Presentation Caveats

1
Presentation Caveats

• Unlike most of the buildings we have looked at so
  far, the exterior of this building does not open
  to reveal a highly decorated and complex
  interior the exterior is all we have.
• We also dont know for sure what this building
  was, or for whom it was built, so there is a
  great level of ambiguity surroundings its exact
  function.
• This is my first Art History course ever, so if I
  mispronounce or misidentify a technical term,
  please feel free to interrupt and correct me.
• As an Art History beginner, I included lots of
  explanations of technical terms, so majors, just
  bear with me, and fellow first-timers, we will
  both be learning something!

2
The Palace of Theodoric

• or is it?

3
The identity problem of this structure

• Theodorics Actual Palace was
• An elaborate structure, probably located directly
  behind this site
• Built during the reign of Theodoric in Ravenna,
  sometime in the late fifth century
• Sacked by the Byzantines in 539, slowly
  dismantled by various emperors, and finally
  destroyed completely in 1295

• This structure was
• Probably an annex to the palace or nearby church
• Built in the 8th century, sometime after 712
• Still partially standing

4
The Palace in Ravenna
Ruins of the actual palace are located behind
this structure (see picture below). Excavation
of this area first began in 1908, but was
abandoned by 1914. It has been on and off since
then. There is excavation work being done at
present.
5
Artifacts from the Actual Palace
As archaeologists continue to excavate the area
immediately behind this building and San
Apollinare Nuovo, they are finding more and more
artifacts they believe are from the true Palace
of Theodoric. Examples of their findings are
mosaics and pieces of the building such as this
figured capital. The style of this capital is
much more elaborate than the style of those on
the building we are looking at (see later slides
on columns).
6
Structures Placing in Ravenna (18), and its
Proximity to the Basilica of San Apollinare
Nuovo (15)
7
Tower of Basilica of San Apollinare Nuovo in the
Background
8
Mosaic of Palace in the Basilica
9
Closer Views
10
Current Structure one of the Buildings in the
Background?
11
Closer Examination of the Building
12
Building Materials

• Façade is made of Red Brick
• Columns are made of White Marble
• Roof is tiled

13
Entranceway

• Arched
• Columns on either side, set into the wall

14
Ground Level Arcade2 bays on either side of
entranceway
15
Upper Level Niche

• Sits above entranceway
• Apsidal Niche looks like an inverted half-dome
• Pair of Windows into Interior
• Balcony-like appearance

16
Upper-Level Arcade

• Arcade on either side of niche, made up of blind
  arches (arches applied to the wall).
• Columns rest on consoles kept distinct from
  ground level.
• Four bays on either side.

17
Hierarchy of Columns
18
Lower Level Columns the Entranceway
Applied or Engaged column A column which is
attached to the wall so that only half of the
form projects from the wall.
19
Structure of Entranceway Columns
The shafts of the these columns run from their
bases up to their blocks they have no
capitals. They are thus very unassuming in
their appearance, and seem accessible and equal
to the world around them. Additionally, the
bulkiness of the columns and surrounding piers
give them an earthy, grounded appearance.
20
Upper Level Columns in the Niche
Directly above the entranceway columns are the
columns of the niche. These contrast with the
columns below, in that they are smaller, more
decorative (with Ionic capitals), and have a
lighter and thus more ethereal appearance to
them. The open archway below also contrasts with
the closed niche above, distinguishing the realm
of the public from the area above.
21
Columns of the Lower Arcade
The lower arcade is supported by sturdy, round
columns with plain block capitals. These columns
add a visually horizontal dimension --
emphasizing grounding and support -- to the
verticality of the bays of the arcade.
22
Columns of the Upper Arcade
As we saw in the contrast between the entranceway
and the niche, the upper arcade is more airy and
elaborately decorated than the lower arcade. The
number of bays on each side is doubled, and the
arches themselves are more narrow. The columns
are more delicate-looking than their counterparts
below, and are crowned with Ionic, as opposed to
block, capitals. Furthermore, these columns rest
on two consoles, fixed high up on the wall. They
are notably out of reach from the ground, with no
visual element (such as a vertical line) to
connect them with the earth. In this way, the
upper level appears inaccessible to the world
below.
23
Pilasters on either side of façade their design
makes them appear to point upwards
24
Closer look at Pilasters
Pilaster A true pilaster is a rectangular
element of vertical masonry which projects only
slightly from the wall and has both a capital and
a base.
25
Backside of the Building

• Pilaster Strip on the side
• Arched windows on upper level
• Arched doorways on lower level
• Small Circular Tower, perhaps a stairwell
• Crumbles away into ruins

26
So what is this building?
There are several hypotheses
27
Hypothesis 1 Narthex (like a porch or entrance
hall) to the Church of San Salvatore (San
Apollinare Nuovo as dedicated by Theodoric)
S. Giorgio in VelbroRome,Italy
28
Hypothesis 2 Another building related to the
Church, such as part of a side entrance or
defense work.
Fortress Church A church built so it might be
used for defensive purposes.
29
Hypothesis 3 A segment or interior of another
building altogether. Notice, for example, the
similarity between the entrance archway and a
chancel arch.
While this is probably a coincidence, the
entrance does very much resemble the above
example of a chancel arch (separates the choir
from the nave in a church). Particularly if the
upper level niche collapsed down behind the
entranceway, it would be almost identical to the
chancel arch and choir. The fact that the
entranceway does resemble part of a church may be
evidence to its use as a religious building of
some sort.
30
Hypotheses 4 5

• Guard building or entranceway to the real palace
  of Theodoric, added after the palace itself was
  built (Based on location of the structure in
  relation to the ruins of the actual palace)
• Palace of the Exarchs (regional rulers in
  Ravenna, under the Byzantine emperors) built
  during the time of roman reoccupation, and then
  taken over by lombardian kings . It Served as a
  residence for local leaders (reasoning the dates
  match up, and this idea is discussed in several
  secondary sources)

31
Sources for Images and Info

• http//rubens.anu.edu.au/htdocs/teach/roman/offweb
  /lester/text/Early.Christian.Period/Romanesque/Rom
  anesque20.html
• http//www.turismo.ravenna.it/eng/monumenti/599.ht
  m
• http//www.criad.unibo.it/galarico/arts/ravenna/pa
  lazzo/palazzo.htm
• http//217.58.98.154/adp/ecstra/arteecultura/teodo
  ric.htm
• http//users.skynet.be/pieterbie/italy photos
  pages/ravenna_theodoric_palace.htm
• http//proxy.racine.ra.it/racine/ravtur/palteo.htm
  
• http//members.xoom.virgilio.it/andrea_rita/ravenn
  a/85a_en.htm
• http//www.byzconf.org/1982abstracts.html
• http//proxy.racine.ra.it/racine/ravtur/nuovo.htm
• http//www.newadvent.org/cathen/14518c.htm
• http//www3,sympatico.ca/archimages/mill_arch_ea_c
  hrist_islamic.pdf
• http//vandyck.anu.edu.au/introduction/add/exb-rom
  an/lester/images/Early.Christian.Period/Early.Chri
  stian/F33.jpg
• http//www,coopmosaico.it/riproduzioni
  bizantine/9palazzo.htm
• http//www.viviravenna.it/archivio/palatia/palatia
  .php
• http//www.itineriitaliani.com/luogravenna.htm
• http//www.pitt.edu/medart/menuglossary/INDEX.HTM
  (quoted for technical terms)