Unit 5, Chapter 13 Art in Quest for Salvation

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Unit 5, Chapter 13Art in Quest for Salvation

• Early Christian, Byzantine and
• Islamic Art

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Early Christian Art (background)

• After decline of Roman Empire, a new power was
  born- the Christian Church
• 313 AD- Christian religion legalized by
  Constantine
• Paintings were hidden in catacombs- underground
  passageways. Places to hold services and bury the
  dead
• Paintings showed no interest in human body but
  illustrated power and glory of Christ

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Early Christian Art Symbolism

• Artists used symbols as code
• Ex. Dog- faithfulness because of watchfulness and
  loyalty
• Ivy- always green because of eternal life

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Basilicas and Mosaics

• Campanile- bell tower added to palin church
• Mosaics used on walls where light from windows
  caused them to flicker and glow mysteriously
• Called Houses of Mystery

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Basilica

• Old Saint Peters in Rome

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Mosaic

• Early Christian Mosaic

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Byzantine Culture

• Roman Empire split in 2- East and wEst
• each with its own emperor
• West- fell to Barbarians
• East- began Byzantine Empire (1,000 years).
  Became Constantinople (Istanbul)
• Roman, Greek and Eastern influences blended to
  produce rich and brilliant art
• Art glorified Christian religion and served the
  needs of the church

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Hagia Sophia

• The primary church in Constantinople, Hagia
  Sophia (Holy Wisdom), is inaugurated after being
  rebuilt by Emperor Justinian I (527-565). After
  the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans in
  1453 Hagia Sophia became a mosque and is now a
  museum. The church of Hagia Sophia was the most
  important church of the Christian East. It was
  also structurally the first of its design, with
  the biggest dome ever constructed for a church,
  which created a light, well illuminated interior.

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Hagia Sophia Interior
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Hagia Sophia

• Byzantine Church built in the 6th C AD by Emperor
  Justinian
• Perfectly balanced use of Greek and Roman art
• Dome larger than Pantheon- rests of 4 piers
  (massive vertical pillars)
• Allows for thin walls and windows
• The mosaics inside became the trademark for
  churches telling Biblical stories using symbols

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Islamic Art 7th C AD

• Islam religion (followers of Gods will) in
  Middle East
• Prophet-Muhammad B. 570 AD in Mecca
• Was an Arab merchant who received personal
  revelations
• Spent years in meditation and a divine calling to
  be a prophet and teacher
• Taught belief in 1 god- (Allah-Arabic for god)
  and for people to live just and responsible lives
• 613 AD- taught openly and followers were called
  Muslims
• His messages were collected in a book called the
  Koran, which offers rules to guide the daily
  lives of Muslims
• Mosque- Muslim place of worship

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Early Koran- 9th C AD
Muhammad receiving his revelation
Islamic carving
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Mosques
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Medieval Art500-1500 AD Middle Ages

• 3 periods
• Early Medieval
• Romanesque
• Gothic

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Early Medieval

• Fall of Rome
• Charles the great (Charlemagne) King of the
  Franks crowned emperor by the pope on Christmas
  Day in 800 AD and became the 1st Holy Roman
  Emperor
• Charlemagne created a great empire and encourages
  learning and the arts
• Preserved ancient manuscripts
• His death in 814 AD created feudalism- system in
  which weak noblemen gave up their lands and much
  freedom to more powerful lords in return for
  protection
• Most people were serfs- poor peasants with no
  land

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Early Medieval

• Churches and Monasteries
• Most built of wood and warfare destroyed them
• Monks- illuminated manuscripts
• Manuscripts og the Gospels were illustrated with
  small paintings of the Evangelists- Matthew,
  Mark, Luke and John
• Symbols- Matthew- angel, Mark-lion, Luke- bull
  and John- eagle

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Romanesque Period

• Period of feudal system- lords, kings
• Castles- symbols of authority
• Tapestries- textile wall hangings that were woven
  or embroidered with colorful scenes and hung to
  keep the dampness out
• Cities grew and towns had a central church

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Romanesque Period

• Church revival
• Relief carvings
• Tympanium (half round panel that fills the space
  between the lintel and arch over the doorway of
  the church)
• People naturally lift their eyes before entering
  a church (perfect location)
• Normally shows a large central figure with small
  figures (known as Bibles in Stone)
• Space between the columns- elongated figures

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Church Wall Paintings

• Presented as easy to understand religious symbols
• Flat quality