Early Christian Art

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Early Christian Art

• Art of Late Antiquity
• Pagans, Christians, Jews

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Roman Empire Began to Fragment

• Signing of Edict of Toleration 315AD, established
  freedom to worship Christianity
• Christianity became official religion of Empire
  in 325AD
• 330AD Constantine moved capital city from Rome to
  Byzantium
• By 400 AD, Empire was divided into Eastern and
  Western portions under separate emperors.

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Reasons for fall of Empire

• Decay
• Christianity
• Religious controversy
• Basically, the Empire was to large to handle.

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Dura-Europos

• Town on out post of Roman Empire where Jews and
  Christians co-existed peacefully.
• Synogogue and church house lay side by side
• Dura-called by Romans
• Europos-called by by Greeks

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Catacombs of Callixtus, Rome
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Painted ceiling of cubiculum in catacomb of
Saints Peter Mercellinus
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Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus
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Christ Enthroned, marble
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Nave central aisle, between entrance and
choirAisle flanking the nave, separated by row
of columns or piersApse a recess,
semicircular, east end of Roman churchTransept
cruciform church, crosses the naveNarthex
porch/vestibule of church, generally preceding
the naveAtrium open, colonnaded court in front
of basilicaTriumphal Arch freestanding
archCrossing space in cruciform church formed
by intersection of nave and transeptAmbulatory
ring like, barrel vaulted corridor separate from
central dome area
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Plan of Old St. Peters, Rome
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Section of Old St. Peters
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Reconstruction of Old St. Peters
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Santa Sabina, Rome
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Santa Costanza
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Santa Costanza, mosaic
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Christ Enthroned and the apostles, apse mosaic in
Santa Pudenziana
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Parting of Lot Abraham, mosaic
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Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna
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Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Christ as Good
Shepherd mosaic
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Sant Apollinare Nuovo, building
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Miracle of Loaves and Fishes
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Rebecca Eliezer at well, From Vienna Genesis,
vellum
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Christ Before Pilate, from Rossano Gospels
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Priestess celebrating rites of Bacchus, part of
diptych
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Diptych of Emperor Anastasius
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Christ as Sol Invictus, vault mosaic, Mausoleum
of the Julli
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ian/earlychristian.html