Transcript Early Christian Art

Early Christian Art
The emperor Constantine made Christianity the
official religion of the Roman Empire in 313 AD and
began building churches
Before Christianity, Romans painted figures and
scenes that were natural and realistic
The Christian artists did not care about making
their art look realistic, the Christian artists wanted
to communicate religious ideas using symbols
Byzantine Art
After the death of Constantine, the roman Empire was split into the
Eastern and Western Empires
The Eastern Roman Empire gained power and was called Byzantine
 Artist of the early Christian and Byzantine churches showed their
message of salvation through mosaics
Byzantine Art
Emperor Justinian and Attendants, 547 Mosaic, church of San Vitale
Byzantine mosaics were made of tesserae, brightly colored glass
pressed into wet plaster
The glass was set at an angle to reflect the light and shimmer
Byzantine Art
Emperor Justinian and Attendants, 547 Mosaic, church of San Vitale
Why do you think the emperor in the center is wearing a halo?
He is showing that he is God’s holy representative on earth.
Byzantine Art
Enthroned Madonna and Child, 13th c. tempera on panel
Byzantine Art
Enthroned Madonna and Child, 13th c. tempera on panel
Most Byzantine paintings were icons,
religious images
Icons were used as worship centers in
homes and churches
Gold background is typical of Byzantine art
Meaning and emotion are more important
than reality.
Byzantine Architecture
Hagia Sophia, 532-537, Istanbul
Istanbul Was Once Constantinople.
Under the reign of Justinian, the large basilica (church), Hagia Sophia
was built in Constantinople
Created by 2 architects, Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Milestos
Byzantine Architecture
Hagia Sophia, 532-537, Istanbul
The vast, airy basilica, with its technically complex system of vaults
and semi-domes, culminates in a high central dome with a diameter of
over 101’ and a height of 160’. This central dome was often interpreted
by contemporary commentators as the dome of heaven itself.
A mosque is a place
of worship for
followers of Islam
Byzantine Architecture
Hagia Sophia, 532-537, Istanbul
The interior of Hagia Sophia was paneled with colored glass and stone mosaics. After
Mehmed II's conquest of the city in 1453, Hagia Sophia was converted to a mosque.
During this period, minarets were built around the perimeter of the building complex,
Christian mosaic icons were covered with whitewash. In 1934, the Turkish
government secularized the building, converting it into a museum, and the original
mosaics were restored.
Byzantine Architecture
Hagia Sophia, 532-537, Istanbul
Unique design combines a long open space in the center of the church
(nave) and a dome
Byzantine Architecture
Hagia Sophia, 532-537, Istanbul
pendentive
Challenge was to put a huge round dome on square supporting walls
4 concave spherical triangles-pendentives supported by 4 piers
Pendentives give a graceful transition from square base to round
dome
Byzantine Architecture
Hagia Sophia, 532-537, Istanbul
Compare and Contrast
Hagia Sophia, 532-537, Istanbul
The Pantheon, 118-125 AD Rome
Compare and Contrast
Hagia Sophia, 532-537, Istanbul
The Pantheon, 118-125 AD Rome
Compare and Contrast
http://podcasts.ricksteves.com/videos/101
Istanbul.m4v
Hagia Sophia, 532-537, Istanbul
Bell Ringer
Name that building
Hagia Sophia, 532-537, Istanbul
Bell Ringer
Hagia Sophia, 532-537, Istanbul
What was unique about the design?
A huge round dome was placed on top of
square supporting walls
Byzantine Architecture
Hagia Sophia, 532-537, Istanbul
pendentive
How did they support the round dome on the square base?
Bell Ringer
What was important to the Christian
and Byzantine artists? What did they
want to depict in their art?
Showing the meaning and emotion of
religious icons was more important
than depicting reality.
Islamic Art
The term Islamic art not only describes the art created
specifically in the service of the Muslim faith (for example, a
mosque and its furnishings) but also characterizes the art and
architecture historically produced in the lands ruled by Muslims,
produced for Muslim patrons, or created by Muslim artists.
 Islam is not only a religion but a way of life, Islam fostered the
development of a distinctive culture with its own unique artistic
language that is reflected in art and architecture throughout the
Muslim world.
Islamic Art
Islam refers to both the religion of the Muslims
and the nations that follow the religion
In the 7th century, Islam began in Arabia and
swept across the Near East and the southern
Mediterranean.
The Muslim religion prohibited the use of
human figures in religious art. So artists
developed complex geometric and abstract
designs.
The term arabesque means “ in the Arab style”
and was used to describe these complex designs.
Islamic Architecture
Dome of the Rock, late 7th c. Jerusalem, Israel
Islamic architects constructed new buildings and
also made old Christian basilicas and churches into
mosques.
A mosque is a place
of worship for
followers of Islam
Islamic Architecture
Dome of the Rock, late 7th c. Jerusalem, Israel
Mohammed was the
founder of the religion of
Islam and is regarded by
Muslims as a messenger
and prophet of God
Muslims from many countries built The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem
The site of the dome marks the place where Mohammed was said to have
left this earth
The dome also covers the top of the rock mountain on which Abraham
attempted to sacrifice his son Isaac
The Dome of the Rock mosque is the oldest Islamic monument
Has an octagonal base and many columns inside to support the golden
dome
Islamic Architecture
Dome of the Rock, late 7th c. Jerusalem, Israel
The pointed dome is made of wood and overlaid with lead and gilded gold,
today has an aluminum surface
The exterior of the mosque is covered with brightly glazed ceramic tiles
Islamic Calligraphy
Calligraphy (beautiful or fancy writing)
Calligraphy is the most highly regarded and most fundamental element
of Islamic art.
A ban against depicting people in religious art, as well as the naturally
decorative nature of Arabic script, led to the use of calligraphic
decorations. It was used on religious architecture, carpets, and
handwritten documents.
Islamic Book Illustration
This illuminated page originally formed
the right half of a double-page opening to
a section of a Qur’an. It combines Islamic
calligraphy and geometric patterns.
Koran or Qur'an: The sacred text of Islam,
considered by Muslims to contain the
revelations of God to Muhammad.
Islamic artists greatly advanced the art of book illustration
Islamic decorative style featured elaborate geometric designs and complex
patterns of intertwining lines and shapes
Abstract designs were highly developed because artists were forbidden to
use human figures in religious art.
Islamic Book Illustration
Laila and Majnun at School:
Page from the Khamsa of
Nizami, 1431–32, Ink, opaque watercolors,
and gold on paper
Islamic Book Illustration
Laila and Majnun at School:
Page from the Khamsa of
Nizami, 1431–32, Ink, opaque watercolors,
and gold on paper
The Human Figure A popular
assumption is that Islamic culture
does not tolerate figural imagery. This
ban can certainly be seen at work in
religious contexts. No human or
animal figures appear in mosque
decoration, and there are no
illustrated Qur'ans. On the other
hand, figural images were common in
secular contexts, especially in works
of art made for the courts of Islamic
rulers.
Islamic Book Illustration
Laila and Majnun at School:
Page from the Khamsa of
Nizami, 1431–32, Ink, opaque watercolors,
and gold on paper
This painting is from a manuscript of
the frequently illustrated story. The
illustration depicts Qais, the future "mad
one" (Majnun) for love, and Laila, his
beloved, who meet for the first time as
children at a mosque school. The painting
unites figural painting and abstract
calligraphy in flat but dramatically colored
patterns. The scene depicts the child
lovers framed in the mosque's prayer
niche in order to emphasize their mystical
status.