Early Christian & Byzantine Architecture PDF

MODULE 1: EARLY CHRISTIAN AND BYZANTINE EARLY CHRISTIAN HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The early Christian architecture started in two prominent locations centered at Rome and Constantinople - Early Christian Architecture occurred in Rome and in areas around Rome. - From the two focal points Ea...

MODULE 1: EARLY CHRISTIAN AND BYZANTINE EARLY CHRISTIAN HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The early Christian architecture started in two prominent locations centered at Rome and Constantinople - Early Christian Architecture occurred in Rome and in areas around Rome. - From the two focal points Early Christian Architecture spread to other areas in the European and Asian region INFLUENCES Geographical - Rome Geological - Quarry of the ruins of Roman buildings Climate - Same with Roman Architecture Religion - The rise of Christianity - Constantine issued his celebrated decree from Milan, professed Christianity - Established the religion of the Roman empire Social and Political - The emancipation of the West from direct imperial control made possible the development of Romano-German civilization, which facilitated the growth of new states and nationalities. - It gave fresh impulse to the Christian Church and laid the foundation of the power of the Bishops of Rome Historical - The early Christian period is generally taken as lasting from Constantine to Gregory the Great ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER - Due to financial constraints at the command of the early Christians, it was necessary for them to adopt places of worship which could be readily constructed - Many of the Roman Temples were utilized for the new faith - Foundation of the church architecture Plan - Adopted basilican model for their churches - Isolated circular church is used as a baptistery  Walls - Constructed using Roman methods - Rubble or Concrete - Mosaic was used internally Openings - Semi-circular arch - Windows are small - Clerestory windows Roofs - Wooden - Aisles of church were vaulted - Apse of church were domed and lined with mosaic Columns - Marble - Used the remains of the Pagan Roman Empire Mouldings - Coarse variation of Roman types - Acanthus Ornamentation Ornament - Introduction of color, giving richness to the interiors - Domes apse: lined with mosaic, surrounded by angels and saints - Arch of triumph - Colored mosaics in geometric patterns BASILICAN CHURCHES Example given is the Clemente, Rome. Parts: 1. Atrium – also known as forecourt; being an open space surrounded by arcades, forming an imposing approach in most of the Basilican Churches 2. Narthex – place of penitents; covered portion of th church 3. Nave – lighted by a clerestory of small windows, it is the center aisle of the church 4. Aisle – half the width of the nave; located on either sides of the church 5. Transept – called the “bema” or “presbytery” which existed in a modified form in the pagan basilicas 6. Choir – enclosed by low screen walls or cancelli 7. Altar – in front of the apse 8. Baldachino – canopy 9. Propylaeum – entrance St. Peters, Rome (AD 333) - St. Peter was the most important of the basilica churches built by Constantine. - The church has a triple entrance gate leading to an atrium - The church like S. Giovanni discussed earlier is a five isles church. - The Basilica has a wooden roof of interlocking rafters. - The nave did not lead directly to the apse but instead ends in a transverse space that is as high as the nave. BAPTISERIES - Used for the sacrament of baptism - Form: derived from the Roman circular temples and tombs BAPTISTERY OF ST. STEFANO ROTONDO Location: Rome, Italy BAPTISTERY OF CONSTANTINE Location: Rome, Italy Plan shape: Octagonal Roof: supported of eight columns, two stories in height ARIAN BAPTISTERY (BAPTISTERY OF NEON) Location: Ravenna, Italy Plan shape: Octagonal with two arcades Roof: supported of eight columns, two stories in height TOMBS THE MAUSOLEUM OF STA. COSTANZA Location: Rome, Italy Features: dome (35’ in diameter) Supported on twelve pairs of coupled granite columns TOMB OF GALLA PLACIDIA Location: Ravenna, Italy Features: cruciform plan, 35’ x 30’ internally; each arms contains sarcophagus; interior shows ancient polychromatic decorations in mosaics. BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE INFLUENCES Geographical - Byzantium = “New Rome” Geological - No good building stone - Need to import materials such as marble from the easter Mediterranean Climate - Hotter than Rome Religion - Orthodox church Social and Political - The position of the latter city being unrivalled as a great commercial center on the trading highway between east and west Historical - Byzantium is founded in the 7th century - The Byzantine is founded in the 7th century - The Byzantine style was carried on until Constantinople fell into the hands of the Turks in 1453 and became the capital of the Ottoman Empire. - ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER - Depends on the development of dome - Vaulted church with pendentives (Pendentives provided the architects a unique way of adjusting the circular form of dome roof to a square or polygonal plan Plan - Great central square with a dome, supported by means of pendentives - Narthex was placed within main walls - Leading thought in a Byzantine Church is vertical, grouping of domes round a principal central one Walls - Brick construction - Marble casing and mosaic - Flat treatment and absence of mouldings Openings - Semi-circular headed - Segmental and horse-shoe arched openings are sometimes seen - Windows are small and grouped together - Tracery is non-existent  Roofs - Series of domes formed in brick, stone, or concrete - Hollow earthenware was used in order to reduce the thrust on the supporting walls - Dome placed over a square of octagonal plan by means of pendentives Columns - Capitals sometimes took a form derived from the Roman Ionic or Corinthian Styles - Surface of these capitals were carved with incised foliage of sharp outline, having drilled eyes between the leaves. Mouldings - Unimportant - Simple treatment of the elevations in flat expanses of brickwork Ornament - Elaborate - Mosaic having symbolic figures, groups of saints, and representation of the peacock - Greek technique was followed in carving HAGIA IRENE Location: Istanbul Turkey Forgotten Treasure of Byzantium HAGIA SOPHIA Location: Istanbul, Turkey Masterpiece of Byzantine Architecture CHURCH OF THE CHORA Location: Istanbul, Turkey ST. BASIL’S CATHEDRAL Location: Moscow, Russia MODULE 2: ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE INFLUENCES  GEOGRAPHICAL - The style that grew up on the decay of the Roman Empire - The influence of Byzantine art brought through Ravenna and Venice also influenced the Italian Romanesque in Lombardy and Europe generally GEOLOGICAL - Rough use of the material at hand CLIMATE - Climate of north and south of the Alps RELIGION - Christianity SOCIAL AND POLITICAL - Feudal system - Influence of freemasons 1. Roman empire (799 AD) under Charlemagne 2. Little constructions but with many local peculiarities 3. France, Germany, and Spain became powerful 4. In northern Europe, Denmark, Swede and Norway were distinct kingdoms ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER - The term “Romanesque” is based on Roman art which were being carried out in various parts of Europe. - The general architecture character is sober and dignified. - Its picturesqueness is identified through groupings of the towers, and projection of transepts and choir. - The birth of this style came was influenced by the quarry of the ruins of ancient Roman buildings in the vicinity. - There are two principles in this style: Principle of equilibrium Employment of dressed stonework in comparatively small pieces, connected with mortar beds of considerate thickness. - Romanesque Vaulting Also known as “groin-rib type vault” ➔ Designing the profile of the groin ribs and leaving the form of the vaulting surfaces to adapt themselves to them\ PLAN - Took the Roman Basilica as a model for new churches - Well-defined cross plan - Towers are special features and are either square, octagonal, or circular with well-marked stories  - WALLS - Butresses formed as pilaster strips of slight projection - Row of semicircular arches resting on rudely formed capitals - Walls are general coarsely built OPENINGS - Jambs are formed in receding planes or rectangular recesses known as orders - Arches are built in concentric rings - Rose window or wheel window occur over the principal door of the church ROOFS - The general employment of vaulting was the desire to fire-proof the building COLUMNS - Corinthian and Ionic capitals - Cubiform capital MOULDINGS - Carved elaborately - Abacus over capital - Base of column is generally an Attic base, resting on a square plinth ORNAMENT - Vegetable and animal kingdom but rudely carved - Interiors: fresco, early stained glass ITALIAN ROMANESQUE GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCES - Central Italy from Florence and Pisa to Naples GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCES - Bricks, local volcanic stone (tufa or peperino), Travertine stone, Carrara Marble RELIGION - Christianity SOCIAL AND POLITICAL - Artistic movement; growth of industrial population CENTRAL ROMANESQUE - Constructive boldness is not sought after - Less departure from ancient Basilican type - Detail-oriented than developing novel construction NORTHERN EUROPEAN ROMANESQUE - Perfection in the construction of vaulting - Caused the introduction of many new construction ideas - Brick is the great building material CATTEDRALE DI PISA Location: Pisa, Italy One of the fine example of the Italian Romanesque style. The building depends for its artistic effect upon beauty and interest of its ornamental features rather than the promise of logical development into a new style. PISA BAPTISTERY Location: Pisa, Italy Designed by: Dioti Salvi Built of marble, it is surrounded externally on the lower story by half columns, connected by semicircular arches, above which is an open arcade in two heights, supported on small detached shafts. CHURCH OF SAN MINIATO Location: Florence, Italy Leading example of the Central Italian Romanesque style. BASILICA DI SAN ZENO MAGGIORE Location: Verona, Italy Important example of Northern Italian Romanesque style. “Arcaded galleries” MONREALE CATHEDRAL Location: Monreale, Italy Illustrates mixed Byzantine and Mahometan influences. The plan resembled Roman basilica, with apses at the eastern end of nave and aisles. The choir is raised above the nave. FRENCH ROMANESQUE - Remarkable for its rich decorative facades and graceful cloisters - Vast interiors in one span - Groined vaults - Naves were covered with barrel vaults, whose thrust was resisted by half barrel vaults over two-stories aisles, thus suppressing the clerestory GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCES - The trade with Venice and the East introduced to the district of Perigueux, a version of the Byzantine style in stone. GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCES - Fine-grained stone of Caen - Volcanic Stones RELIGION - Christianity SOCIAL AND POLITICAL - Lawlessness and bloodshed BASILICA DE NUESTRA SENORA DEL PUERTO Location: Clermont-Ferrand, France ABBAYE DE CLUNY Location: Clunny, France THE ABBEY OF SAINTE-TRINITE Location: Caen, France GERMAN ROMANESQUE - Has strong resemblance to North Italian Romanesque - Architectural character: Multiplication of circular and octagonal turrets Polygonal domes Richly ornamented parts are the doorways and capitals GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCES - Banks of Rhine where cities has been established during the Roman occupation GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCES - Bricks RELIGION  - Christianity SOCIAL AND POLITICAL - Troubles by dissensions of the two rival parties BASILICA OF ST. APOSTLES Location: Cologne, Germany DOM ST. PETER A.K.A. WORMS CATHEDRAL Location: Worms, Germany Representative cathedral of this period