Late Antique Art
200 – 550 CE
Early Christian Art
Jewish Art
Main Ideas
• Overlapped late Roman empire and Constantinian
traditions
• Patronage was a limiting factor in early Christian works
• Christians were mostly from the underclass for the first
two centuries – no money for art – and underground
(much art is found in catacombs)
• Architecture based on Roman Basilicas (axial) and
Roman Temples (central plan)
• Jewish art usually lacked narration
• Architecture tended to be bare on outside and
elaborate on inside, akin to the soul of a Christian
What does this statue most likely
symbolize?
Christian or Jewish? Cubiculum of Leonis, Catacomb of
Commodilla, near Rome, late 4th century CE.
Christian or Jewish? Menorahs and Ark of the Covenant, wall
painting in a catacomb, Rome, 3rd Century CE.
Wall with Torah niche, from a house-synagogue, Dura-Europos, Syria, 245 CE.
Not a continuous narrative, lack of form, God appears only as a hand, Old Testament
stories depicted.
The Finding of the Baby Moses, detail of wall painting from a housesynagogue, Dura-Europos, Syria, 245 CE. Rare to find Jewish narrative. Flat figures,
stylized gestures, expressionless faces, no shadow or depth. Legs?
Can you spot the Orants? What is this?
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, Italy, 425 CE. Fusion of central and
axial plans, exterior brick façade represents a the exterior world (not very nice) while interior is
has brightly colored mosaics representing the soul, Iconography shows path to redemption.
Eastern bays with sarcophagus niches, Martydom of St. Lawrence.
Church of Santa Costanza, Constantina was daughter of Constantine, based on tholos,
central plan, mosaics on ceiling of ambulatory blend pagan and Christian symbols (putti and grape
leaves – Bacchus), domed main area, plain exterior, wine turning into blood of Christ blends with
pagan ritual of harvesting grapes for wine, originally a mausoleum (they were usually circular)
Harvesting of Grapes, mosaic in ambulatory vault of Church of
Santa Costanza, Rome, 350 CE. Tondo in center.
Early Christian Sculpture
Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, marble, Museo Storico del Tesoro della Basilica di San
Pieto, Rome. 359 CE. Uniform height of figures, biblical episodes not in order, man was
prefect of Rome and was baptised just before death, carved on three sides, Christ is
central figure at top – in the sky and dominating pagan gods