Early Christian Art (Late Antique Rome) PDF

Early Christian (Late Antique Rome) Key Point #1 Early Christian art is used for didactic (teaching), devotional, ritual, propaganda, and commemorative purposes  Key Point #2 With the legalization of Christianity, Christian buildings were needed,...

Early Christian (Late Antique Rome) Key Point #1 Early Christian art is used for didactic (teaching), devotional, ritual, propaganda, and commemorative purposes  Key Point #2 With the legalization of Christianity, Christian buildings were needed, Roman Basilica Basilica style church leading to a huge building campaign to rival the pagan buildings of Rome. Christians used both the axially planned Roman basilicas and the centrally planned Roman temple forms as architectural templates. Pantheon (tholos) Centrally planned church Key Point #3 Early Christian Art is a transitional time; it evolves out of the Classical past, while using Classical symbolism in their iconography Christianity=Contextual Information Christians believe: That Jesus Christ is the son of God, and that Jesus Christ came to Earth from Heaven (through the immaculate conception of Mary) to redeem humankind of its sins His death through crucifixion and resurrection allows humans to be forgiven for their sins and enter Heaven Christ will return on Judgment Day to send souls to either Heaven or Hell Followers can reach Heaven by following the 10 commandments That God took human form as Jesus Christ and that God is present today through the work of the Holy Spirit and evident in the actions of believers. Communication with God is done through prayer That practice should take place in a church with a priest (and later ministers) leading the mass/service/group prayer That there is only one true god (and is therefore monotheistic) God is represented in human form as Jesus Christ and his presence is felt through the Holy Spirit. God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit comprise what is known as the Trinity. The Bible is the text used to tell the story of the religion The Old Testament is the first half of the Bible with stories from creation to the year 0 (it is shared with Judaism) The New Testament is the second half with stories from the birth of Christ to Judgment Day In the beginning.... “Early Christian Art” refers to the earliest preserved works with Christian subjects NOT the art of Christians at the time of Jesus Pagan is the term used by Christianity to refer to the people who don’t practice their beliefs The big difference between Roman (pagan) and Early Christian art is the message; Late Antique Jewish and Christian works of art do not differ from contemporary Roman artworks in style or technique, only in subject In 325ce Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire  Catacombs of Rome A catacomb is an underground network of Smart History video passageways and chambers designed as cemeteries Catacombs developed because of the high cost of land in Rome and in the beginning, to avoid persecution Carved out of rock, like the Etruscans; they were less elaborate than the Etruscans, but they were more extensive, spreading up to 90 miles In the 2-4th centuries the catacombs were used constantly and housed up to 4 million bodies Churches were eventually built on top of these sites Catacombs originated in Rome between the end of the second and the beginning of the third centuries Stresses the fact that for Christians, burial is just a temporary moment while they wait for the final resurrection  Catacomb of Priscilla, Greek Chapel Late Antique Europe, 200-400 CE, tufa and fresco CONTEXT Named after a woman, Priscilla, who let the Christians use her property FUNCTION: Used for Christian burials The stone sarcophagi have been destroyed Invention of Christian iconography Called the Greek Chapel because of Greek inscriptions on the walls NOT a chapel Yes, another misnamed artwork!! Long bench was for people to sit on during funeral banquets held in honor of the dead (like the Etruscans)  Catacomb of Priscilla, Greek Chapel Late Antique Europe, 200-400 CE, tufa and fresco VISUAL Barrel vaulted Square shape space at end with an arch Frescoes on walls mimic marble and have Biblical narratives Long bench was for people to sit on during funeral banquets held in honor of the dead (like the Etruscans)  Catacomb of Priscilla, Greek Chapel Late Antique Europe, 200-400 CE, tufa and fresco CONTENT Old and New Testament images Religious Narratives Above the apse it depicts the Last Judgment Frescoes on walls are similar to the House of Vettii – mimics marble Emphasis on the teachings of Christ Long bench was for people to sit on during funeral banquets held in honor of the dead  Catacomb of Priscilla, Orant Fresco Late Antique Europe, 200-400 CE, tufa and fresco 3 niches for sarcophagi (stone coffins) Counters for funerary banquets Similar to the Etruscans, but not as festive and they kept the body, no cremation  Catacomb of Priscilla Late Antique Europe, 200-400 CE, tufa and fresco CONTEXT Has possibly the earliest known depiction of the Madonna and Child (Mary and Christ) VISUAL The images are often framed in lunettes, or semicircular frames Naturalistic figures Imagery reinforces the idea of salvation  Catacomb of Priscilla, Orant Fresco Late Antique Europe, 200-400 CE, tufa and fresco CONTENT An Orant is a praying figure, depicted with arms wide and serving as a symbol of faith or of the church itself This orant is female May represent a family member in 3 different scenes: as wife, mother, and spiritual Includes both New and Old Testament scenes Quails represent earthly life Peacocks depicted represent eternal life Doves represent peace Christ is the bridge between the two The realistic tradition of Roman art is combined with signs and metaphors that suggest life goes beyond the earthly realm Christ as the Good Shepherd Christ represented as a young, beardless Roman at first Youthful and loyal protector of the Christian flock “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.” Sheep = sinner who has been saved Roman influence, naturalism rather than symbolism This familiar imagery was purposefully used to aid in converting the Romans to Christianity  Catacomb of Priscilla, Good Shepherd Fresco Late Antique Europe, 200-400 CE, tufa and fresco CONTENT Uses pagan (Roman) iconography to tell a new story: Contrapposto Toga Symmetry Young Roman male CONTEXT – the function of this is to aid conversion to Christianity by using imagery that is familiar Central medallion shows Christ as the Good Shepherd, whose powers of salvation the painter underscored by placing the four episodes of the Jonah story around him  Catacomb of Priscilla, Good Shepherd Fresco Late Antique Europe, 200-400 CE, tufa and fresco CONTENT Story of Jonah is depicted in the lunettes; it is an Old Testament story Jonah serves as the Prefiguration of Christ A prefiguration is an Old Testament element that essentially foreshadows something to come in the New Testament (Jonah is in the whale’s stomach for three nights and days before he is brought out like Christ is in his tomb for three nights and days before he is resurrected). We will see this in the Renaissance too!! Reinforces the idea of faith in Jesus leads to salvation and the idea of Christ’s Resurrection Perfect story for a room that holds the dead, who the Christians believe are temporarily gone only to be resurrected A good comparison would be the Niobides Krater – the artwork reinforces the ideals of the culture Christian Architecture vocabulary you MUST know Nave – center aisle for processions Aisles – walkways along nave Apse – rounded end, vaulted Narthex – an architectural buffer between the sacred and the profane Triumphant arch – over apse to show the triumph of Christ  Santa Sabina Late Antique Europe, 430 ce, Brick and stone Typical in plan and proportion the new Roman church APSE building derived from basilicas Nave – center aisle for processions Aisles – side aisles Apse – rounded east end of church where the altar is Narthex – foyer – creates a separation between the sacred and the profane A NAVE Connection ??? Where else have we seen a barrier like this? I A S I Spatial clarity and simplicity is typical of western L S Christianity with an emphasis on doctrine and symbolism E L E AXIAL PLAN aka STRAIGHT AXIS aka LONGITUDINAL PLAN NARTHEX CONTEXT Santa Sabina On site of Temple of Juno – used many of Late Antique Europe, 430 ce, Brick and stone the materials in the creation of Santa Sabina These re-used materials are known as spolia (the columns in the nave arcade are from the Temple of Juno) On a hilltop in Rome to show the importance of Christianity Expansion of a Roman house-church owned by a woman named Sabina It was common in ancient Rome; the church preserved the name of the landowner by simply adding "Saint" onto his/her name CONTENT - symbolism Plain exterior and architectural simplicity and elaborate interior Christian belief that the human interior, the soul, is more important than the human exterior, the body Santa Sabina BASILICA ULPIA Churches resemble a basilica (law court) Both have naves, apse, and side aisles Suggests the authority or judgment of Christ Axial plan is conducive to processionals which were an important aspect of Christian services  Santa Sabina Late Antique Europe, 430 ce, Brick and stone Huge wooden carved doors for entering the narthex Depicts bible stories Crucifixion scene is the earliest known depiction in the world  Santa Sabina - CONTENT Late Antique Europe, 430 ce, Brick and stone Clerestory Windows were made of clear stone Triumphant arch into apse to show the triumph of Christ over pagans Semi-dome represents the dome of heaven Nave arcade Arcade: a row of arches Spandrels have inlaid marble designs in green and purple, depicting chalices and patens to represent the Eucharist Originally covered in lush mosaics (gold, bright, and reflective) that are now gone Very luxuriously decorated with gold, bright colors, reflective surfaces The inside represents the inner spirituality and that is why it was more decorated than the plain exterior No chairs – worshippers stood for hours VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS It is very bright inside: Santa Sabina - interior Late Antique Europe, 430 ce, Brick and stone Because of the clerestory Clear light through the glass windows Symbol of divine presence (content) Mosaics decorate the interior Nave is separated from aisles by nave arcade, a row of arches on top of columns CONTEXT Space was modified from the original basilica to accommodate Christian rituals; for example, the entrance was moved to the end of the nave so the apse and altar are the focal point, framed by the triumphant arch  Santa Sabina Late Antique Europe, 430 ce, Brick and stone Apse Mosaic Two female figures who personify the Church of the Jews and the Church of the Gentiles Included Latin inscriptions  Tradition and Change What similarities and differences do you see? Basilica Ulpia Santa Sabina