UNIT 4

Christian and Islamic Traditions

EARLY CHRISTIAN IMAGERY

•Emperor Constantine I (The Great)• r. 306-337 CE

•Relationship with Christianity• The Civil Wars

• As Emperor• Edict of Milan (313 CE)

• Constantinople (c.320s) Chi Roh

EARLY CHRISTIAN IMAGERY

•Christian Art Before Constantine• Chi Roh

•Relationship with Christianity• The Civil Wars

• As Emperor• Edict of Milan (313 CE)

• Constantinople (c.320s)

EARLY CHRISTIAN IMAGERY

•Christian Art Before Constantine• Chi Roh

• In Groups of 3-4 find examples of Christian art before Constantine

• That is pre-Edict of Milan (313 CE)

•Relationship with Christianity?

EARLY CHRISTIAN IMAGERY: ROMAN ROOTS

•Sol Invictus• Unconquered Sun

•Arch of Constantine• 312-315 CE

Notice the crown

Coin of Aurelian c. 270s CE

• The Attic of Constantine’s Arch 315 CE

• The Attic of Constantine’s Arch 315 CE• To the Emperor Caesar Flavius Constantinus, the greatest, pious, and

blessed Augustus: because he, inspired by the divine, and by the greatness of his mind, has delivered the state from the tyrant and all of his followers at the same time, with his army and just force of arms, the Senate and People of Rome have dedicated this arch, decorated with triumphs.

Sol Invictus imagery used until 320s CE

Disc of Sol Invictusc. 200s CERepousse Silver

EARLY CHRISTIAN IMAGERY

•Continued use of Greco-Roman Imagery• Sarcophagi

• Images and storytelling

• Non-Christian Examples?

• Ludovisi Battle Sarcophagus

• c. 250s CE

EARLY CHRISTIAN IMAGERY

•Continued use of Greco-Roman Imagery• Sarcophagi

• Images and storytelling

• Christian storytelling through imagery = clear, simple, descriptive

• Becomes more simplistic with time

• Images have a clear, sacred aim in early Christian Art

• Christian Example

• Church of S. Maria Antiqua c. 300s CE

CHRISTIAN SYMBOLISM, ROMAN METHODS

Jonah and the Whale The Muse The Poet The Good Shepherd John the Baptist

EARLY CHRISTIAN IMAGERY

•Catacombs• Underground Cemeteries

• Catacombs of Priscilla c. late 100s-300s CE

• Christ as the “Good Shepherd”

• Other ancient examples?

Anyone Know This Reference?

GRECO-ROMAN IMAGERY

• Representation of Christ

• “Good Shepherd”

• Drapery

• Foreshortening

THE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES AND THE FISHES

• Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo. Ravenna, Italy c. 500 CE

• Clear aim and essential imagery• Emotion?

• Background?

• Color and mood?

Color of the Robe?

IN GROUPS OF 3-4

• Sketch to your best ability how an two artists using any other methods, materials, or eras we have studied would portray this image

• Provide a written description (on the same paper) of your work and how it reflects the changes you intended to show

EARLY CHRISTIAN IMAGERY

•Light in Christian Art• Light as a Christian motif

• Gold Backgrounds and reflective surfaces

• Apse of Monreale Cathedral, Sicily

• c. 1200s CE

EARLY CHRISTIAN IMAGERY

•Light in Christian Art• Light as a Christian motif

• Gold Backgrounds and reflective surfaces

• Deesis Mosaic Hagia Sophia, Istanbul (Constantinople), Turkey

• c. 1200s CE

•Does early Christian and Byzantine art represent a stagnation in artistic development?

• Great Short Answer Question!!!

• Opinion with examples to back up points

JUSTINIAN AND THE BYZANTINE STYLE

•The Byzantine Empire and Justinian

JUSTINIAN AND THE BYZANTINE STYLE

•The Byzantine Empire and Justinian

JUSTINIAN AND THE BYZANTINE STYLE

•The Byzantine Empire and Justinian•Basilica of San Vitale. Ravenna, Italy 547 CE

JUSTINIAN AND THE BYZANTINE STYLE

•The Byzantine Empire and Justinian•Basilica of San Vitale. Ravenna, Italy 547 CE•Apse mosaic

JUSTINIAN AND THE BYZANTINE STYLE

•The Byzantine Empire and Justinian•Basilica of San Vitale. Ravenna, Italy 547 CE•Apse mosaic Christ

Greco-Roman Attributes

• Faces

• Drapery

• Foreshortening

• Color of robe

• Use of light and shadow

Conceptual representation of

objects rather than naturalistic

representation

JUSTINIAN AND THE BYZANTINE STYLE

•The Byzantine Empire and Justinian•Basilica of San Vitale. Ravenna, Italy 547 CE•Apse mosaic Justinian and Theodora

Pull info from the

image.

JUSTINIAN AND THE BYZANTINE STYLE

•The Byzantine Empire and Justinian•Basilica of San Vitale. Ravenna, Italy 547 CE•Apse mosaic Justinian and his court

Essential Characteristics Halo

Color of Robe

Greco-Roman elements

Symbols and symbolism

Placement of individuals and groups

Archbishop Maximian

Conceptual representation of objects rather than naturalistic

representation? Use of perspective?

Pull info from the

image.

JUSTINIAN AND THE BYZANTINE STYLE

•The Byzantine Empire and Justinian•Basilica of San Vitale. Ravenna, Italy 547 CE•Apse mosaic Theodora and her court

Essential Characteristics Halo

Color of Robe

Greco-Roman elements

Symbols and symbolism Placement of individuals and

groups

Conceptual representation of

objects rather than naturalistic

representation? Use of perspective?

JUSTINIAN AND THE BYZANTINE STYLE

•Patronage and the arts

Patterns and shading suggest movement

Greco-Roman Style Drapery

Use and non-use of perspective

Patronage, imagery, and storytelling in art.

What is the narrative?

Location of thenarrative?

Realistic space vs. spiritual space

Hierarchy of figures?

Status of Theodora?

She is further backIn space

Reflects structured nature of Byzantine society.

State-sponsored art

Why is the emperor and court in spiritual space?

ANNUNCIATION TRIPTYCH (MÉRODE ALTARPIECE)ROBERT CAMPIN C. 1425, NETHERLANDS

Christian Images and Church Conflict

•Analyze the development and rationale behind iconoclasm in the Byzantine Empire by discussing the following:• Political/religious divisions between Eastern (Byzantine) and Western (Catholic) church.

• Competing views of imagery and the Christian faith• Reflections of this split in the Byzantine artistic tradition

• Great Long Short Answer Question!!!• Must include one specific example to back up each point

EARLY CHRISTIAN/BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE

•Sacred Space•Pagan temple function?

•How does the function help determine the form?

•How/why will Christian churches differ?

EARLY CHRISTIAN/BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE

•Sacred Space•Christian church function?

•How does the function help determine the form?

•How/why will Christian churches differ?

EARLY CHRISTIAN/BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE

•2 Types•Basilica

•Martyria (Centrally Planned)

EARLY CHRISTIAN/BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE

• Basilica

• Roman roots

• Apse – New interpretation and use

• Symbolic orientation and design

Plan of Old St. Peter’sBasilica (333-390)

EARLY CHRISTIAN/BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE

• Basilica

• Transept

• Cross-arm, transverse space

• Purpose?

Plan of Old St. Peter’sBasilica (333-390)

EARLY CHRISTIAN/BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE

• Martyrium

• Centrally planned church

• Round, polygonal, cruciform

San Vitale Ravenna, Italy(540-547)

EARLY CHRISTIAN/BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE

• Hagia Sophia

• Centrally planned church

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul (Constantinople) Turkey, 537 CE

EUROPE IN THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES

AFTER THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

• Cultural/Political Division

• Early Medieval Art• Roman Pagan/Christian

• Barbarian

• Byzantine Christian

MEROVINGIAN STYLES

• Merovingian Dynasty

• 457-752 CE

MEROVINGIAN STYLES

•Non-Roman Roots• Small, portable works

• Status symbols

• Little Naturalistic Representation

MEROVINGIAN STYLES

•Merovingian Looped Fibulae• c. 550 CE

• Decorative pin to hold clothing

• Abstract, decorative patterns

• Zoomorphic images

That’s what fibulae do

ANGLO-SAXON STYLES

•Sutton Hoo Ship Burial• c. 600s CE

• Ship burial mound

• Finds

ANGLO-SAXON STYLES

•Sutton Hoo Ship Burial• c. 600s CE

• Ship burial mound

• Finds

SUTTON HOO PURSE COVER

REVIEW PGS 182-191

Reading Quiz Coming Up

HIBERNO-SAXON STYLES

•Hiberno-Saxon Monasteries • Role of Ireland in Christianity

HIBERNO-SAXON STYLES

•Hiberno-Saxon Monasteries • Role of Ireland in Christianity

• Monasteries and Illuminated Manuscripts

• Pagan Interlace influence

• Illumination = Artistic embellishment

• “Carpet Pages”

• Native and imported (Classical) artistic traditions

HIBERNO-SAXON STYLES

•Hiberno-Saxon Monasteries • Role of Ireland in Christianity

• Monasteries and Illuminated Manuscripts

• Illumination = Artistic embellishment

• “Carpet Pages”

• Lindisfarne Gospels

• c. 700 CE

• Cross inscribed carpet page

LINDISFARNE GOSPELS (C. 700 CE)

CROSS-INSCRIBED CARPET PAGE

• Small, complex designs

• Motion and change

• Animal forms and abstract elements

HIBERNO-SAXON STYLES

•Hiberno-Saxon Monasteries • Role of Ireland in Christianity

• Monasteries and Illuminated Manuscripts

• Illumination = Artistic embellishment

• “Carpet Pages”

• Book of Kells

• c. Late 700s-Early 800s CE

• Figures and letters

• Animal and human forms

• Iconography and text

BOOK OF KELLS

•Chi-rho-iota page (XPI)• Zoom in and see what you can find!

“CAROLINGIAN RENAISSANCE”

•Charlemagne• 800 CE = Charlemagne crowned Holy Roman Emperor

• Cultural and educational revival

• Continued spread of Christianity

“CAROLINGIAN RENAISSANCE”

•Charlemagne• Art and Politics

• Political and artistic connection to Roman and Byzantine traditions

“CAROLINGIAN RENAISSANCE”

•Charlemagne• Art and Politics

• Carolingian Manuscripts

• “The Evangelists” c. 800 CE

• How do manuscripts contribute to Charlemagne’s political influence and Roman/Byzantine artistic traditions?

Charlemagne Post-Charlemagne

GeometricDesigns

NaturalDesigns

Unnaturalimages and positions

Naturalisticimages and positions

“CAROLINGIAN RENAISSANCE”

•Charlemagne• Art and Politics

• Architecture

• The Palace Chapel c. 800 CE

• Roman/Byzantine building techniques

• Central Planning

Plan of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy Plan of Palace Chapel, Aachen, Germany

ROMANESQUE ART

ROMANESQUE STYLE

•Classical (Greco-Roman) Characteristics• Arches

• Vaults

• Sculpture

ROMANESQUE STYLE

•Classical (Greco-Roman) Characteristics

•Wide geographic region

•Continued Role of the Catholic Church

•Conflict vs. Unity

ROMANESQUE STYLE

•Economic and Political Developments•Continued Islamic Expansion•Byzantine Decline•Regional Kingdoms•Economic Growth• Italian wealth and stability• Italian Peninsula government systems

ROMANESQUE STYLE

•Christian Pilgrimage•Why?

• Importance of relics and reliquaries

• Importance of Rome and Jerusalem

ROMANESQUE STYLE

•Christian Pilgrimage•Why?

• Importance of relics and reliquaries

• Importance of Rome and Jerusalem

• Influence of pilgrimage on architecture

ROMANESQUE STYLE

•Church of Sainte-Foy•Conques, France

•c. 1050-1120

ROMANESQUE STYLE

•Decoration and the Illiterate•Sainte-Foy, c. 1050-1120

•Relief Sculpture•“Portals” – Doorways

•Why here?

•Program = Arrangement and meaning of subjects

• “The Last Judgement”

•Western Portal Relief

Look at placement of figures

ROMANESQUE STYLE

•Decoration and the Illiterate•Sainte-Foy, c. 1050-1120

•Relief Sculpture

•Reliquary of Sainte-Foy• Concerns over idolatry

• Roman head

ROMANESQUE STYLE

•Cathedral of Saint-Lazare, Autun, France

•c. 1130

•Gislebertus•Sculptor, signed name

•Significance of this?

GISLEBERTUS

•Column Capital

•Cathedral of Saint-Lazarec. 1130• Decorative background• Abstract circle designs• Curves representing folds• Jesus as homunculus• “Little Man”• Pre-1300 Christian characteristic• Reflection of Christ’s

character/personality

ROMANESQUE STYLE

•Cathedral of Saint-Lazare, Autun, France

•c. 1130

•The Last Judgement

ROMANESQUE STYLE

•Cathedral of Saint-Lazare, Autun, France

•c. 1130

•The Last Judgement

•Weighing Souls• Where have we seen

this idea before?

• Spiritual substance

• Saved weigh more

Last JudgementSt. Lazare

Last JudgementSainte-Foy

?

REMOVE YOUR FOLDABLES AND LOAVES AND FISHES COMPARATIVE WORK

KEEP THEM OR THROW AWAY IN THE LARGE TRASH CAN AT THE END OF THE HALL

STAVELOT RELIQUARY TRIPTYCH

•c. 1150s

• Triptych• Altarpiece with 3 sections

• Reliquary

• True Cross

STAVELOT RELIQUARY TRIPTYCH

•c. 1150s

• Triptych• Wings

• Use of circles again

• Constantine and St. Helena

STAVELOT RELIQUARY TRIPTYCH

•c. 1150s

• Triptych• Central Panel• Reliquary

• Small triptychs

BAYEUX TAPESTRY

•c. 1070-1080

•Wool on linen

•Embroidery • Norman invasion of England

• Artistic team

• As a document?

• Point of view

Animated Bayeux Tapestry

APAH 9 WEEKS EXAM