Gardner s Art Through the Ages, 13e Chapter 11 Late Antiquity 1
Europe and the Near East in Late Antiquity 2
Goals Understand the influence of religion in the art of the Roman Empire in Late Antiquity. Examine the art forms and architecture of Late Antiquity. Understand the different media used to create Early Christian art. Find Roman stylistic features that are incorporated into early Christian art. Know and cite artistic and architectural terminology from the period. 3
11.1 The Art of Late Antiquity Understand the influence of religion in the art of the Roman Empire in Late Antiquity. Understand how Roman art and architecture is changed as a result of Christianity and the decisions of Constantine. Relate influences of specific images of Christ. Understand the different media used to create early Christian art, particularly frescoes. Know and cite artistic and architectural terminology from the period. 4
Late Antique Pagan Roman Art Understand the influence of religion in the art of the Roman Empire in Late Antiquity. Understand how Roman art and architecture is changed as a result of Christianity and the decisions of Constantine. 5
Figure 11-2 Interior of the synagogue, Dura-Europos, Syria,with wall paintings of Old Testament themes, ca.245 256.Tempera on plaster. Reconstruction in National Museum, Damascus. 6
Figure 11-3 Samuel anoints David, detail of the mural paintings in the syna-gogue, Dura-Europos, Syria, ca. 245 256. Tempera on plaster, 47 high. 7
Figure 11-4 Restored cutaway view of the Christian community house, Dura-Europos, Syria, ca. 240 256 (John Burge). (1) former courtyard of private house, (2) meeting hall, (3) baptistery. 8
Early Christian Images Describe the appearance of Christ in Early Christian art. Understand the different media used to create early Christian art, particularly frescoes. 9
The Expression of Religious Ideas Understand how and why religious ideas are expressed in art of the Early Christian period. Understand the origins and development of specific images of Christ. 10
Figure 11-5 The Good Shepherd, the story of Jonah,and orants, painted ceiling of a cubiculum in the Catacomb of Saints Peter and Marcellinus, Rome, Italy, early fourth century. 11
11-5A Cubiculum N, Via Dino Compagni Catacomb, Via Latina, Rome, Italy, ca. 320 360. 12
11-5B (a) Cubiculum Leonis, Catacomb of Commodilla, Via Ostiense, Rome, Italy, ca. 370 385. 13
Figure 11-8 Christ seated, from Civita Latina, Italy, ca. 350 375. Marble, 2 41/2 high. Museo Nazionale Romano Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, Rome. 14
11-8A Christ as the Good Shepherd, ca. 300 350. Marble, 3 1/4" high. Musei Vaticani, Rome. 15
Figure 11-6 Sarcophagus with philosopher, orant, and Old and New Testament scenes, ca. 270. Marble, 1 111/4 x 7 2. Santa Maria Antiqua, Rome. 16
Figure 11-7 Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, from Rome, Italy, ca. 359. Marble, 3 10 1/2 x 8. Museo Storico del Tesoro della Basilica di San Pietro, Rome. 17
11.2 Artistic Changes and Constantine Understand how and why religious ideas are expressed in art of the Early Christian period. Understand the origins and development of specific images of Christ. Cite illustrations of religious architecture and their origins, particularly the basilica. Understand the media, methods and techniques used to create art, especially mosaics, in the Early Christian period. Know and cite artistic and architectural terminology from the period 18
Early Religious Architecture Cite illustrations of religious architecture and their origins, particularly the basilica. Examine the basilica plan and central plan developments of early church architecture. 19
Figure 11-9 Restored cutaway view (top) and plan (bottom) of Old Saint Peter s, Rome, Italy, begun ca. 319 (John Burge). (1) nave, (2) aisle, (3) apse, (4) transept, (5) narthex, (6) atrium. 20
Figure 11-10 Interior of Santa Sabina, Rome, Italy, 422 432. 21
11-10A West doors, Santa Sabina, Rome, ca. 432. Cypress wood, large panels 2 9 1/2" X 1 3 3/4". 22
Figure 11-11 Interior of Santa Costanza, Rome, Italy, ca. 337 351. 23
Figure 11-12 Plan of Santa Costanza, Rome, Italy, ca. 337 351. 24
Figure 11-13 Detail of vault mosaic in the ambulatory of Santa Costanza, Rome, Italy, ca. 337 351. 25
11-13A Christ as Sol Invictus, detail of the mosaic in the vault of the Mausoleum of the Julii (tomb M), Vatican Necropolis, Rome, Italy, late third century. 26
Figure 11-13 Closer detail 4th c. Ambulatory vault Mosaics: closer view of decorative roundels with putti and birds 27
Media, Methods and Techniques Understand the media, methods and techniques used to create art, especially mosaics, in the Early Christian period. Know and cite artistic and architectural terminology from the period 28
Figure 11-14 The parting of Abraham and Lot, nave of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, Italy, 432 440. Mosaic, 3 4 high. 29
Figure 11-15 Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, Italy, ca. 425. 30
11-1 Interior of the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, Italy, ca. 425. 31
11.3 Rome and Ravenna Examine the enduring influence of the classical pagan world in the Christian art of Rome. Cite illustrations of early Church architecture, their origins and development, particularly in Ravenna Understand the new aesthetic informing the art and how it is different from the art of the classical period. Understand the different media and forms used to create early Christian art, particularly illuminated manuscripts. Know and cite artistic and architectural terminology from the period 32
Changes in Rome and Ravenna Examine the enduring influence of the classical pagan world in the Christian art of Rome. Cite illustrations of early Church architecture, their origins and development, particularly in Ravenna 33
Figure 11-16 Christ as the Good Shepherd, mosaic from the entrance wall of the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, Italy, ca. 425. 34
11-16A Mosaic decoration of the dome of the Orthodox Baptistery (San Giovanni in Fonte), Ravenna, Italy, ca. 458. 35
Figure 11-17 Interior of Sant Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy, dedicated 504. 36
Figure 11-18 Miracle of the loaves and fishes, mosaic from the top register of the nave wall (above the clerestory windows in FIG. 11-17) of Sant Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy, ca. 504. 37
11-18A Two saints, detail of mosaic frieze of the lower zone of the dome, Hagios Georgios (Church of Saint George), Thessaloniki, Greece, ca. 390 450. 38
New Aesthetics and Media Understand the new aesthetic informing the art and how it is different from the art of the classical period. Understand the different media and forms used to create early Christian art, particularly illuminated manuscripts. 39
Figure 11-19 The old farmer Corycus, folio 7 verso of the Vatican Vergil, ca. 400-420. Tempera on parchment, 1 ½ X 1. Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Rome. 40
Figure 11-20 Rebecca and Eliezer at the well, folio 7 recto of the Vienna Genesis, early sixth century. Tempera, gold, and silver on purple vellum, approx. 1 1/4 X 9 1/4. Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna. 41
11-20A The story of Jacob, folio 12 verso of the Vienna Genesis, early sixth century. Tempera, gold, and silver on purple vellum, 1 1 1/4" X 9 1/4". Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna. 42
Figure 11-21 Christ before Pilate, folio 8 verso of the Rossano Gospels, early sixth century. Tempera on purple vellum, 11 X 10 1/4. Museo Diocesano d Arte Sacra, Rossano. 43
Figure 11-22 Suicide of Judas and Crucifixion of Christ, plaque from a box, ca. 420. Ivory, 3 X 3 7/8. British Museum, London. 44
Figure 11-23 Woman sacrificing at an altar, right leaf of the diptych of the Nicomachi and the Symmachi, ca. 400. Ivory, 11 3/4 X 5 1/2. Victoria and Albert Museum, London. 45
Discussion Questions Why are the wall paintings at Dura Europos important to understanding the art of the Late Antique (Roman) and Early Christian time periods? What visual characteristics of earlier pagan funerary art are seen in Christian art from this period? Does the context change? What might one speculate as reasons for the absence of a crucified Christ in Early Christian art? What was/were the purpose(s) of Early Christian art? 46