Byzantine Info• Byzantium acted as a buffer for Islamic

influence moving west• Justinian designated Christianity as only

lawful religion. • Justinian responsible for building 30+

churches in Constantinople alone.• Emperors in east were both pope and caesar

(church and state were unified)• Ravenna was most prosperous during rule

of Justinian (now a eastern roman foothold)

Byzantine Art Characteristics

• Big Change from realism to classical

• Abstract and symbolic qualities

• Dissolution of Roman illusionism

• Still reveals sources in late antiquity but has a unique character

• Mosaics were primary interior wall decoration of churches

Christ as Pantokrator, dome mosaic, Greece

Anthemius of Tralles & Isidorus of Miletus, Hagia Sophia, Constantinople

532-537

San Vitale, Ravenna, 526-547

Choir/apse of San Vitale

Theodora and attendants, south wall, apse, San Vitale

Justinian, San Vitale

Saint Apollinaris amid sheep, Ravenna

Transfiguration of Jesus

Justinian as world conqueror

Saint Michael the Archangel

Ascencion of Christ, Rabbula Gospels, 586

Virgin and child

Virgin and child

enthroned, apse, Hagia

Sophia

Katholikon, Greece

Interior, Katholikon

Christ enthroned with Saints, 950, ivory

Andrei Rublyev