1. Gardner's Art through the Ages, Concise Edition by Fred Kleiner
Chapter Four
Early Christianity and Byzantium
Prepared by
Kelly Donahue-Wallace
Randal Wallace
University of North Texas

2. Early Christian Dates and Places: 3rd and 4th centuries CE Rome
People:
Monotheistic
Co-exist with polytheistic Roman religion
Christianity legalized by Constantine in 313CE
Interior, Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, dedicated 504. Fig. 4-5.

3. Early Christian Themes: Christ as good shepherd, emperor
Old Testament prefigurations
Appropriated Roman symbols for new use
Forms:
Stylized forms, non-illusionistic
Conceptual, not optical
Miracle of the loaves and fishes mosaic, Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, ca Fig. 4-9.

4. Early Christian
Painting, Catacomb of Saints Peter and Marcellinus, early fourth century.
Fig. 4-2.

5. Early Christian Example: Christ as Good Shepherd
Old Testament prefiguration, Jonah
Orants
In catacomb of Christian burials
Adapt Roman iconography
Painting, Catacomb of Saints Peter and Marcellinus, early fourth century. Fig. 4-2.

6. Early Christian
Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, ca Fig. 4-3.

7. Early Christian Example:
Conventionalized, stylized forms like Arch of Constantine
Christian disinterest in the body
Christ as emperor
Old Testament prefiguration
New Testament redemption
Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, ca Fig. 4-3.

8. Early Christian
Plan and cutaway, Old Saint Peter’s, begun ca Fig. 4.4.

9. Early Christian Example:
Adapt Roman basilica for growing congregations
Nave, aisles, apse, atrium, narthex
On site of Peter’s burial
Principle church of Christianity, pope as Peter’s successor
Plan and cutaway, Old Saint Peter’s, begun ca Fig. 4.4.

10. Early Christian
Plan, Santa Costanza,
ca Fig. 4-7.

11. Early Christian Example: Central-plan adopted from Roman art
Used for mausoleums, baptisteries, chapels
Ambulatory surrounds central domed cylinder
Mosaics inside
Plan, Santa Costanza, ca Fig. 4-7.

12. Early Christian
Christ as the Good Shepherd mosaic, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, ca Fig. 4-8.

13. Early Christian Example: Mosaic, tesserae
Plain exterior, colorful interior
Art advertises faith
Christ as Good Shepherd and emperor
Imperial iconography
Illusionism
Christ as the Good Shepherd mosaic, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, ca Fig. 4-8.