4. Age of Faith
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The Age of Faith Part 1 The Age of Faith • This is the era of Christianity. The Church dominates all aspects of life, so it is sometimes referred to as The Age of Faith. It covered a span of approx. 1,450 years. • This span of years, ranging from the 3rd to the 17th century, is divided into distinct time periods, each with its own unique artistic developments. • Late Antiquity – overlaps with the Late Roman era. It is part of Roman history but through a Christian lens (vs. earlier lessons focused on the pagan gods and temples). Christianity will be established, be illegal, then be legalized and made an official religion by Constantine. • Byzantine – overlaps with Late Roman era but specifically the eastern half of the Roman Empire which will be based out of Constantinople. Constantine makes the city the new capital and Christian art continues to develop in a style that is unlike any other. • Medieval – art takes a step back here for the first time in our class, technique and skill are lost. Art is created and used the teaching tools of the church. Europe is fragments, ruled by various kingdoms, duchies and states. Unity comes along with the creation of the Holy Roman Empire (modern day Germany). • Renaissance – this is the era of artistic genius. Artists look back to antiquity, to the arts of Greece and Rome, for technique and style. Subject matter is still Christian. • Baroque – this the peak of Christian art. It continues to build on Renaissance techniques but the art is more dramatic, more theatrical. Subject matter is still Christian ** NOTE: we have crossed the timeline and are now progressing through AD – the years after Christ’s birth.** Late Antiquity – Era of Persecution • In the Late Roman era, Christians had to worship in secret so they worshipped in private homes and catacombs. • Discreet symbols were used early in Christian history as Christians were persecuted in the Roman Empire. – Oran(t)s - figures with outstretched arms in an attitude of prayer that stand in-between the lunettes. • From the Latin word meaning “to pray” Christian Community Houses Christianity, considered a new cult, attracted all classes, promising equality in the judgments of an afterlife. Christians had to worship in secret so they worshipped in private homes and catacombs. Restored cutaway view of the Christian community house, Dura-Europos, Syria, ca. 240–256. Christ walking on water These are considered the earliest images of Christ. Baptismal chamber, Christian Healing of the Paralytic Community House, Dura-Europos, ca. 235 Jonah thrown from his ship Catacombs Catacombs - underground burial place. Had chambers called cubicula that served as chapels. Christ as Good Shepherd orants Jonah w/sea monster 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 4th century. Greek and Roman images are adopted into Christian iconography Sarcophagus with philosopher, orants, and Old and New Testament scenes, ca. 270. Santa Maria Antiqua, Rome Sarcophagus with philosopher, orants, and Old and New Testament scenes, ca. 270. Santa Maria Antiqua, Rome Orants: Seated Philosopher: Jonah thrown Greco-Roman origin. Jesus as the into the sea: Praying Eventually develops Good Shepherd: Classical influence individual into the iconography used usually depicted for the Apostles as a Good Shepherd or Teacher These are all non-Christian images that have been adopted and reworked into Christian iconography. Late Antiquity - Era of Recognition • Constantine adopted Christianity as a faith of the Roman Empire in 325 @ Council of Nicaea – Christians started building places of worship. They were often on top of or in close proximity of already existent buildings (i.e. catacombs) • One of the first and most important church of the Early Christian Period was Old St. Peter’s Cathedral. • Christ’s imagery changes and becomes more authoritarian. He gains the halo, purple robe, throne, and a beard to indicate adulthood – Crucifixion starts ca. 5th c Late Antiquity - Era of Recognition • Constantine finances the construction of churches throughout the Roman Empire. – The most important church within Christianity is St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome – Held 3,000 people Construction began ca. 326-333 Scenes from the Passion of Christ, Catacomb of Domitilla, mid-4th c Since Christianity is now a legal religion, the imagery is no longer discreet and Christian symbols are prominently displayed. The most obvious Christian symbol is the cross. Mausoleum of Galla Placidia Notice the cross shape. Churches will also use the same shape. Symbolism is very important in ca. 425-450 Christian art and the cross is one of the most important and widely recognized symbols. Christ as Good Shepherd Interior decorations, in the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia The 4 Evangelists become popular in this era. Rather than show them as men, they are shown in symbolic form. Matthew – angel (human) Mark - lion Luke - ox John - eagle Starry Dome with Symbols of the evangelists Roman continuity… While most of the Roman population converted to Christianity, not everyone did so immediately. That is proven by these panels which show an aristocratic Roman woman offering a gift at a sacrificial altar – this proves the continued Woman sacrificing at an altar, right leaf practice of of the diptych of the Nicomachi and the Roman Symmachi, ca. 400 religions alongside Christianity. In context…. • In Late Antiquity, we have a lot of different cultural pools overlapping. • Rome was a highly diverse multicultural society: social, ethnic, racial, linguistic and religious differences • Our previous chapters have focused on the pagan worlds of antiquity. But during the Late Roman Empire (or Late Antiquity) a rapidly growing number of people rejected the emperors’ polytheism (belief in multiple gods) in favor of the worship of a single all-powerful god (Christ). • The emphasis will now be placed on Christian art as we progress into the Byzantine & Medieval world. Historical Timeline 250 AD 600 1500 AD Late Antiquity/ Early Christian 3rd -7th c AD Byzantine Empire (East) 330 – 1453 AD Medieval Europe (West) 400-1400 AD Byzantine Art • Term comes from the town of Byzantium where Constantine made his capital, Constantinople. – 4th c – 1453 – Constantinople (modern day Istanbul) is established in 330. It was created as a Christian city – one of the first in the ancient world. • Byzantine art is the art of the Eastern Roman Christian Empire. • Byzantine emperors saw themselves as the heirs of the Roman Empire and referred to themselves as Romans. Byzantine is a word we (in the West) have given them to characterize their art. Map of the Byzantine Empire Icons from Sinai Icons are sacred images representing the saints, Christ, and the Virgin, as well as narrative scenes such as Christ’s Crucifixion. They are used in masses and on feast days to celebrate these individuals. Theotokos and Child between Saints Theodore Christ Pantocrator, icon, 6th century and George, icon, 6th or early 7th century Transfiguration, Monastery of St. Catherine, Mt. Sinai, 6th c, mosaic Mosaic (tiny pieces of color stone and glass) was a medium that the Byzantines mastered and was used to decorate the inside of churches and monasteries. Barberini Ivory, 6th c. Constantinople. This ivory shows Justinian, a Byzantine emperor, as the triumphant victor. It is also a historical document because it has the name of Frankish kings inscribed on the back. It is a combination of Classical & Christian figures. Justinian on horseback is clearly modeled after Marcus Aurelius (Roman) while the image of Christ blessing (top register) is Christian. These manuscript pages, from the Rabbula Gospels, display the abstract and symbolic nature of Byzantine Art. Crucifixion (top) Ascension Resurrection (bottom) Church of San Vitale, Ravenna (Italy) • This church still stands virtually the same today since its completion under Justinian’s reign. • It is one of the most elaborate buildings decorated in the early Christian Byzantine style in the West. – Mostly mosaics. – Mostly Old Testament figures & stories. – Two panels depicting Justinian and Theodora (his wife) carry political and religious messages. San Vitale, Ravenna, 6th c. Interior, looking out from the apse, San Vitale, Ravenna Choir and apse of San Vitale with mosaic of Christ between two angels, Saint Vitalis, and Bishop Ecclesius, Ravenna, Italy, 526–547. Justinian (Byzantine Emperor) standing next to court officials, Bishop Maximian and Palatine guards. The clergy is on the left, soldiers on the right, the symbol on their shield are the initials of Christ in Greek. Justinian is centered to emphasize he is the leader of Church and State. He also appears Christ-like with the halo. Mosaic, 548. Empress Theodora (Justinian’s wife) with a train of court ladies. She is shown with jewels, crown and a golden halo; she appears goddess-like (just like portraits of Roman women). It shows the women going into the church. Mosaic, 548. She is considered the most influential and powerful woman in Byzantine History. Hagia Sophia, Constantinople (modern day Istabul, Turkey) • Hagia Sophia = Church of Holy Wisdom. • Rebuilt by Emperor Justinian ca. 532-537 • Designed by architects Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus. • The church is built as a Christian church, it later becomes an Eastern Orthodox church in the 11th century and in the 15th c it is converted into an Islamic mosque. Plan of Hagia Sophia and a cutaway view Interior view, Hagia Sophia Virgin Enthroned, Mosaic, Hagia Sophia It is in Byzantine Art that images of the Virgin Mary become popular and begin to be included in Christian churches and iconography. Later Byzantine Art • Byzantine art continued to flourish until c. 13th century. – 4th Crusade (1204) sacked Constantinople, 800 years of continuous Byzantine culture was interrupted. – Cultural exchange between Byzantines and Italians effected the appearance of art.