Early Christian, Byzantine, and Islamic Art Review

EARLY CHRISTIAN, BYZANTINE, AND ISLAMIC ART REVIEW

EARLY CHRISTIAN

Catacombs

·  Location of Christian and Jewish burial as well as religious ceremonies

·  Location of Early Christian depictions of Christ and other biblical characters

·  Figures have a simplistic style based on classical art

Codex/Codices

·  Earliest bound books (Romans and Early Christians moved past using scrolls)

·  Vienna Genesis – earliest manuscript with illustrations of the Bible (Old Testament book of Genesis – first book in the Bible) – see scene with Rebecca and Eliezer

Vienna Genesis

·  Painted in tempera on vellum

·  Early Christian codex with earliest images from the Bible

·  Scene with Rebecca and Eliezer – uses CONTINUOUS NARRATION (showing the same character more than once in the work of art) – Rebecca is shown carrying a container of water and then watering Eliezer’s camels

Early Christian depictions of Christ

·  Good Shepherd

·  Teacher-philosopher

·  Resembles Roman sun god

Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus

·  Roman government figure who converted to Christianity

·  Sarcophagus resembles pre-Christian Roman sarcophagi with niches, classical architectural references

·  Christian subject matter including images of Christ, Apostles Peter and Paul, references to Old Testament stories

Old Saint Peter’s Basilica

·  Know the various parts of a Christian basilica

·  Why did this building type become the basis for Early Christian churches?

·  Roof was not vaulted (no barrel or groin vaults), flat ceiling with a timber roof

Christ as Good Shepherd mosaic

·  Located in Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

·  Contains classical interests with Christian narrative (Christ is youthful and clean-shaven, interest in naturalism – body proportions, modeling with light and shadow, interest in illusion of depth –sheep are on different planes, rocks and plants in background)

Miracle of loaves and fish mosaic

·  Shows Christ flanked by two apostles on each side

·  Holds loaves of bread and a fish

·  Shows the movement toward the “Byzantine aesthetic” – Christ and other figures face forward, arranged in a straight line, little interest in illusion of depth, golden background

B YZANTINE ART

Hagia Sophia

·  In whose reign was it built?

·  Who were the architects?

·  Why was it built?

·  What are its important features?

·  Know what pendentives are

Central plan churches

·  More common in Byzantine empire

·  Western Europe often used central plan for mausoleums and baptisteries

Justinian as World Conqueror panel

·  Made out of ivory. Most small Byzantine decorative items are made out of ivory

·  Uses classical references to glorify Justinian (Equestrian pose, two references to Nikes –winged victories, classical style dress for Justinian and his servant, references to conquered peoples bringing tribute to Justinian in bottom register – similar to Roman art glorifying the emperor)

·  Contains Christian imagery (Jesus in the top register, frontal composition, not interested in realism, He holds a cross, and is flanked by angels)

Archangel Michael panel

·  Ivory panel that was once part of a diptych – two paneled work of art – one panel is missing now

·  Contains a blend of classical imagery with Christian imagery

San Vitale

·  Central plan church with a dome in the center

·  Located in Ravenna, Ravenna has the best collection of Byzantine mosaics

·  Has a narthex at an odd angel to the church

·  Contains the famous Justinian and Theodora mosaics

Emergence of Byzantine aesthetic

·  F, F, F, G – know how each of these letters stands for a quality of the Byzantine aesthetic

·  Be able to explain why Byzantine mosaics and icons have these qualities

Icons

·  Know the medium in which they were painted

·  Importance of icons to Byzantine art

Iconoclasm

·  What was this event and how did it affect Byzantine art

Transfiguration Mosaic in Saint Catherine’s Monastery, Sinai, Egypt

·  Recognize elements of “Byzantine aesthetic”

·  Located in the apse of the church

Harbaville Triptych

·  Ivory triptych used for personal devotion

·  Illustrates a deesis – a scene with Jesus flanked by John the Baptist and Virgin Mary, who intercede on behalf of the faithful

ISLAMIC ART

Rules concerning art in sacred places

·  No images of Allah, Muhammad, or any people especially in sacred places – want to avoid idol worship

·  No images of animals for similar reasons

Arabesque designs are common

Calligraphy

·  beautiful writing of verses from Islamic sacred texts such as the Koran

·  KUFIC – type of Arabic calligraphy; earliest versions of the Koran were written in Kufic

Dome of the Rock

·  Site sacred to Muslims

·  Surrounding site sacred to Jews and Christians

·  Not a mosque but a pilgrimage site

·  Located in Jerusalem

Kaaba

·  Large brick monument in the courtyard of the Sacred Mosque in Mecca

·  Empty on the inside (once contained idols before Mecca became an Islamic city

·  Kiswa cloth draped over the Kaaba

·  Site visited and walked around by Muslim pilgrims

Mosques

·  Know key parts and purpose of mosques

·  Minbar – pulpit where an imam stands to read scripture

·  Mihrab – decorative niche in qibla wall directing the faithful toward Mecca

·  Explain how the parts of a mosque fulfill the Five Pillars of Islam