Art 133-World Art History I
Study Guide Chapter 8, Early Christian Art
Pictures/Slides from Text
1. 8.4, Painted Ceiling, Catacombs, Rome, Italy, 4th Century CE
2. 8.5, Santa Maria Antiqua Sarcophagus, Rome, Italy, 270 CE 3rd Century
3. 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, Old St. Peters Basilica, Rome, Italy, 324-400 Ce, 4th Century
4. 8.10, 8.11, Santa Costanza, Rome, Italy, 350 CE, 4th Century
5. 8.15, The Good Shepherd Mosaic, Ravenna, Italy, 425-450 CE, 5th Century
6. 8.21, 8.22, 8.23, 8.24, San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy, 526-547 CE, 6th Century
7. 8.25, Emperor Justinian and his Attendants, Ravenna, Italy, 547 Ce, 6 th Century
8. 8.27, 8.28, 8.29, 8.30, 8,31, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey, 532/537 CE, 6th
Century
9. 8.32, Justinian as Conquerer, Paris, France, 525-550 CE, 6th Century
10.8.34, Jacob Wrestling the Angel, Vienna, Italy, 6th Century
11.8.36, Virgin and Child Enthroned Between Saints and Angels, Mount Sinai,
Egypt, 6th Century
12.8.40, The Harbaville Tryptych, Paris, France, 10th Century
13.8.49, Madonna Enthroned, Washington DC, USA, 13th Century
Facts/Information from Text
14.Many Historians agree that the conversion of Constantine the Great to Christianity
in 312 CE marks the beginning of what is called the “Middle Ages”.
15.The earliest known examples of “Early Christian Art” exist as painted decorations
in the underground Roman burial places known as Catacombs.
16.Along with his conversion, Constantine also decided to build a new Roman
Capital city in the Greek town of Byzantium, which he renamed Constantinople.
17.The decision to move the Roman capital, caused a split in the empire into eastern
and western provinces centered respectively in Constantinople (Istanbul) and
Rome.
18.The split in the Roman empire, eventually resulted in a split in the church into
Orthodox (eastern) and Catholic (western) factions.
19.The production of large scale sculpture in the Middle Ages was curtailed due to
the biblical prohibition of Graven Images in the second commandment.
20.The earliest works of Christian sculpture are sarcophagi, (stone coffins) produced
for more important members of the Christian Church.
21.Church construction in the Middle Ages existed in two basic designs, the
rectangular Basilica and the round Central Plan types.
22.The need for decoration of church interiors led to a new form of art used
extensively in the Middle Ages, known as wall mosaic.
23.A mosaic consists of small pieces of colored material set into plaster or mortar.
24.Another new form of art developed by the early Christians was the illustrated
book or “Illuminated Manuscript.”
25.Middle Age painting found a new outlet in the creation of small painted panels of
Christian subjects commonly known as Icons.