Jewish, Christian, Byzantine Art
Art History I *©Prof. Gina Miceli-Hoffman Dura Europas – Roman Town in Syria (ca. 200 a.d.)
Greek “Europas” & Roman “Duras” Dura Europas – Town Model
Model of Town of Dura-Europas,Syria Dura Europas – Jewish Synagogue
West Wall, Tempera Narrative Paintings, Judaic Biblical Stories, Torah Niche (Pentateuch – first five books of Hebrew Scriptures) Dura Europas: Synagogue Tempera Paintings
West Wall Torah Niche & Tempera Paintings Narrative Scenes – Judaic Religious Stories West Wall Torah Niche & Frescoes (O.T. & N.T) Dura Europas: Synagogue Tempera Paintings
Ark of the Covenant 2 clay tablet: inscribed with 10 Commandments Menorah Niche for Torah Scrolls (Hebrew Bible)
West Wall Torah (Bible) Niche Dura Europas: Synagogue Tempera Paintings
Destruction of the temple & “idols” Dura Europas: Synagogue Tempera Paintings
Story of Moses Dura Europas: Synagogue Tempera Paintings
Samuel Anoints David Dura Europas: Synagogue Tempera Paintings
Baptismal font
Story of Moses & Pre-figuration of Madonna & Child Story Story of Moses or pre-figuration of Madonna & Child Story Continuous Narrative – Moses 2x in same scene Dura Europas: Synagogue Tempera Paintings
Moses & the Burning Bush Tree of Life w/King David Dura Europas – Christian Community House Dura Europas: Christian Fresco Paintings
Good Shepherd Scene
Baptismal font
Baptistry – Christian Church/House “Baptistry Frescoes” Dura Europas Christian Fresco Paintings
Peter & Crossing of the Red Sea
Temple or Christian Home West Wall Torah (Bible) Niche Church Dura EuropasDura Christian Europas Fresco Paintings Cured Paralytic? Peter walks on water?
Baptismal font
Baptistry – Christian Church/House “Baptistry Frescoes” Dura EuropasDura Christian Europas Fresco Paintings
Good Shepherd Scene
Catacomb fresco painting: Jesus as the Good Shepherd, Domatilla Catacomb, Rome, mid 2nd century Baptismal font
Baptistry – Christian Church/House “Baptistry Frescoes” Christian Catacomb Art
Baptismal font
Catacomb fresco painting: Jesus as the Good Shepherd, Domatilla Catacomb, Rome, mid 2nd century Catacombs
• Subterranean “necropolis” • Secular & Religious Burials • Crypts: Family burial “rooms” • Loculi: niches • Art reveals religious affiliation • Christian, Jewish, Pagan • Sarcophagi, urns, skulls, fresco paintings… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIpHjHDmLKU
Catacombs
Syncretic Imagery: Combination of Greco-Roman & Christian
Last Supper Scene? Domitilla Crypt, ca. 4th century a.d.?
http://www.capitolium.org/photo/piantina.jpg
Jonah & the Whale = Resurrection Catacombs Jesus as Good Shepherd or a Roman God
Orant Figure Orant Figure
Christian or Roman Portraits Deceased? Christian or Roman Portraits Sacrificial Animals Deceased?
The Good Shepherd, the story of Jonah, and orants, painted ceiling of a cubiculum in the Catacomb of Saints Peter and Marcellinus, Rome, Italy, early fourth century http://www.catacombe.roma.it/
Christ as “The Good Shepherd”
Syncretic Imagery
Christ as the Good Shepherd, Mosaic, Christ as the Good The Good Shepherd, marble, Asia Minor, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia Shepherd?, marble, ca. 300 c. 280-290 ad, ht 50.2cm, The Cleveland Ravenna, Italy ad, 99cm, Vatican Museum of Art Museums, Rome Christ as “The Good Shepherd”
• Freestanding Carved Marble Sculpture: Idealized Body • Naturalism & Representational Art • Christian Metaphor – Jesus leads flock of Christians – Psalm 23:1 “…the lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack…” • Syncretism: Assimilate traditions & give them new meaning – Greek & Roman Icon (Shepherd Boy or “deity”) – Boy with Calf, Ram, Sheep =Hermes the Shepherd – Orpheus = god among animals – Jesus: Shepherd leading his “flock” of sheep • Greeks & Romans sacrificed animals to their gods • Jesus was sacrificed (crucified) • Analogy between Pagan & Christian traditions Predecessors of “Christ as the Good Shepherd”
Hermes Kriophoros, bromze,500- Late Roman marble copy of the Ram Bearer 490 bc,, MFA Boston, MA (Hermes? Orpheus?) Museo Barracco, Roma
Kriophoros (Greek for Ram Bearer) Sacrificial Animal, stone, Acropolis Museum, Athens, Greece Ram Bearer/Kriophoros, date Orpheus summoning animals with lyre, unknown, MET, New York Roman Mosaic, date unknown, Archaeological Museum, Palermo, Italy Syncretic Imagery
Orpheus summoning animals with lyre, Christ as the Good Shepherd, Mosaic, Roman Mosaic, date unknown, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia Archaeological Museum, Palermo, Italy Ravenna, Italy Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus (ca. 359 a.d.)
Inscription: “Junius Bassus, a man of Senatorial rank, who lived 42 years and 2 months, went to God newly baptized, while he was Prefect of the City, on the 8th day from the kalends of September, when Eusebius and Hypatius were
consuls (25 August 359)”1
1. Elsner, J., ‘The role of early Christian art’ in Edwards, C., and Woolf, G., (eds.) Rome the Cosmopolis (Cambridge, 2003), p. 83.
Junius Bassus (317-359 a.d.) Carved marble with relief narratives (biblical scenes) Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus
Abraham & Isaac Jesus & Romans Jesus & Pontus Pilate
Expulsion of Adam & Eve EGYPTIAN FUNERARY PORTRAITS (“Fayum Mummy Portraits)
ENCAUSTIC (wax & pigment) on Wood Support (Sarcophagus lid) Representational/Realistic Portraiture EGYPTIAN FUNERARY PORTRAITS (“Fayum Mummy Portraits)
ENCAUSTIC (pigment & wax) EGYPTIAN FUNERARY PORTRAITS (“Fayum Mummy Portraits)
Syncretic Imagery & Egypt. Mummy Case of Paankhenamun, Third Intermediate Period (945-715 B.C.). Cartonnage, TraditionsSarcophagus, a.d. 100-200, mixed gold leaf, pigment. AIC media, British Museum, London
Central Plan vs Basilica Plan Identify this type of structure & Architectural Components Apse Christian Basilica A Transept A I N Cruciform Shape I S A S CLERESTORY L V L E E E S Narthex S
Atrium
Old St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, Italy, 333-390 .a.d. Church & Marytyrium (St Peter) Congregational Worship Longitudinal Latin Cross = Crucifixion Christian Basilica – Santa Sabina
Nave & Apse Christian Central Plan Mausoleum of Santa Costanza
Rome, Italy ca. 337-351 a.d.. Ravenna – San Vitale Central Plan Building
Aerial view of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy, 526–547. San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy, 526-547 Ravenna – Byzantine Art
San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy, 526-547
Central Plan Church Altar Mosaics
Emperor Justinian & attendants, mosaic, north wall Empress Theodora & attendants, mosaic, south wall wall San Vitale - Interior Emperor Justinian & Retinue Mosaic Emperor Justinian & Retinue Mosaic Empress Theodora & Retinue Mosaic Map of Empire – 1000 A.D. New Capital – Byzantium (Constantinople) Istanbul, Turkey Hagia Sophia “holy wisdom”
Pendentive Hagia Sophia “Holy Wisdom” (Virgin Mary Cult Begins) Architectural Construction Hagia Sophia “Holy Wisdom” (Virgin Mary Cult Begins)
Squinch System Pendentive System
Pendentive Byzantine Mosaic “Icon”
Virgin Mary “Theotokos” [she who bore god] Byzantine Icons Influence Proto-Renaissance Artists
Theotokos & Child & SS Theodore & Giotto, Madonna Enthroned, church of th th Cimabue, Madonna Enthroned, Santa Trinita, George, icon, 6 or 7 c. a.d., encaustic on Florence, Italy, ca. 1280-1290. tempera & gold Ognissanti, Florence, Italy, ca. 1310. wood, 2’3”x1’7 3/8”, Monastery of St. leaf on wood, 12’7”x7’4”, Galleria degli Uffizi, Tempera and gold leaf on wood, Catherine, Mount Sinai, Egypt Florence 10’8”x6’8”, Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, Italy Byzantine Christ as Pontokrator “Judge””
Veneration of Ikon
Icon, Encaustic on Wood, 7th century a.d. Byzantine Christ as Pontokrator “Judge”
Christ as Pontokrator, Katholikon, Hosios Loukas, Greece, 11th century a.d. Byzantine Christ as Pontokrator “Judge””
Christ as Pontokrator, dome mosaic, Church of the Dormition, Daphni, Greece, ca. 1090-1100 Coin Portraiture: Emperor Justinian II & Jesus Christ
Veneration of Ikon
Gold Coins, Louvre, France Identify the “icons” Byzantine Influence on Proto-Ren. & Ren. Art
Virgin (Theotokos) & Child, Icon, ca. 12th century a.d., tempera on wood, 2’ x1/2”x1’9”. Tretyakov Gallery,Moscow
Cimabue, Madonna Enthroned w/ Angels & Prophets, Santa Trinita, florence, Italy, ca. 1280-1290, Tempera & gold leaf on wood, Raphael, Madonna & Child, 1505, o.w., 3’ 8 ½” x 2’ 10”, Louvre 12’7”x7’4”. Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence Byzantine Illuminated Manuscripts
Iconoclasts: against Icons & Icon Worship
Codex Page: Crucifixion & Iconoclasts, Chludov Psalter, Mid 9th Detail of “miniature”: Iconoclasts century, Tempera on Vellum, 7 ¾”x 6”, State Historical destroying “icon” of Jesus Museum, Moscow. Byzantine Illuminated Manuscripts
Codex: Hand written & painted “book”
Miniature: Illustration on page
Purple Hue: Reserved for Ruling Class
Continuous Narrative: One narrative space, separate events of
Rebecca Fetches same story Water -Rebecca 2x in scene 1. Goes to Fetch Water 2. Offers water to Elizier
Iconography: Rebecca offers water to Elizier,
Rebecca offers camel driver water Abraham’s servant & She becomes wife of Abraham’s son, Isaac
Codex Page: Rebecca at the Well, Book of Genesis, Vienna Genesis, Syria or Palestine, early 7th century, tempera, gold, silver, purple died vellum, 33.7x25cm, Osterreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna Byzantine Illuminated Manuscript Influences
Book of Kells, Late 8th or early 9th century a.d., inks, pigments, vellum, 32.5 x 24 cm, Trinity College, Dublin
Romanesque “Codex”, Monk John,of Worcester Codex, Worchester Chronicle, Worcester, England, c. 1140, ink & tempera on vellum, 32.5 x 23.7cm) Oxford, Corpus Christi College Enthroned Jesus (or Emperor) & Archangel Michael
Diptych: 2 hinged panels
Carved Ivory (Relief)
Political & Religious Propaganda
Theory: Possibly for home or church altar
Early Mass Cards – names of deceased incised in wax on reverse side & Displayed in church for commemorative services
Greek Inscriptions: “Receive these gifts having learned the cause…”
Carved Ivory diptych, Early 6th century, Byzantine Style, 43.3x 14 cm, British Museum, London Current Mass Card Influence from Ancient Greece & Rome
Wax lined “books” or “diptychs” Christ & Virgin Mary Enthroned Diptych (2 hinged panels)
Carved Ivory Relief Sculptures, Middle of 6 th century, Skulpturensammlung und Museum für Byzantinische Kunst der Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin Harbaville Triptych – Carved Ivory Panels
Front: Back: Christ Enthroned, Mary, St. John Crucifix, IC/HX/Nika Baptist (Deesis) Military, Church (“Jesus Christ is Victorious”) Leaders, Saints… vegetation, Saints… Mid 10th century a.d., ivory, originally from Constantinople, now in the Louvre Museum, France Christian & Byzantine Art Influences Development of Altarpiece Panel Paintings
Proto-Renaissance Siennese Painting: Duccio, Maesta Altarpiece, Sienna Cathedral, 1308-11, tempera & gold on wood, 7’x13’ *Bibliography Beckwith, John. Early Christian and Byzantine Art. London: Penguin Books, 1990. Achtemeier, Paul J. Gen. Ed. Harper’s Bible Dictionary. San Francisco, CA: Harper Collins, 1985. Adams, Laurie S. Art Across Time – Vol. 1: Prehistory to the Fourteenth Century. 4th ed. New York: John Jay College, 2011. Grabar, Andre. Christian Iconography: A Study of Its Origins. Washington, D.C.: The National Gallery of Art., 1968. -----. The Golden Age of Justinian: From the Death of Theodosius to the Rise of Islam. New York: Odyssey, 1967. Hall, James. Illustrated Dictionary of Symbols in Eastern and Western Art. New York: Harper Collins, 1994. Henig, Martin, ed. A Handbook of Roman Art. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell U.P., 1983. Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner’s Art Through the Ages: A Global History. 13 ed. Vol. 1. Boston, MA: Thomson Wadworth, 2009. Ling, Roger. Roman Painting. New York: Cambridge U.P., 1991. New Testament Psalms and Proverbs. Nashville, Tennesee: The Gideons International, 2010. Richardson, Lawrence, Jr. A New Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1992. Stockstad, Marilyn and Michael W. Cothren. Art: A Brief History. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. 2010. Vasiliev, A.A. History of the Byzantine Empire, 324-1453, Vol. 1. Madison, WI: U. of Wisconsin P., 1984. Von Simson, Otto g. Sacred Fortress: Byzantine Art and Statecraft in Ravenna. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton U.P., 1987. Weitzmann, Kurt. Late Antique and Early Christian Book Illumination. New York: George Brazillier, Inc., 1977, 1904. West, Shearer. The Bulfinch Guide to Art History. United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 1996. Wheeler, Mortimer. Roman Art & Architecture. London: Thames & Hudson, 1964.
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