1. Early Christian Art
Christianity was legalized by Emperor Constantine (Edict of Milan in 325 AD) - before this, Christianity had to be practiced in secret to avoid persecution (punishment: torture or death).
Christians would either meet in one another’s homes or in catacombs outside of the Roman city walls.
Early Christians abandoned realistic art for symbolic representation. Images / symbols were adapted from Roman pagan traditions and used to convey religious concepts.
The Christian Church began to grow as the power and influence of the Roman Empire gradually declined.

2. Terminology Fresco – painting on wet plaster
on terminology handout
Fresco – painting on wet plaster
Tessarae - pieces of coloured glass (sometimes with gold leaf underneath) used to create wall mosaics.
Mosaic – an image created through arranging pieces of coloured glass or stone on a surface.
Catacombs –underground passageways used to bury Christian dead and as meeting places during persecutions.
Sarcophagus – a stone coffin, often elaborately decorated.
Façade – Front of a building
Stylized – When images are less realistic and somewhat simplified (e.g. saint’s clothing).
Relief – sculptural carvings on a surface that show depth but are not totally 3-D like a sculpture / statue.

3. 1. St. Apollinare in Classe (522-549 AD) Ravenna, Italy

4. Parts of the Basilica
Basilica – a long rectangular hall, used by Romans as public meeting places – adapted to churches.
Apse – semi-circular chapel at the end of the nave used for the throne of the bishop and the altar.
Nave – centre aisle of the church.
Arcade – a series of arches and columns supporting them (supporting the walls).
Side Aisle – Walkway of a church running parallel to the nave, separated by piers or columns.
Clerestory – Upper part of a nave containing windows that illuminate the interior of the church.

8. St. Apollinare in Classe. (522-549) Ravenna, Italy.
Plain on the outside but beautiful on the inside symbolizes their belief that the soul is more important than a person’s exterior.
Forms of decoration:
mosaics
images are symbolic
(realism was not important)
symbol of the Good Shepard
Borrowed Architectural Features:
rounded arches
columns
New Architectural Feature:
Bell Tower

9. 2. The Good Shepherd (4th century AD) Catacombs St. Peter & St
2. The Good Shepherd (4th century AD) Catacombs St. Peter & St. Marcellinus. Rome, Italy

11. 2. The Good Shepherd. (4th century) Catacombs of St. Peter’s and St
2. The Good Shepherd. (4th century) Catacombs of St. Peter’s and St. Marcellinus. Rome, Italy.
The Good Shepherd is a commonly used symbol to represent Christ.
Meaning: Christ will leave his flock in order to help the one who has gone astray.
Forms of decoration:
-this image is a marble statue
-images are always symbolic during this time period
-also seen as a fresco (painting on wet plaster)

12. 3. Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus. (359 AD) Marble.

14. 3. Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus. (359) marble.
Purpose:
a stone coffin
the deceased shows his faith
Forms of decoration:
high relief
images of the Old and New Testament
Borrowed Architectural Features:
rounded arches
columns