Chapter Four Early Christianity and Byzantium Prepared by Kelly Donahue-Wallace Randal Wallace University of North Texas Gardner's Art through the Ages, Concise Edition by Fred Kleiner
Feb 24, 2016
Chapter FourEarly Christianity and Byzantium
Prepared by Kelly Donahue-Wallace
Randal WallaceUniversity of North Texas
Gardner's Art through the Ages, Concise Edition by Fred Kleiner
Early ChristianDates and Places: • 3rd and 4th centuries CE• Rome
People:• Monotheistic • Co-exist with polytheistic
Roman religion• Christianity legalized by
Constantine in 313CE
Interior, Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, dedicated 504. Fig. 4-5.
Early ChristianThemes:• Christ as good shepherd,
emperor• Old Testament
prefigurations• Appropriated Roman
symbols for new useForms:• Stylized forms, non-
illusionistic • Conceptual, not optical
Miracle of the loaves and fishes mosaic, Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, ca. 504. Fig. 4-9.
Early Christian
Painting, Catacomb of Saints Peter and Marcellinus, early fourth century. Fig. 4-2.
Early ChristianExample: • Christ as Good Shepherd • Old Testament
prefiguration, Jonah• Orants • In catacomb of Christian
burials • Adapt Roman
iconography Painting, Catacomb of Saints Peter and Marcellinus, early fourth century. Fig. 4-2.
Early Christian
Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, ca. 359. Fig. 4-3.
Early ChristianExample: • Conventionalized,
stylized forms like Arch of Constantine
• Christian disinterest in the body
• Christ as emperor• Old Testament
prefiguration• New Testament
redemption
Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, ca. 359. Fig. 4-3.
Early Christian
Plan and cutaway, Old Saint Peter’s, begun ca. 319. Fig. 4.4.
Early ChristianExample: • Adapt Roman basilica
for growing congregations
• Nave, aisles, apse, atrium, narthex
• On site of Peter’s burial• Principle church of
Christianity, pope as Peter’s successor Plan and cutaway, Old Saint Peter’s, begun
ca. 319. Fig. 4.4.
Early Christian
Plan, Santa Costanza, ca. 337-351. Fig. 4-7.
Early ChristianExample: • Central-plan adopted
from Roman art • Used for mausoleums,
baptisteries, chapels• Ambulatory surrounds
central domed cylinder• Mosaics inside Plan, Santa Costanza, ca. 337-351. Fig. 4-7.
Early Christian
Christ as the Good Shepherd mosaic, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, ca. 425. Fig. 4-8.
Early ChristianExample: • Mosaic, tesserae• Plain exterior, colorful
interior• Art advertises faith• Christ as Good
Shepherd and emperor• Imperial iconography• Illusionism
Christ as the Good Shepherd mosaic, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, ca. 425. Fig. 4-
8.