Christ Seated

• youthful, unbearded Christ, wearing a
Roman tunic and sandals sitting on a throne.
• Statue is unique b/c it is one of the rare examples of Early Christian statuary.
– Free-standing sculpture looked on w/ suspicion b/c of pagan cult statues
• ROMAN in style, CHRISTIAN in subject

Old. St. Peter ’ s Basilica (no longer standing),
322-27 CE

• Roman basilicas were the models for early
Christian churches
• Builders added a transept to look like cross
• Old St. Peter ’ s was commissioned by
Constantine-built on site where St. Peter was believed to be buried
• Model for basilicas all over world.
– Plain outside, beautiful inside
– Contrast was to remind Christians that the beauty of the
inner spirit was more important than the external beauty.

Reconstruction Drawing
(Interior)

Interior of Santa Sabina, Rome,
Italy

• Modeled after Roman basilicas
• Features a timbered ceiling like Old St.
Peter ’ s
• Columns down the sides were usually taken from pagan temples.
• Corinthian columns lead eye to apse

• Plan and section

• Central-Plan design.
– Originally based off of old Myceneaen tholos tombs
– The building parts are of equal dimensions around the center –radiates out from the middle equally
• Originally a mausoleum, now a church.
– used as a tomb for Constantine ’ s daughter,
Constantina.

• Tall rotunda w/ a circular barrel-vaulted passageway called an ambulatory
– designed so that visitors could pass by without disturbing the mass.
• 12 sets of columns are placed along the ambulatory.
– The columns represent the 12 apostles.
– Columns have composite capitals

• The mosaics glistened on the inside walls and gave off a “ heavenly ” appearance
• Reflective tesserae was used instead of
Roman opaque glass. Could be angled to accent one area or figure.
• Tesserae-small pieces of limestone or marble

Parting of Lot and Abraham mosaic, church of
Maria Magiorre

• Tesserae mosaic about the Genesis story of
Abraham and nephew Lot parting ways
– Lot to Sodom and Abraham to Canaan
• Toga clad men share a look and turn away from each other
• Illusionistic style
– Overlapping heads
– Hint of perspective
– Sense of environment

Miracle of Loaves and Fishes,
Sant ’ Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy

• Jesus is performing the miracle of the loaves and fishes-with minimal details
• Jesus is dressed in gold and purpleimperial colors
• He is identified by the NIMBUS- halo around holy figures- cross shaped halo that signifies his divinity.
• Directly facing the viewer, rigid formality

• Figures are becoming floating, flattened symbols instead of real people in real space
• Drapery shadows are narrow bars
• Gold --spiritual choice for backgroundenvironment not really important
• This mosaic shows the beginnings of
Byzantine style-transitional piece

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia,
Ravenna, Italy

• Galla Placidia was an empress who ruled the Western Roman Empire in mid 5 th c.
• Small cruciform church with domed covered crossing and barrel vaulted arms
• Exterior-plain and somber
• Interior-brilliantly colored mosaics
– Christ as the Good Shepherd here

Christ as the Good Shepherd, Galla
Placidia, Ravenna, Italy

• After the death of Constantine in 337, the
Roman Empire was split into Eastern and
Western Empires.
• The Western Empire went into a steady decline. Rome lost its power and was eventually sacked by Germanic tribes.
• The Eastern Empire, with its capitol in
Constantinople, gained great political strength.

• In 527, Justinian ascended the throne of the
Eastern Roman, or Byzantine Empire.
• He established Ravenna on the east coast as the new center of power.
• During his reign “ The Golden Age of
Byzantine ” , many beautiful churches and mosaics were built
• Byzantine artists worked for 1000 years creating glittering, heavenly works of art

• No separation of church and state in the
Byzantine Empire
• Byzantine Emperors were considered to be Christ ’ s substitute on earth. They believed that the imperial will was God ’ s will.
• Justinian was a theocratic ruler- divine ruler
• Byzantine emperors were like pharoahs or ancient god-kings

• Justinian is on horseback with Christ above him--his power is divinely granted from
God.
• Christ is blessing Justinian indicating approval of his rule.
• Features that were adopted from the
Roman past:
 On horseback (equestrian statues)
 Dynamic twisting postures
 Emperor as a triumphant general

• Flowing clingy drapery
• Facial type and stylized hair
• Delicately incised wings
• Prototype of Michael was thought to have been a pagan winged victory (remember
Nike?)

• Feet hovering over the steps- like floating
• Upper body is in front of the columns and the lower body is behind them
• Real anatomy wasn ’ t important, the anatomy of the spirit was!

• The globe surmounted by the cross is a symbol for Christianity ’ s triumph
• Holding an imperial orb and scepter
• Might have been presenting it to
Justinian

Anthemius and Isidorus,

• Built in Constantinople
• Means Church of Holy Wisdom
• Patron: Justinian
• Architects: Anthemius and Isodorous
• Construction material: Brick, masonry

• A domed basilica with two half domes on either side
 Plain exterior- elaborate interior
 Turkish minarets were added when the Muslims conquered Constantinople and changed the church to a mosque.
 Muslims painted over the mosaics inside, which were golden glass that was supposed to give off the feeling of heaven.
 Now a museum of Byzantine art

• Dome is supported by pendentives-concave triangular pieces of masonry used to support the weight of the dome at four corner piers.
• The dome is circular and rests on a rectangular base. This created more space inside.

• Main light source: dome has halo of lights around it, 40 windows
• Created this mystical effect which made it look like the dome was resting on a halo of light
• ***LIGHT is considered to be the visual image of God!

Church of San Vitale, Ravenna,
Italy

• Patron: Justinian
• Built in honor of St. Vitalis, a Roman slave and martyred in the 2 nd century it is unlike any other church in Italy.
• Centrally planned (like Santa Constanza) the parts are almost equal dimensions around the center. 2 concentric octagons with a dome.

• The plan has an unusual feature in that the narthex is at an odd angle.
• It ’ s never been understood why it was placed at this angle.