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GUIDE 8
UNIT 2
Name:
Date:
EARLY CHRISTIAN ART
BYAZANTINE ART
Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom in Kiev (Ukraine) preserves much of its original Byzantine interior. 1037.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Sophia_Cathedral_in_Kiev
CHRISTIAN ART
FROM CATACOMBS TO CATHEDRALS
We are entering another thousand-year period in the history of humanity and art.
Before you start reading this section, we need to touch the historical aspect of what happened with
the powerful Roman Empire and Classical art (or Greco-Roman art).
In the 4th century the Roman Empire was divided into two parts: Western Roman Empire and
Eastern Roman Empire (or Byzantine Empire). These parts would have very different historical
fates. They will also provide two major branches for the Christian Church –Catholic (in the West)
and Orthodox (in the East).
WEST
EAST
Roman Empire
Western Roman Empire
Capital:
Eastern Roman Empire
Or Byzantine Empire
Capital: Constantinople
Rome
Christian Church
Catholic Church
Pope
Orthodox Church
Patriarch
Head of Church:
Head of Church:
The Latin-speaking Western Empire with its centre in Rome, would face the barbarian invasions,
undergo a slow decline for 200 years and eventually fell under the barbarians. The Greekspeaking Byzantine Empire, centred in Constantinople, would grow to a powerful state.
I would offer you to stick with the following simple timeline.
CHRISTIAN ART
1000 years
EARLY CHRISTIAN ART
First 3 centuries A.D.
Period of Persecution
Period of Recognition
BYZANTINE ART
4th - 14th centuries
NOTE:
* From now on we will be omitting [A.D].
As you know, it goes without saying when you talk
about Anno Domini (or Common Era – C.E.).
*The traditions of Byzantine art are still alive today
- they are well preserved in Orthodox art.
Since the very beginning of human history, art and religion have been closely connected. In the
first unit you have learned that art played a central role in prehistoric magic rituals, as well as in
Egyptian religious ceremonies to ensure the afterlife. Why so? Have you ever heard music –a
church choir or organ -in the cathedral with beautiful stained glass windows? Yes, this is the
answer – art has an ability to deliver a strong emotional message to the human soul.
Early Christian Art
Western Empire
Rome
Let us follow the events happening in the both parts of crumbling Roman Empire.
Name two key events that took place in the 3rd century.
*
- The Edict of Milan, 313.
*
Two periods into which the Early Christian art is divided:
*
*
The Period of Persecution
As Christianity developed, and Christian church formed a sort of federative republic within the
heart of Rome, the Romans began to fear it. In 302, when Christians refused to join in Roman
religious ceremonies, the emperor Diocletian instituted his terrible persecution of the “mutinous”
sect, wherein two thousand Christians died.
Catacombs - What was their purpose? How did they look?
*
*
*
Lunette - *
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunette
Catacombs, Via Latina
Early Christian artistic expression was limited to hidden places like
catacombs, such as those at Via Latina, Rome. The fresco in the lunette
derived from the Roman style of art, and contain Christian iconography.
Oran *
Orans were common
in Early Christian
wall paintings in the
Roman catacombs.
Photograph by Araldo de
Luca/Corbis
Iconography –
*
An iconography, through which Christian concepts were given
visual expression, developed. For example, Christ was symbolized
by a fish, a cross, or a lamb, or by the combined Greek letters chi
and rho (ΧΡ, the first two letters of the Greek spelling of “Christ”)
as a monogram. Christ the Good Shepherd was often shown as a
beardless young man, derived from pagan Roman embodiments of
Apollo, an image that persisted into the 6th century in Italy. http://uk.encarta.msn.com/encnet/refpages/RefArticle.aspx?refid=761579100
Eikōn - *
This is where Russian icon
came from …
www.depauw.edu/galleries
In what way was Christian art connected to the Greco-Roman art? Analyze the ceiling fresco in
the catacomb of Saints Pietro and Marcellino.
*
Symbols in Christian art
Examples:
Fish – was a symbol of *
Grapes - *
Cross - *
(find in the paragraph about the catacomb of Saints Pietro and Marcellino)
Symbol – an image or sign representing something else by association, resemblance or convention.
The Period of Recognition
How did the situation change in the 4th century after Emperor Constantine adopted Christianity?
*
What changes do we observe in regards to the places and way the first Christians worshiped?
*
St. Pete’s Cathedral in Rome - “one of the most important buildings to be erected during
the Early Christian period”
Why is it considered to be that important? - *
Describe the cathedral’s plan. You have to remember that it was based on the basilica’s plan.
*
The following parts will appear in the countless cathedrals of the later centuries:
(Give definitions and find them on the plan in your book)
PORPILAEUM - *
ATRIUM - *
NARTHEX - *
AISLES - *
NAVE - *
TRANSEPT - *
APSE - *
ALTAR - *
There were two major types of churches– (1) longitudinal and (2) central circular.
(1) Latin cross plan or *
Where the Latin cross was most prominent?
*
And where were the smaller circular churches with central plans more popular?
*
Mosaic
What can you say about the art of mosaic, which was widely used for decoration in the Christian
churches? Did the first Christians invent this technique? Analyze the style of the mosaic Christ as
the Good Shepherd. From whom was the art of mosaic adopted?
Define the artistic style of the Period of Recognition. What style was it modeled after?
*
Martyr from the mausoleum of Galla Placidia (Ravenna, Italy)
[Mausoleum – a large stately tomb or a building housing such a tomb or tombs]
*
Byzantine Art
Eastern Empire
Constantinople
How did the term Byzantine originate?
*
Byzantine art was not produced only in the town of Byzantium but had spread across many
Eastern regions. Name them.
*
*
*
*
*
*
Now you understand better why the cathedral from Ukraine has ended up on the cover of this
guide, don’t you?
Church of San Vitale in *_
(city & country) built by the emperor *_
Find on the map (see next Medieval section) this city that was a capital of the western empire at
this time. What did you learn about it?
*
What type of architectural plan was used in San Vitale? - *
During reign of which Roman emperor Ravenna attained stability, arts began to flourish, and San
Vitale was built? - *
When was Justinian Age in Ravenna? - *
[century]
(look at the dates under pictures)
AMBULATORY - *
San Vitale looks simple from outside. What can you say about its interior decoration?
*
Justinian and Attendants
This mosaic from San Vitale apse represents the Byzantine style at its peak.
What does the mosaic commemorate? - *
Are the human figures naturalistically depicted, or their bodies are rather weightless?
*
What about their gestures and stares? - *
Is their any deep three-dimensional space, in which they placed? - *
Do they really stand on the ground or rather are “hovering” above the earth? - *
What kind of background is this? !) - *… [Note, this is very typical for Byzantine art]
Now please go back to the first paragraph of “Byzantine Art” section. Write down the major
characteristics of Byzantine art. Specify the difference between it and Early Christian art.
*
*
*
In 330 A.D. Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to *…
How did he rename it? -*
What happened after his death? - *
What is the modern name of this city? -*
In what present day country is it located? -*
Hagia Sofia in Constantinople - a masterpiece
of Justinian architecture.
What does Hagia Sophia mean in Greek?
hagia means *
sophia It has served as:
*
*
*
When was it built? *__ [Date, see next to picture]
*__
[Century - I just want you to practice –]
I would like to emphasize one more time – there were two branches of the Roman Empire, and they were called
Western Roman Empire (old Rome) and Eastern Roman Empire, but officially it was still one Roman empire.
Notice that this cathedral was built by the emperor Justinian – same emperor who is depicted in the mosaics of San
Vitale Church in Ravenna.
What are the most striking aspects of this outstanding Church?
*
*
Size:* (Just to have an idea)
Which ingenious architectural idea produces the impression of the hovering dome?
It is particularly well seen from inside – see it above; you can also see the similar effect in the St.
Mark’s in Venice.
*
Later Byzantine Art
Until which century did Byzantine architecture continue to evolve?
*
St. Mark’s cathedral in *…
When was built?
Date: *
.
Century: *
Greek cross plan - *
How is it different from the Latin cross plan?
To wrap up this section, I would like to show you a beautiful Russian church built in the
Byzantine traditions (central plan). There were thousands and thousands of them all over
Russia. Many churches were destroyed by the Bolsheviks after the Communist revolution
in 1917 or used as the storage buildings. Others had been neglected and slowly
deteriorated with time.
Church “Pokrov” on the Nerli River. Photo: William Sokolenko
After Constantinople fell to the Turks in 1453, Russia continued for several centuries to
develop national art that had grown out of the middle Byzantine period.