History of Art II 17 ARTH232 17 ARTH262

History of Art II 17 -ARTH-232 & 17 -ARTH-262 Dr. Diane Mankin 3502 French, 556 -1814 Office hrs: MWF 2 -3: 30 pm Diane. Mankin@uc. edu or mankinde @ucmail. uc. edu 1

Early Christian and Jewish Art n Pre-legalization of Christianity - before 313 Edict of Milan † hidden house-churches and house-synagogues † catacomb art † small portable objects n Legalization under Roman hierarchy † large imperial building projects † rich, decorative materials † grand compositions and royal biblical stories dominate 2

Christianity: Beginnings to 313 CE Rooted in Judaism - need for atonement and sacrifice n Faith in sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus as the promised Messiah n Considered a threatening Eastern cult by Romans--Why? n Spread throughout Roman Empire by Apostles of Jesus Christ n 3

Art of the Underground Religions n Good Shepherd, Orants, and Story of Jonah, ceiling, Catacomb of Pietro and Marcellino, Rome, 4 th c. † Meaning & symbols? Purpose? Style? n Wall with Torah niche & scenes of Jewish history, house-synagogue, Dura-Europos, Syria, 244 -5; tempera on plaster, 40’ long † Finding of Baby Moses, detail from right of Torah niche 4

Imperial Early Christian Art in Rome n Reconstruction, plan, and elevation of Old St. Peter’s basilica, Rome, c. 320 -7 † Know parts of the basilica † Plan-nave, aisles, transept, apse, narthex, atrium † Elevation-nave colonnade, clerestory † What were the different parts used for? † Worship, view relics of saints, communion (Eucharist), outdoor events, entrance, altar area 5

Imperial Early Christian Art in Rome n Nave, Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, 432 -40 † Parting of Lot & Abraham, mosaic over nave colonnade, Sta. M. Mag. , 4’ 11”x 6’ 8” † What are the stylistic characteristics? – Composition, size & proportions of figures, poses, treatment of clothing, depiction of depth & space † How did the artist convey the story’s message using the above? 6

Imperial Early Christian Art in Rome n Church of Santa Costanza, Rome, c. 338 -50 † † Central plan Domed rotunda supported by arcade of paired Corinthian columns Annular vault (ringed barrel vault) forms the ambulatory Thick exterior walls to buttress vaults 7

Imperial Early Christian Art in Ravenna was a Roman capital on and off after 402 n Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, Italy, c. 425 -6 n † Greek cross plan with barrel-vaulted arms † Plain exterior and rich interior --symbolic? † Good Shepherd, lunette mosaic over west entrance 8

Early Christian Sarcophagi n Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, c. 359, marble, 4’ x 8’, Rome † Made for Roman official † Scenes from the Old and New Testaments † Classical architectural niches in two registers † How would you describe the figures? 1. proportion and scale? 2. style of hair and clothing? 3. gestures and poses? 9

Summary of Early Christian Art characteristics: Mixture of classical styles and motifs with Christian symbolism n More emphasis on meaning than realism n Before Edict of Milan -- small scale or in hidden places; emphasis on the protective and delivering power of Jesus n After Edict of Milan -- large-scale public and private art; emphasis on grand & rich presentations n 10