March 11
Medieval Art
Emperor Justinian mosaic in San Vitale, Ravenna. c. 547. |
Empress Theodora mosaic in San Vitale, Ravenna. c. 547. |
Emperor Justinian mosaic in San Vitale, Ravenna. c. 547.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Justinian_mosaik_ravenna.jpg
Empress Theodora mosaic in San Vitale, Ravenna. c. 547.
http://www.travelplan.it/img/ravenna02.jpg
detail of Theodora
Historic Context |
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306 - 337 |
Reign of Constantine |
313 |
Edict of Milan legalizes Christianity |
380 |
Christianity becomes official religion of the Roman Empire |
394 |
Olympic games abolished |
395 |
Roman empire officially divided with emperor in Rome and in Constantinople |
452 |
Gauls sack Rome |
476 |
Fall of the western Roman Empire |
Eastern half becomes Byzantine Empire and survives into 15th century |
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Eastern church becomes Orthodox Church |
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Western church becomes Catholic Church |
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526 - 565 |
Reign of Justinian |
726 - 843 |
Iconoclasm |
c. 732 |
Moors (Islamic Arabs) capture Spain and threaten France |
1095 |
Pope calls First Crusade |
1453 |
Turks capture Constantinople |
The Byzantine Empire
http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/30/7030-004-C42F41FD.gif
Basilica - found in the western Empire |
Central Plan Church - popular in the eastern Empire |
Old St. Peter's Basilica. Rome. c. 320 - 335. |
San Vitale Floor Plan |
Madonna and Child on a Curved Throne. 13th century.
http://www.nga.gov/fcgi-bin/timage_f?object=35&image=1&c=
Iconoclastic Controversy |
Christ, Mt. Athos. 13th century |
Icon = from the Greek word, "eikon" for image |
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"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or any likeness of anything that is in Heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them." Second Commandment |
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Iconoclasts = image destroyers |
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Restricted imagery to abstract symbols & decorative elements |
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Led by Byzantine emperor |
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Supported mainly in east |
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Iconophiles = image lovers |
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Believed that Christ & his image inseparable |
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Led by monks |
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Supported in west |
San Vitale altar
http://www.sights-and-culture.com/Italy/Ravenna-San-Vitale-6240.jpg
Christ of the Pentecost from Saint Madeleine Cathedral, France. 1125 - 1150.
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/france/vezelay-basilica-photos/slides/xti_0422p70.jpg
Mihrab, Isfahan, Iran. 1354.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ho/07/wai/ho_39.20.htm
animal style = generic term for the characteristic ornamentation of artifacts worm and carried by nomadic peoples who, for almost two millennia (BCE into CE) migrated between China and Western Europe. |
Post from the Oseburg Burial Ship c. 800 - 8334 |
Characterized by: |
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Stylized animal forms with spare & abstract use of the human figure |
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Heavy use of decorative elements and organic shapes |
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Usually found on utilitarian object or items of personal adornment |
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Easily and often traded |
Purse Cover from the Sutton Hoo Burial, England. Before 655. Gold and enamel. Length 7 1/2".
http://teachers.sduhsd.k12.ca.us/ltrupe/ART%20History%20Web/final/chap14Medieval/SH%20Purse%20cover.jpg
Lindisfarne Gospel carpet page. Late 7th century. 13" X 10". |
Meeting of the nomadic animal style with Christianity clearly visible in HIberno-Saxon manuscript illumination |
Illuminated manuscript = a hand written and illustrated manuscript from the Western or Islamic traditions, commonly produced on vellum and incorporating gold and silver leaf |
Ch-Rho Page from the Book of Kells. c. 800.
http://pds4.egloos.com/pds/200704/24/55/d0012855_12042365.jpg
Notre Dame de Chartres, France. 1145 - 1513.
http://www.cedargallery.nl/nlfoto/Chartres_kathedraal.jpg
The pointed arch and flying buttresses
http://www.uncp.edu/home/rwb/Flying_Buttresses.gif
Rose de France window from Notre Dame de Chartres, France. c. 1233.
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/france/chartres-cathedral-pictures/window-north-c-beck.jpg
