Byzantine ArtByzantine Art 5th Century A.D. to 14535th Century A.D. to 1453

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Byzantine artByzantine art

the art of the Byzantine Empire, Eastern the art of the Byzantine Empire, Eastern

Roman Empire Roman Empire

focused on the needs of the Orthodox focused on the needs of the Orthodox

Church Church

basically ended with the fall of basically ended with the fall of

Constantinople to the Turks in 1453, during Constantinople to the Turks in 1453, during

the European the European Renaissance

Paintings and MosaicsPaintings and Mosaics

are characterized by a rich use of color and are characterized by a rich use of color and

figures which seem flat and stiff figures which seem flat and stiff

figures also tend to appear to be floating, figures also tend to appear to be floating,

and to have large eyes and to have large eyes

Backgrounds tend to be solidly golden or Backgrounds tend to be solidly golden or

tonedtoned

presented clearly and simply presented clearly and simply

The DeesisThe Deesis

Gerona Bible Master, Gerona Bible Master, Bologna, Italy, Bologna, Italy, Gradual, Proper and Gradual, Proper and Common Saints Common Saints

History of Byzantine ArtHistory of Byzantine Art

originated chiefly in Constantinople originated chiefly in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) (present-day Istanbul)

eventually spread throughout most of the eventually spread throughout most of the Mediterranean world and eastward to Mediterranean world and eastward to Armenia Armenia

arose in part as a response to the needs of arose in part as a response to the needs of the Eastern, or Orthodox, church the Eastern, or Orthodox, church

Eastern church preferred a more Eastern church preferred a more contemplative form of popular worship contemplative form of popular worship focused on the veneration of icons focused on the veneration of icons

Something of the abstract quality of the Something of the abstract quality of the icons entered into much of Byzantine art icons entered into much of Byzantine art

The Hellenistic heritage was never entirely The Hellenistic heritage was never entirely lost to Byzantine art but continued to be a lost to Byzantine art but continued to be a source of inspiration and renewal source of inspiration and renewal

Early Christian art of the 3rd and 4th Early Christian art of the 3rd and 4th centuries had simply taken over the style centuries had simply taken over the style and forms of classical paganism and forms of classical paganism

artists sought to evoke the spiritual artists sought to evoke the spiritual character of sacred figures rather than character of sacred figures rather than their bodily substance their bodily substance

Painters and mosaic makers often avoided Painters and mosaic makers often avoided any modeling of the figures any modeling of the figures

Sculpture was largely confined to ivory Sculpture was largely confined to ivory

plaques (called diptychs) in low relief plaques (called diptychs) in low relief

Mosaics were the favored medium for the Mosaics were the favored medium for the

interior adornment of Byzantine churches interior adornment of Byzantine churches

The small cubes, or tesserae, that The small cubes, or tesserae, that

composed mosaics were made of colored composed mosaics were made of colored

glass or enamels or were overlaid with glass or enamels or were overlaid with

gold leaf gold leaf

Early PeriodEarly Period Iconoclastic PeriodIconoclastic Period Mid-Byzantine Period: Macedonian RenaissanceMid-Byzantine Period: Macedonian Renaissance Mid-Byzantine Period: Mid-Byzantine Period: ComnenianComnenian Art Art Palaeologue PeriodPalaeologue Period

PeriodsPeriods

Early PeriodEarly Period

Although the 5th-century art of the empire Although the 5th-century art of the empire is sometimes referred to as early is sometimes referred to as early Byzantine, it should be more aptly called Byzantine, it should be more aptly called late Antiquelate Antique

The golden age of early Byzantine art and The golden age of early Byzantine art and architecture falls within the reign architecture falls within the reign (527-565)(527-565) of the emperor of the emperor JustinianJustinian, a prolific builder , a prolific builder and a patron of the arts. and a patron of the arts.

MosaicsMosaics

The still formative stage of Byzantine art in the The still formative stage of Byzantine art in the age of Justinian is reflected in the variety of age of Justinian is reflected in the variety of mosaic stylesmosaic styles

The most extensive series of mosaics of the The most extensive series of mosaics of the

Justinian age, and the finest, are those (finished Justinian age, and the finest, are those (finished in 547) in the Church of San Vitale, Ravenna in 547) in the Church of San Vitale, Ravenna

the different pictorial modes of those mosaics the different pictorial modes of those mosaics were each adapted to its subject matter were each adapted to its subject matter

Theodora and Attendants completed around 547, covering the

interior of the Church of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy.

Transfiguration of Christ (540)Transfiguration of Christ (540)

ArchitectureArchitecture

a wide diversity characterizes the a wide diversity characterizes the ecclesiastical architecture of the early ecclesiastical architecture of the early Byzantine period Byzantine period

Two Major Types of ChurchesTwo Major Types of Churches

The Basilica TypeThe Basilica Type

The Centralized type The Centralized type Hagia Sophia Hagia Sophia

The Basilica TypeThe Basilica Type

with a long colonnaded nave covered by a with a long colonnaded nave covered by a wooden roof and terminating in a wooden roof and terminating in a semicircular apse semicircular apse

the vaulted centralized church, with its the vaulted centralized church, with its separate components gathered under a separate components gathered under a central dome central dome

Hagia SophiaHagia Sophia

or the Church of the Holy Wisdom, in or the Church of the Holy Wisdom, in Constantinople Constantinople

built in five years by Justinian and built in five years by Justinian and consecrated in 537 consecrated in 537

the supreme example of the centralized the supreme example of the centralized type type

architects Anthemius of Tralles and architects Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus Isidorus of Miletus

Plan of the original architecture of Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom), is inaugurated after being rebuilt by Emperor Justinian I (527-565). After the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans in 1453

Hagia Sophia became a mosque and is now a museum.

The church of Hagia Sophia was the most important church of the Christian East

Church of San Vitale, Italy built between AD 526 and 547Church of San Vitale, Italy built between AD 526 and 547

The 6th-century church of The 6th-century church of Hagia IreneHagia Irene in Constantinople in Constantinople

Hagia Irene

Iconoclastic PeriodIconoclastic Period

anti iconic movement resulted in 726 in the anti iconic movement resulted in 726 in the order of Emperor Leo III order of Emperor Leo III

decorative arts flourished oldest surviving examples of Byzantine

silk textiles these Byzantine textiles were used in these Byzantine textiles were used in

Western churches as altar hangings and Western churches as altar hangings and as shrouds in the tombs of rulers and as shrouds in the tombs of rulers and saints saints

Mid-Byzantine Period: Mid-Byzantine Period: Macedonian RenaissanceMacedonian Renaissance

In 843, the ban against icons was finally In 843, the ban against icons was finally lifted lifted

a second golden age of Byzantine art was a second golden age of Byzantine art was inaugurated with the advent of the new inaugurated with the advent of the new Macedonian dynasty Macedonian dynasty (867-1056)(867-1056)

Byzantine art was reanimated by an Byzantine art was reanimated by an important classical revival important classical revival

PaintingPainting

damp-fold style damp-fold style

They also wanted to include modeling in They also wanted to include modeling in light and shade light and shade

Religious images were only acceptable as Religious images were only acceptable as long as the human figure was not long as the human figure was not represented as an actual bodily presence represented as an actual bodily presence

artists solved the problem by abstraction artists solved the problem by abstraction

ArchitectureArchitecture

one of consolidation one of consolidation

Recurring types of the centralized church Recurring types of the centralized church were established were established

A common type of the mid-Byzantine A common type of the mid-Byzantine centralized church was the cross-in-the-centralized church was the cross-in-the-square square

The KoimesisThe Koimesis, or , or "falling asleep in death," "falling asleep in death," of the Virgin is first of the Virgin is first found in Byzantine art in found in Byzantine art in the 900s. This image the 900s. This image would become one of would become one of the most popular icons the most popular icons in the Middle and Late in the Middle and Late Byzantine world, often Byzantine world, often appearing over the appearing over the doors of churches to be doors of churches to be contemplated by the contemplated by the faithful as they left the faithful as they left the service. service.

This Byzantine ivory This Byzantine ivory relief shows Christ the relief shows Christ the Pantocrator, or ruler of Pantocrator, or ruler of the world, the second the world, the second golden age of golden age of Byzantine art, the late Byzantine art, the late 10th century. The 10th century. The relief is in the relief is in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, England.Cambridge, England.

Mid-Byzantine Period: Mid-Byzantine Period: Comnenian ArtComnenian Art

The second major phase of the mid-The second major phase of the mid-Byzantine period coincided with the rule of Byzantine period coincided with the rule of the Comneni dynasty the Comneni dynasty (1081-1185)(1081-1185) of of emperors emperors

inaugurated new artistic trends that inaugurated new artistic trends that continued into the succeeding centuries continued into the succeeding centuries

Crown of St. StephenCrown of St. StephenThis crown was worn by Stephen I, the first king of This crown was worn by Stephen I, the first king of

Hungary, in the 11th century .Hungary, in the 11th century .

Virgin of VladimirVirgin of Vladimir, , possibly the most famous possibly the most famous icon of Russia, is not a icon of Russia, is not a Russian icon, but a gift Russian icon, but a gift brought from brought from Constantinople to Russia Constantinople to Russia in 1131. Prince Andrei in 1131. Prince Andrei Bogoliubskii moved the Bogoliubskii moved the icon from Kiev to the city of icon from Kiev to the city of Vladimir in 1155. In 1395 Vladimir in 1155. In 1395 the icon was permanently the icon was permanently transferred to Moscow; transferred to Moscow; amazingly, the transfer amazingly, the transfer took place on the same took place on the same day as the withdrawal of day as the withdrawal of Khan Tokhtamysh's forces Khan Tokhtamysh's forces besieging Moscow. besieging Moscow.

Frescoes in Nerezi near Frescoes in Nerezi near SkopjeSkopje (1164) (1164)

Lothair Cross, late tenth century. Cathedral Treasury, Aachen, Germany. The treasury also contains an ivory

diptych from about ad800

Palaeologue Period(1258-1453Palaeologue Period(1258-1453))

The final flowering of Byzantine art The final flowering of Byzantine art occurred during the Palaeologue period occurred during the Palaeologue period

its vitality and creativeness remained its vitality and creativeness remained undiminished. undiminished.

ArchitectureArchitecture

new architectural features had already new architectural features had already been foreshadowed under the Comneni been foreshadowed under the Comneni

vertical lines of the churches were vertical lines of the churches were emphasized emphasized

five-domed church became the norm five-domed church became the norm

PaintingPainting

More profound were the changes in the More profound were the changes in the pictorial arts pictorial arts

fresco painting everywhere replaced the fresco painting everywhere replaced the more costly medium of mosaic decoration more costly medium of mosaic decoration

Although the basic compositions of the Although the basic compositions of the more traditional images were retained, more traditional images were retained, they were reinterpreted with exceptional they were reinterpreted with exceptional vitality vitality

Christ the Savior in Chora (1310-1320) in ConstantinopleChrist the Savior in Chora (1310-1320) in Constantinople

The most famous of the surviving Byzantine mosaics of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople - the image of Christ Pantocrator, 12th century

The Last Judgment, wall mosaic. Torcello Cathedral, The Last Judgment, wall mosaic. Torcello Cathedral, Venice, late 11 th-12th century Venice, late 11 th-12th century

The Anastasis of Christ, symbolizes the promise of resurrection in the Eastern Church. Christ, returning from the underworld, pulls

Adam and Eve from their graves to their resurrection.

This depiction of the This depiction of the archangel Michael, in archangel Michael, in St. Mark’s Cathedral St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice, Italy, is an in Venice, Italy, is an example of ancient example of ancient enamel art. During enamel art. During the Byzantine era the Byzantine era artists often used artists often used precious stones for precious stones for ornamentation, as ornamentation, as seen here.seen here.

The The Cattolica,Cattolica, Calabria in Southern Italy Calabria in Southern Italy

the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, now in the Bode Museum, Berlin.

The AnnunciationThe Annunciation from from OhridOhrid, one of the most , one of the most admired admired iconsicons of the of the Paleologan Paleologan MannerismMannerism, bears comparison , bears comparison with the finest with the finest contemporary works by contemporary works by Italian artists.Italian artists.

Bronze Horses from St. Mark’s Basilica, VeniceBronze Horses from St. Mark’s Basilica, Venice

TADAH!TADAH!