LATE ANTIQUE ART
(AKA EARLY CHRISTIAN)
H T T P S : / / W W W. YO U T U B E . C O M / WAT C H ? V = O D T OY H C 6 T E M
200-500 CE
KEY IDEAS
 Christianity is a prohibited religion and is practiced mostly
underground. The earliest Christian works appear in
catacombs and on sarcophagi.
 Christian images are influenced by Constantinian artwork
from the late Roman period as well as classical art (classical
Greek and Roman). Subject matter is taken from the Old and
New Testaments.
 Christian buildings use both the axial plan (from Roman
basilicas) and the central plan (Roman temples).
 Other cultures flourished during this period, such as the early
Jewish people. Generally Judaism prohibited narrative artistic
tradition but some work is present.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
 The Beginning of Christianity (condensed version):
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Jesus (the Christian Prophet) is born.
Jesus founds the Christian religion.
Jesus and his followers spread their beliefs around the Roman world.
His followers continue to write about his beliefs and practices long
after his death (books and letters that today make up the New
Testament to the Christian Bible).
Christianity is illegal in the Roman world - Christians must hide their
faith and practices or risk persecution and possible death.
Christian converts eventually become the majority in Rome.
Constantine conquers Rome in 312 CE and adopts Christianity as the
state religion.
Christians can practice openly, build churches, and take important
positions in the government.
Pagan religions are still practiced; they become the underground
religion in Europe.
PATRONAGE AND ARTISTIC LIFE
 Christians were often persecuted and martyred (killed) in the
Roman world. So obviously Christian artists find it dif ficult to
get jobs!
 Artists who worked for Christians typically created pieces for
private homes and burial chambers.
 Most Early Christian art comes from catacombs (underground
burial crypts).
 Christians were mostly poor (in the beginning, anyway) so the
quality of art is unsophisticated. They often tried to mimic
Classical art but were pretty sketchy in execution (quality).
 Once Christianity becomes an accepted, mainstream religion,
the better artists are able to join the club and things get a
little fancier.
INNOVATIONS IN EARLY CHRISTIAN
ARCHITECTURE
 Why catacombs?
 Def- underground dirt
passageways full of dead bodies.
I mean, burial chambers.
 They were cheaper.
 Nobody saw them so you could
decorate using your religious
symbols.
 Loculi- the dirt holes that
poor people were piled in.
(Literally wadded up and shoved into
them)
 Cubicula- mortuary chapels
(fancier underground burial
chambers)
INNOVATIONS IN EARLY CHRISTIAN
ARCHITECTURE
 Christians adapted
Roman architecture to
build their religious
buildings (akaCHURCHES)
 Roman basilicas (meeting
halls) were modified into
churches. This is called a
BASILICA PLAN church.
Crazy, I know.
 Roman temples were
modified into mausoleums.
These are called CENTRAL
PLAN buildings.
INNOVATIONS IN EARLY CHRISTIAN
ARCHITECTURE
 The priest and the altar were in
the APSE (usually elevated on a
platform).
 Men sat in the NAVE.
 Women sat in the AISLE.
 Clergy sat in the TRANCEPT.
 People who wanted to convert
but had not of ficially conver ted
stayed in the atrium.
CHARACTERISTICS OF EARLY CHRISTIAN
ARCHITECTURE, CONT.
 Typical of religious transitions in other time
periods and places, Christian ar t adapted
existing Roman ar t and styles. It made for an
easier transition in society. It was also a way
to express dominance over previous religious
elements.
 Ex: turning an actual Roman temple into a
Christian mausoleum,
 Or using Roman elements (like columns) when
building a new Christian mausoleum,
 Or tearing down an old Roman temple and
using the columns as part of a new Christian
mausoleum. (SPOLIA)
 Characteristics of Early Christian
buildings
 Spolia from Roman buildings
 Little decoration on the outside (wanted
them to look different from Roman
buildings).
Ex: Sculptures of important
Christian figures replaced Roman
gods in the Pantheon.
INNOVATIONS IN EARLY CHRISTIAN
PAINTINGS
Christianity in art:
 Is intensely narrative
 Images come from
various books of the
Old and New
Testaments
 Recurring episodes
(familiar narratives)
are present
 The Evangelists are
recurring figures
CHARACTERISTICS OF EARLY CHRISTIAN
PAINTINGS
 Catacombs paintings show an attempt towards artistry
 Jesus as a central image
 Usually include groups of biblical images
 Paintings are often part of lunettes or niches
 As an underground religious image , Christ is seen as “The
Good Shepherd”
 As an of ficial religion of the Roman Empire , Christ is as an
imperial figure (purple robes, gold attributes, halo resembling
the sun king, etc.
 Christian mosaics
 Made of gold, glass, or other precious materials (Roman mosaics
were made of rock, remember?)
 Glimmer and sparkle- alludes to the mystery and other-worldliness of
God/Christ.
CHARACTERISTICS OF EARLY CHRISTIAN
SCULPTURE
 Sculpture was the last tradition art
form converted over to Christian
images.
 Christians were hesitant to have their
religion identified with anything
strongly reminiscent of pagan
religions.
 Ivory and marble statues tended to
stay small in size (to avoid
resembling Roman statues of gods
that were worshipped) and were
usually for personal use, not
displayed publically.
 Sculpture focused on the spiritual
message of the piece or the clarity of
the narrative being told, NOT the
classical proportions of the figures or
individual expressions.
LATE ANTIQUE EUROPE:
CATACOMB OF PRISCILLA
2 0 0 - 4 0 0 / T UFA A N D F RE SC O/ ROM E , I TA LY
 Greek Chapel
LATE ANTIQUE EUROPE:
CATACOMB OF PRISCILLA
2 0 0 - 4 0 0 / T UFA A N D F RE SC O/ ROM E , I TA LY
 Orant Fresco
LATE ANTIQUE EUROPE:
CATACOMB OF PRISCILLA
2 0 0 - 4 0 0 / T UFA A N D F RE SC O/ ROM E , I TA LY
 Good Shepherd Fresco
LATE ANTIQUE EUROPE:
SANTA SABINA
4 2 2 - 4 3 2 / BRI C K A N D STON E W I T H WOODE N ROOF / ROM E , I TA LY
 Exterior
LATE ANTIQUE EUROPE:
SANTA SABINA
4 2 2 - 4 3 2 / BRI C K A N D STON E W I T H WOODE N ROOF / ROM E , I TA LY
 Interior
LATE ANTIQUE EUROPE:
SANTA SABINA
4 2 2 - 4 3 2 / BRI C K A N D STON E W I T H WOODE N ROOF / ROM E , I TA LY
 Floor plan