late antiquity
Post on 22-Mar-2016
44 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
LATE ANTIQUITYGARDINER CHAPTER 11-2PP. 295-301
ARCHITECTURE AND MOSAICS
Regular church services took place in private community houses like that at Dura-Europos
Once Constantine granted Christianity imperial sponsorship there was a need to construct churches
New churches had to1. Meet the requirements of Christian liturgy
(the official ritual of public worship)2. Provide a proper monumental setting for
the celebration of Christian faith3. Accommodate rapidly growing numbers
of worshipers
Constantine was the first major patron of Christian architecture
Constantine constructs elaborate basilicas, memorials, and mausoleums in Rome, in Constantinople ( his “New Rome”), and in Bethlehem and Jerusalem
ROME – OLD SAINT PETER’S
Restored cutaway view of Old Saint Peter’s in Rome, begun 319
The greatest of Constantine’s churches
Built on the western side of the Tiber on the spot where it was believed the Peter was buried
Could house 3000-4000 worshipers Locate on a terrace on the slope of
the Vatican Hill -> it enshrined the 2nd holiest site in Christendom, the 1st being the the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem -> site of Christ’s ressurection
The plan resembled a Roman basilica not a pagan temple -> Christians did not want their churches to look like pagan shrines
Unlike pagan rituals that took place outside the temple, Christians congregated inside the church
Wide central nave flanking aisles NARTHEX = entryway to the basilica Unobstructed view across the nave to the
altar in the apse at the other end TRANSEPT = transverse aisle, area
perpendicular to the nave and between the nave and the apse
Also contained an open colonnaded courtyard in front of the narthex -> ATRIUM
Exterior not decorated
Interior – frescoes, mosaics, marble columns, and costly ornaments
BALDACHINNO (domical canopy over an altar) – marble structure marked the spot of Saint Peter’s tomb
SANTA SABINA Interior of Santa Sabina, Rome, 422-432
Built a century after Old Saint Peter’s -> more modest proportions -> Early Christian in character
Corinthian nave arcade
Chancel arch
Apse
Nave is drenched in light coming from clerestory windows
Exterior had plain brick walls resembling those of the Aula Palatine in Trier
SANTA COSTANZA Interior of Santa Costanza, Rome,
337-351 Most Christian churches were of the
rectangular basilica design Early Christian architects also copied
another classical architectural type -> the CENTRAL-PLAN building = the building’s part are of equal or almost equal dimensions around the center
Central-plan buildings -> mostly round or polygonal domed structures
Central-plan buildings would become the preferred form for Byzantine churches
Plan of Santa Costanza, Rome, 337-351
Possibly built as a mausoleum for Constantine’s daughter
1= narthex 2 = ambulatory -> ringlike barrel
vaulted corridor separated from the central domed cylinder by a dozen pairs of columns
Severe brick exterior Interior richly adorned with
mosaics
VAULT MOSAICS OF SANTA CONSTANZA
Detail of vault mosaic in the ambulatory of Santa Costanza, Rome, 337-351
Scenes of putti harvesting grapes and producing wine -> motifs associated with Bacchus, but for a Christian it brought to mind the wine of the Eucharist and Christ’s blood
SANTA MARIA MAGGIORE The parting of Abraham and Lot, nave of Santa
Maria Maggiore, Rome, 432-440, mosaic
Mosaics used to provide a beautiful setting in churches, and instruct the congregation about biblical stories and Christian dogma
This scene shows the Old Testament scene of Lot leading his family to the evil city of Sodom and Abraham leading his family to Canaan
Cleavage of the two groups -> figures engage in sharp dialogue of glance and gesture -> simplified motion -> but still elements of classical heritage = figures in light and dark, cast shadows, loom w/massive solidity
top related