno-saxon, etc…)
Northern
Southern
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8. Romanesque Architecture
Specific Architectural Elements:
Barrel vault replaces wooden gable roof (fire hazard)
Required thick walls with few windows to displace the thrust
Cluster piers also bear weight carried by rib vaults
Radiating chapels and apse ambulatory
Cruciform plan with transepts and spire at the crossing
PORTAL and FAÇADE ELEMENTS:
Tympanum with narrative in top of rounded arch
Archivolts composed of voussoirs
Multiple jambs corresponding with archivolts
Trumeau separating double doors
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9. Romanesque Portal
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10. Sainte-Foy,Conques: West Portal
Christ is central, largest, in a mandalora with radiating light, stylized figures, right hand raised (right hand of God, saved souls), LAST JUDGEMENT is the typical narrative for westwork (west-facing entry) in Romanesque churches
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11. Sainte-Foy Interior, Floorplan
FACT: The walls where 1/3 as thick as the interior span of the barrel vault. Ex: Inside span is 24ft, walls are 8ft thick (groin vaults eliminated this thickness, ribbed vaults further reduced weight)
Apse
Chevet
Cluster pier
Quadrant
Bay with groin vault
Transverse rib
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12. Sainte-Foy Interior, Floorplan
FACT: The walls where 1/3 as thick as the interior span of the barrel vault. Ex: Inside span is 24ft, walls are 8ft thick
Transverse rib
Second story gallery – Abutment
Side Aisle
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13. GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE
The term Gothic was a negative label applied by Italians to pre-Renaissance art and architecture – referring to the Goth tribes who sacked Rome in 410 CE. Gothic art has nothing to do with the Goth tribes.
INVENTED BY ABBOT SUGER of the royal monastery at Saint-Denis, France
Originated from 1137 to 1144 CE with the renovation of Sainte-Denis
LIGHT entering into the interior and mathematical (and sometimes musical) harmony are the goals
NEW FEELING ABOUT RELIGION. No longer focusing on damnation but on salvation. From dark to light!
As time progressed the construction improved dramatically!
Radiating chapels are more shallow – open to the ambulatory and completely surrounded on the outside by windows
This made the entire apse area radiant and open
Number were important – 3 for the trinity, 12 for the number of apostles, etc
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST BECAME A MAJOR NARRATIVE INSTEAD OF THE LAST JUDGEMENT
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14. Pointed Arch, Rib Vault, Flying Buttress
- best construction site I’ve seen!
Round arches sent the weight down and out and needed a solid pier or wall next to it to counteract the force
Pointed arches send weight down straighter allowing for a thinner wall
Groin vault channeled weight into corners allowing for use of piers with intermittent buttressing instead of continuous thick walls
Ribbed vaults decreased weight so that piers took all the weight and the walls could be opened up with large windows
Flying buttresses allowed tall clerestories to exist that let enormous amounts of light in
Make sure to check out this site!
Beginner's Guide to Art History 2012

15. FRENCH GOTHIC: CHARTRES
Begun 1211 CE, Elements evolve from Early to High Gothic with Romanesque elements fading and Gothic taking over
HEIGHT, sculptural detail, and light are key
Symmetry is structural – not formally exact
North tower is nearly Romanesque, South tower is late gothic
ROYAL PORTAL: Three by three sections similar to Saint Etienne
Thre Doors, three lancets
Side sections have three sections before the towers
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16. FRENCH GOTHIC: CHARTRES
Pointed ribbed vault, quadripartite, ribs end at piers where the lines continue down
The attached slender columns are called colonnettes
View from crossing shows a bay with triforium above, clerestory above that
Triforium is not a full gallery but a narrow walkway, clerestory has lancets topped with a round window to fully use space and keep with a triad of elements
120 feet tall 45 wide
Notice the pulpit midway down on the right side of the left slide
View of Nave vaults View from crossing
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17. FRENCH GOTHIC: St. Patrick’s NY
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18. FRENCH GOTHIC: CHARTRES
West jamb figures (archaicish with goofy smile) More Byzantine/Romanesque
Look like you could slip a cardboard papertowel roll over them
South jamb figures are more natural in proportion, stance, drapery, expression more classical
All looking in slightly different directions, more likely to engage a crowd and seemingly come alive
Even the bases are more dynamic
Place in chrono order by how natural and removed from column each figure is
Jamb figures from West Portal Jamb figures from South Portal
Earlier figures have an Archaic smile, carved much in the shape of the column, and look straight out
Later figures look more natural, various stances, more depth and more dimension, look down at the crowd
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19. Rose Windows at Chartres: West Facade North Transept
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20. Romanesque and Gothic Architecture
Romanesque Gothic
Radiating chapels
and apse: Separate compartments Unified, unbroken space.
Vault: Mostly barrel-vaults, some groin-vaults Ribbed Groin-vaults
Arch type: Rounded arches Pointed arches.
Main vault support: Thick walls, buttresses Exterior flying buttresses.
Clerestory: Small windows Large stained-glass windows.
Elevation: Horizontal, modest height Vertical, soaring.
Exterior: Plain, little decoration, solid Ornate, delicate, lots of sculpture.
Sculptural Thin, elongated, abstract figures More realistic proportions and Decoration: individualized features.
Mood: Dark, gloomy Tall, light-filled.
Information provided by:
Memorize this chart! Knowing these details will always allow you to correctly identify styles!
Other key points:
ROSE WINDOW always Gothic
Pointed arched nearly always gothic
Flying Buttresses always Gothic
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21. Bayeux Tapestry
CE, wool on linen 1.6 by 230 feet, reads left to right with Normans right facing, defeated are below in lower register/border, no attempt at 3D space
Halley’s Comet
Considered an omen when it was seen on March 20, 1066 prior to William the Conq. Invasion of England and defeat of Harold at the battle of Hastings
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22. ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS: Book of Kells 800 CE
Written and illustrated by monks
On calf skin (vellum) bound as a codex (pages instead of a scroll)
4 books representing the 4 gospels of the New Testament
Unique for the level of intricate knot work and animal imagery
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23. REVIEW:
CENTRAL PLAN CHURCH: Recognize the floor plan and be able to label the narthex and nave, an apse, ambulatory, sanctuary, clerestory windows,
CRUCIFORM CHURCH: recognize the floor plan and tell the difference between the Romanesque and the Gothic. Be able to label all of the above as well as the transept
BASIC VAULTS and ARCHES: Barrel Vault vs Ribbed vault
round arch vs pointed arch
Identify a buttress, a portal, identify a Romanesque vs Gothic facade
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24. REVIEW:
ROSE WINDOWS: Tell the difference between older and newer. What era of church they are found in and why they are important
JAMB FIGURES: Tell the difference between older and newer, who they were and why they were important
BYZANTINE MOSAICS: differences from the Roman mosaics, hierarchical order, conventions
ICON: Purpose and reading some symbolism, encaustic technique
BAYEUX TAPESTRY: General story, technique, registers
Beginner's Guide to Art History 2012