Introduction to Byzantine Art

Key Points:
- Byzantine refers to eastern Mediterranean art from C.E. 330, when Constantine transferred the seat of the Roman Empire to Byzantium (later called Constantinople) until the city's fall to the Turks in 1453.
- Roman Empire was divided -- One emperor was in Rome, one in Constantinople
- During this time Rome was overrun by barbarians and in deep decline while Byzantium became the center of a brilliant civilization combining early Christian art with the Greek Oriental taste for rich decoration and color.
- Constantinople would be the greatest city in the world for 400 years,
- As Roman Empire decayed, era of Middle Ages was born

Byzantine Empire: Justinian and Theodora (6th century)

- San Vitale; Hagia Sophia; domes on pendentives
- The codex (Vienna Genesis)
- Iconoclastic Controversy (8th–9th centuries)

Map of Byzantine Empire
Photo: LaCour Slide Library
Art Across Time Slide Set (wncc)

Empress Theodora and Retinue.
San Vitale, Ravenna. Byzantine
tile mosaic
540-547 A.D.
Photo: LaCour Slide Library
Art Across Time Slide Set (wncc)

15.1 Christ as the Sun, detail of a mosaic under Saint Peter's necropolis, Rome. Mid 3rd century
Photo© LaCour Slide Library
Living With Art Slide Set

Photo© Allan Kohl
Courtesy of Art Images for College Teaching

Photo© LaCour Slide Library
Living With Art Slide Set

San Vitale
Photo© LaCour Slide Library
Living With Art Slide Set

Photo: LaCour Slide Library
Art Across Time Slide Set (wncc)

Christ as the Sun, detail of a mosaic under Saint Peter's necropolis, Rome. Mid 3rd century
Photo© LaCour Slide Library
Living With Art Slide Set

Photo© LaCour Slide Library
Gardner- Art Through the Ages Set

Photo© Allan Kohl
Courtesy of Art Images for College Teaching

Early Christian period 33-400 C.E.

Constantine made it acceptable with the Edict of Milan 313 AD, which stated that Rome would tolerate all religions

Byzantine period 400-1300 C.E.

when Roman leadership moved to East

st Golden Age

Justinian I
6th - (til) 8th c
Constantinople

2nd Golden Age

Began 867 - 1204
Under Macedonian dynasty
Lasted until the Christian crusaders from west occupied Constantinople in 1204

3rd Golden Age

14th - early 15th c.
Until conquered by Ottoman Turks in 1453
Many churches destroyed by the Turks
Many of the examples favored by Byzantine architects survive in outlying regions

Byzantine Art
Transition from Early Christina gradual

Greatest cultural and economic prosperity during reign of Justinian- 6th c

First Golden Age = assoc. with Justinian
Justinian
(r 527-565)

Theodora
(c 500-548)

Justinian Mosaic
San Vitale

Map

Justinian =
most important patron since Constantine

Works that he sponsored or promoted have an Imperial grandeur that justify the reference to the Golden Age

Also display inner coherence of style

The richest array of his monuments survive in Ravenna, Italy rather than in Constantinople

Key Points:

Christianity legally suppressed by Romans
Emperor Constantine acknowledged Christian in 312 CE
Romans lost faith in material values, embraced spiritual values
Constantine moved capital from Rome to Istanbul
Changed name of capital to Constantinople
Roman Empire was divided -- One emperor was in Rome, one in Constantinople
As Roman Empire decayed, era of Middle Ages was born

Icon with the Crucifixion Byzantine.
c. 1100 BCE.
Tempera on wood.
11 1/8 inches x 8.5 inches.
The Holy Monastery of St. Catherine, Sinai, Egypt

Art Features:

The complex formality of Byzantine art and architecture shaped the modern sense of the word "Byzantine."
centrally planned churches which were decorated with mosaics and marble. Gold was used in mosaics
Icon- a picture of a scared subject on a wooden panel
Christ as Pantocrator "Ruler for All," divine, awe-inspiring image of Christ

Photo© Allan Kohl
Courtesy of Art Images for College Teaching

San Vitale, Ravenna. c. 527-47 CE.
Photo© LaCour Slide Library
Living With Art Slide Set

Plan of San Vitale, Ravenna. c. 527-47 CE.
Photo© LaCour Slide Library
Living With Art Slide Set

Empress Theodora and Retinue.
San Vitale, Ravenna. Byzantine
tile mosaic
540-547 A.D.
Photo: LaCour Slide Library
Art Across Time Slide Set (wncc)

Emperor Justinian and Attendants.
San Vitale, Ravenna. Byzantine
tile mosaic
540-547 A.D.
WorldArt Web Kiosk
Photo© Kathleen Cohen

Photo: LaCour Slide Library
Art Across Time Slide Set (wncc)

Hagia Sophia
Byzantine
architecture
537 A.D.
Photo: LaCour Slide Library
Art Across Time Slide Set (wncc)

Photo: LaCour Slide Library
Art Across Time Slide Set (wncc)

Photo© Allan Kohl
Courtesy of Art Images for College Teaching

Photo© Allan Kohl
Courtesy of Art Images for College Teaching

Photo© Allan Kohl
Courtesy of Art Images for College Teaching

Photo© Allan Kohl
Courtesy of Art Images for College Teaching
Photo© LaCour Slide Library
Living With Art Slide Set

Photo© Allan Kohl
Courtesy of Art Images for College Teaching

Photo: LaCour Slide Library
Art Across Time Slide Set (wncc)

Emperor Justinian and Attendants
Byzantine
tile mosaic
540-547 A.D.

Hagia Sophia
Byzantine
architecture
537 A.D.
Photo: LaCour Slide Library
Art Across Time Slide Set (wncc)

Photo: LaCour Slide Library
Art Across Time Slide Set (wncc)

Photo© Allan Kohl
Courtesy of Art Images for College Teaching

Photo© Allan Kohl
Courtesy of Art Images for College Teaching

JUSTINIAN AND THE BYZANTINE STYLE

San Vitale-540-547 AD, Ravenna, Italy, brick facing
-centrally planned
-decorated with mosaics and marble
-gold was used in mosaics
-tiles slightly cocked to help illuminate interior

mosaics -were made up of small pieces of ceramic called tesserae

The Court of Justinian and the Court of Theodora-apse mosaics,
-the Holy Roman Emperor Justinian and his wife is placed at the center with attendants on either side.
-this was placed in the apse at the front of the worshippers
-made up of many tiny tiles

Hagia Sophia-Constantinople, 537 AD,
-large dome supported by buttresses
-pendentives used in corners, transitions between square and round
-mosaics
-minarets (Islamic prayer towers) were added later.

GOLDEN AGE OF BYZANTINE ART
Byzantine refers to eastern Mediterranean art from A.D. 330, when Constantine transferred the seat of the Roman Empire to Byzantium (later called Constantinople) until the city's fall to the Turks in 1453. In the interim, while Rome was overrun by barbarians and declining to a heap of rubble, Byzantium became the center of a brilliant civilization combining early Christian art with the Greek Oriental taste for rich decoration and color. In fact, the complex formality of Byzantine art and architecture doubtless shaped the modern sense of the word "Byzantine."

Western	Eastern
4th c increasing barbarian pressures on the Italian peninsula Milan served as Roman capital for most of 4th c for strategic reasons In 404 Honorius moved the capital to Ravenna
5 - 6th c Religious controversy Invasions	6th c height of Byz power/wealth (Justinian) Flourished Constantinople: Massive walls Defended by imperial army & navy Controlled land and sea routes between Europe and Asia & made many people wealthy Artistic center: patronage of imperial family & wealthy
	General Belisaurius recovered N Africa, most of Italy, part of Spain
WEST Pope = head of western church	EAST = CAESAROPAPISM emperor = head of church and state

Byzantine style reflects:
Syria
Palestine
Egypt
Persia
Greece
Soon after Justinian,
the political and religious cleavage
between east and west
became artistic as well
Justinian
to central government
to impose a uniform legal system

thorough compilation of Roman law
- known as Justinian code
- written in Latin
- later served as foundation for legal system of Europe

Ravenna became administrative center of Byzantine Italy

Orthodox Baptistery-
est. c 425

by Honorius,
404-
Honorius moved capital to Ravenna

octagonal domed structure.

Central mosaic = Baptism of Christ

In the river with the baptized Christ
is a small classical river god ,
labeled Jordan.

Surrounding the scene = 12 Apostles
in another ring are altars with the four Gospels and Thrones.

Decorative stucco reliefs appear in ornamental niches and elsewhere on the walls of the baptistery
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Early Christian

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