Early Christian Art

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Early Christian Art
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Zoroastrianism
Cult of Cybele
Cult of Mithras
Christianity
Cult of Isis
Roman Empire 27 BCE - 476 CE Historical Jesus 4
BCE - 28 CE
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Classical Humanism Christianity
faith / revelation
reason
Method Focus Goal/Purpose Time
Frame Institution
God
man
salvation
areté /sophrosyne
afterlife
present
church
state
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Ludovisi Sarcophagus c. 250
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Why is there no tradition of Early Hebrew Art?
The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) 1 And God spoke
all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord your
God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
out of the house of slavery. 3 You shall have
no other gods before 1 me. 1 4 You shall not
make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness
of anything that is in heaven above, or that is
in the earth beneath, or that is in the water
under the earth. 2 5 You shall not bow down to
them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a
jealous God, . . .
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Early Christians were originally another sect of
Judaism at the time of the Roman Empire and
believed in the 10 Commandments.

• Why did Early Christians make art?
• As a teaching tool to instruct illiterates about
  the faith
• Council of Nicea 325 CE Jesus was fully human
  andfully divine - OK to show Jesus human nature

Christianity was outlawed in the Roman Empire and
Christians were persecuted (until 313 CE).
Wasnt it kind of stupid to advertise that youre
a Christian by making Christian art? Yes, so they
disguised it by using 1. Classical motifs 2.
Old Testament stories (that prefigured New
Testament stories)
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orant/orans
Sarcophagus of Sta. Maria Antiqua c. 270
syncretism
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Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus c. 359
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Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus c. 359
Arrest of Peter
Jesus as Teacher Enthroned in Heaven
Sacrifice of Isaac
Jesus before Pontius Pilate
Paul Led to Martyrdom
Daniel in Lions Den
Jesus on Palm Sunday
Job
Adam Eve
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Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus c. 359 CE
Column of Trajan, 113 CE
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Good Shepherd Sarcophagus, late 4th century
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chi-ro (??)
Sarcophagus w. Scenes from the Passion of Christ
mid 4th century
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Sarcophagus of Archbishop Theodore 7th century
chi-ro(??) with alpha (?) omega (?)
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The Changing Image of Jesus
Good Shepherd
Teacher or Philosopher
Apollo or Sol Invictus
In Majesty as Emperor
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(No Transcript)
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Early Christian Architecture
Starting when? 313 CE Edict of Milan - Emperor
Constantine Legalizes Christianity
What purpose? Religious
What kinds of buildings? Churches, baptisteries,
mausoleums
Structure/Style? Well, lets take a look . . .
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Basilican Plan
ROMAN
Basilica Ulpia, c. 112
EARLY CHRISTIAN
Old St. Peters, c. 333
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Basilican Plan
ROMAN
Basilica Ulpia, c. 112
EARLY CHRISTIAN
Old St. Peters, c. 333
Constantine - patron
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Clerestory
Old St. Peters, Rome, c. 333
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Santa Sabina, Rome, 425
Basilica Nova (of Constantine), Rome, 310-320 AD
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Santa Costanza, Rome, Italy, c. 337351
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Interior of Santa Costanza
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Christ as the Good Shepherd, mosaic from the
entrance wall
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, Italy, ca.
425
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Roman Wall Painting
Early Christian Mosaic
Roman Mosaic
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Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus c. 359
Arrest of Peter
Jesus as Teacher Enthroned in Heaven
Sacrifice of Isaac
Jesus before Pontius Pilate
Paul Led to Martyrdom
Daniel in Lions Den
Jesus on Palm Sunday
Job
Adam Eve