100AD – 600AD

ART IN QUEST OF SALVATION

Fall of the Roman

Empire (300-500AD),

Europe was under guidance of the

Christian Church.

Art was used to teach

the faithful about the

Christian faith.

CH. 13

EARLY CHRISTIAN, BYZANTINE ART

100 AD-600 AD est.

The Roman Empire began to

Decline, 300-500.

Christian Church gains power

in the west.

In the East, the Roman Empire

became the Byzantine Empire.

CH. 13

EARLY CHRISTIAN and BYZANTINE EMPIRE

CH. 13

EARLY CHRISTIAN and BYZANTINE ART

Church’s influence touched

every aspect of persons life –

even art. Why?

VOCAB

Catacombs

Campanile

Mosaic

piers

CH. 13

EARLY CHRISTIAN ART

313AD Christianity became legal within the Roman Empire.

CATACOMBS Early Christian paintings

made on stone walls of

narrow underground

passageways.

Catacombs tell a great

deal about early Christian

outlook on life .

CH. 13

EARLY CHRISTIAN ART

EARLY CHRISTIAN ART Paintings of people - little interest in the beauty, grace,

strength of the human body.

Which was very

Important to the

Greeks/Romans.

Illustrated the

power and glory

of Christ.

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EARLY CHRISTIAN ART BASILICAS

Christians were granted freedom

practice faith openly in 313AD.

Borrowed the Roman builders

plan’s for basilicas - Became

first churches.

Nave had pews added and

Apse had alter added for

Worship.

CAMPANILE

Bell tower was added.

CH. 13

EARLY CHRISTIAN ART

MOSAIC

A wall decoration made with small

pieces of glass and stone set in cement.

Basilica-plain on the exterior, elaborate

on interior.

CH. 13

EARLY CHRISTIAN ART

MOSAICS

UP CLOSE

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EARLY CHRISTIAN ART

GROWTH OF BYZANTINE CULTURE

Eastern capital established –

Constantinople in 330AD - Modern Turkey.

Roman Empire was split into the

Western and Eastern sections.

In the West – Roman Empire fell

to the Barbarians.

Popes became the rulers of the West.

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EARLY CHRISTIAN ART

CH. 13

EARLY CHRISTIAN ART

GROWTH OF BYZANTINE CULTURE

Eastern Empire known as

the Byzantine Empire,

thrived for 1000 years.

Constantinople passes

Rome in size, wealth.

UNIT 5 – CH. 13

EARLY CHRISTIAN ART

BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE AND MOSAICS

HAGIA SOFIA – Istanbul, Turkey, 532-37 AD

Built by Emperor Justinian with the central plan.

Blends skills of Greeks and Romans.

Dome rests on PIERS –

massive vertical

pillars with thin walls.

UNIT 5 – CH. 13

EARLY CHRISTIAN ART

HAGIA SOFIA

PIERS EMPEROR JUSTINIAN

MOSAIC OF

EMPEROR JUSTINIAN

Emperor of Byzantine empire.

Built Hagia Sofia in

Constantinople in 535.

Wanted to reunite the west and

east empires of the empire.

Survived first outbreak of

The Plague.

PLAGUE OF

EMPEROR JUSTINIAN

The Plague of Justinian (541–542)

was a pandemic that afflicted

the Eastern Roman (Byzantine)

Empire, especially its

capital Constantinople, and port cities

around the entire Mediterranean Sea.

One of the deadliest plagues in history!

This devastating pandemic resulted in

the deaths of an estimated 25 million

(at the time of the initial outbreak that

was at least 13% of the world's

population) to 50 million people in two

centuries of recurrence.

CH. 13

EARLY CHRISTIAN ART

THE MOSAICS OF HAGIA SOFIA

Dream-like setting, dimming light, walls of gold, silver,

ivory, and gems.

Brightly colored mosaics - trademark of the Byzantine

churches, tell stories from the Bible.

CH. 13

EARLY CHRISTIAN ART

JUSTINIAN AND ATTENDANTS

Archbishop

beside

Justinian.

Leg in front-

Leader of all

People, even

Emperor.

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EARLY CHRISTIAN ART

JUSTINIAN AND ATTENDANTS Emphasis

Elegant attire

Crown, halo

to set him apart.

Harmony

Tall, slender

figures, oval

faces, stare.

Space

Floating, gold,

weightlessness-

feet hang down.

EARLY CHRISTIAN and BYZANTINE ART: Checking for Understanding

1. For what two purposes were the Catacombs created?

2. Why were mosaics, rather than paintings used to decorate the

walls of churches? How do mosaics differ from Roman mosaics?

3. How was the Roman Basilica changed by the Early Christians?

Give three additions the upgrade.

4. The Roman Empire split into two sections, what was the capital of

the western and eastern empires?

5. Which emperor of the eastern empire built the Hagia Sofia

basilica and created a mosaic of him within?

6. What lasting affects did the Plaque of Justinian have on society

in the Empire over time?