BYZANTINE ART Early Byzantine Art There is no
BYZANTINE ART
Early Byzantine Art There is no clear-cut cronological line between Early Christian and Byzantine art During the patrinage of Justinian (527 -565) Constantinople became the artistic and political capital of the empire.
Architecture From the Justinian, domed, central-plan churches dominated the world of Orthodox Christianity as thoroughly as the basilican plan dominated the architecture of the medieval West The most important building of the Early Byzantine period was the church of San Vitale in Ravenna (completed in 547).
San Vitale, Ravenna The octogonal plan with the circular core ringed by an ambulatory.
San Vitale, Ravenna The aisle has a second storey – the galleries, which may have been reserved for woman.
Mosaics in San Vitale, Ravenna MOSAICS – designs composed of small pieces of colored material set in plaster or mortar, usually used to decorate architectural surfaces. The complexity of the architecture of the interior of the church of San Vitale can be seen in it’s lavish decoration – two mosaics in the apse. They depict Justinian and his empress Theodora. Empress Theodora and Her Attendants
Mosaics in San Vitale, Ravenna The union of political and spiritual authority expressed in these mosaics reflects the „divine kingship” of the Byzantine emperor and honors the royal couple as donors of the church. These figures are tall and slim with tiny feet and small faces dominated by huge eyes. There is no hint of movement or change. Emperor Justinian and His Attendants
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul Among the surviving monuments of Justinian’s reigh in Constantinople the most important by far is Hagia Sophia (Church of Holy Wisdom)
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul The first church on that site was commissioned by Constantine but was destroyed in 532 during rioting. Justinian rebuilt the church in only 5 years. Architects: ANTHEMIUS OF TRALLES and ISIDORUS OF MILETUS
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul After the Turkish conquest in 1453. the church became a mosque. The Turks added four minarets and extra buttress as well as large medalions with islamic invocations on the interior. In the 20 th century the bulding was turned into a museum.
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul Hagia Sophia has the longitudinal axis of an Early Christian basilica but the central feature of the nave is a vast, squarish space crowned by a huge dome. At either end are half-domes, so that the nave takes a form of great ellipse.
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul INTERIOR Light plays a key role! The dome seems to float because it rests upon a closely spaced row of windows, . Light, both real and reflected, virtually separates the dome from the arches.
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul We can sense the new aestetics even in ornamental details such as molding and capitals The scrolls, acantus leaves and similar decoration are motifs derived from the calssical architecture, but their effects here is radically different.
Eufrazijeva bazilika u Poreču jedan je od najljepših sačuvanih spomenika rane bizantske umjetnosti na Sredozemlju Izgrađena je u 6. st. na mjestu ranokršćanske crkve, u vrijeme biskupa Eufrazija u cara Justinijana I.
Eufrazijeva bazilika u Poreču Apsida je ukrašena mozaikom od zlata Prikazuje Krista i donatore (koji su financirali-izgradili crkvu), te bikupa Eufrazija.
Eufrazijeva bazilika u Poreču Fragment originalnog mozaika iz crkve iz 4. st.
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