Art History: quiz 2

Christian symbolism Cross and holy book, incense Chi Ro symbol on shield christogram => power of military extended from Christ Overlapping feet => power struggle between roles Emperor treads on feet of statesmen Emperor not stepping on church people, conveys tension of who is actual authority, church extends beyond emperor, bishop is actually named not emperor Details of face Soldiers look like same person, very simple depiction => represent idea of soldier Emperor and bishop look more lifelike and individualistic => supposed to look like the real people Eternal presence in ritual Vessel emperor is holding thought to be vessel for eternal/communion bread => symbolizes body of christ, emperor carries it showing he's a central figure in church

Emperor Justinian and His Attendants, Church of San Vitale, Italy, Early Byzantine (547 CE), Mosaic

Temple of the Moon, Temple of the Sun, and Temple of the Feathered Serpent (Quetzalcoatl) along Avenue of the Dead at Teotihuacan

Ceremonial Center, Teotihuacan, Mexico, 100-650 CE

serve as mausolea Central plan is more contemplative, allows for nonhierarchal viewing and participation in ceremonies ambulatory around central space

Church of Santa Costanza, Rome, Italy, 350 CE

45,000-50,000 spectators Built on grounds of Emperor Nero's pleasure palace and private lake commissioner/next king Vespeasian builds Colosseum to focus on the people, not concerned w/ his own pleasure Repetition of arches, different orders for each level

Flavian Amphitheater (Colosseum), Rome, Italy, The Early Empire (70-80 CE)

roman => ex. Symbol of propaganda, Ideal style borrowed from ancient greece, On armor => scenes portraying propaganda of battle and greatness, Pax romano => Augustus as bringer of peace to rome and italy, cornucopia (mother earth), conquered enemy giving things to heaven, More still/static, no dynamic movement, no emotion, Pose based on orator (politician), Portrayed bigger than Cupid => shows he is greater than divine, but also connected, Figure of military might and ability to convince w/ words byzantine => human figures depicted in mosaic, interest in the ethereal and divine realm continues until the Renaissance revived the classical interest in naturalism, justinian needed to be portrayed as eternal (in golden space, permeance), uniting religion and government, holding vessel for eternal/communion bread => symbolizes body of christ, emperor carries it showing he's a central figure in church, surrounded by many figures to show he is the emperor, bridge b/w two worlds

How does the representation of the human figure differ between ancient Roman and Byzantine art? What concerns were central to the portrayal of Emperor Justinian in the mosaic at the Church of San Vitale? What is he holding? Why is it important that he is surrounded by many figures?

function = source of entertainment, center of empire, Need to entertain masses to quell political unrest/boredom => Everyone is allowed w/in colosseum, but there is a social hierarchy, reinstates social order engineering = Repetition of arches, different orders for each level Significance => growth/change, emphasis on class and seating w/in colosseum, Barrel vault => crowd control, number of arches/long tunnels made of barrel vaults allow for people to move around and enter/exit, Roman architecture => more concerned in practical concerns rather than Greeks, Tarp covering amphitheater => for weather, covers top, Emphasizes engineering of Roman Architecture, Multiple different cells underneath seating => holds gladiators/animals for show, Used pulley systems, cage mechanisms imperialism = Center and periphery => Romans are there to control other empires, center of conquest, Animals from exotic lands engage in combat w/ each other and humans, Roman world looks inward where the exotic and the foreign now reside and perform for their pleasure

The Flavian Amphitheater (the Colosseum) is one of the most memorable structures associated with the Roman Empire. What function did this structure serve in Roman society? In what ways does it remain as a testament to Roman ingenuity in engineering? How does the Amphitheater, and the events that transpired here, enact Imperialism?

basilica => more authoritative, large rectangular building, often built w/ a clerestory, side aisles separated from the center nave by colonnades, and an apse at one/both sides => originally roman centers for administration, designed large space to fit many people but not everyone can see ceremony, sense of hierarchy, resembled cross shape with nave, transept, and apse, axial plan central plan => more contemplative, circular, sides of equal length, symmetrical, church with the altar at the center surrounded by ambulatory, allows everyone to view ceremony

What are the distinctive features between basilicas and central-plan churches? What does this reveal about the specific devotional practices that took place there?

teotihuacan=Volcanic seismic regions, Extensive arid plateau land, Nestled among high mountain slopes; As you walk along avenue, natural landscape disappears and manmade structure becomes more important => on top, you can see expansiveness of avenue and pyramid of the sun, corresponds in basic outline w/ topography of mountains behind it water/rain => teotihuacan is very dry, water symbolizes life, - pyramid of the sun located over site of natural cave w/ spring => shows significance of water, dry land, water shows rejuvenation, - Underground tomb in feathered serpent temple => tomb of royal figure (all objects were looted), where bodies were buried, found liquid mercury (thought to bring immortality, water theme/continuous substance) - tlaloc = god of rain, sign for water coming out of mouth, volutes around head as clouds and rain - great goddess murals/sculpture => streams of water (hands), opens hands for water,

What is the relationship between the built spaces of Teotihuacán and the landscape/site on which it is built? What is the significance of water and rain to the people of Teotihuacán and how is this significance figured in the structures and art that remain of this culture?

forum

a Roman town center; site of temples and administrative buildings and used as a market or gathering area for the citizens.

iconophiles

from the Greek for "lover of images." In periods of iconoclasm, iconophiles advocate for the continued use of sacred images

pendentives

the concave triangular section of a vault that forms the transition between a square or polygonal space and the circular base of a dome

ambulatory

the passage (walkway) around the apse in a church, especially a basilica, or around the central space in a central-plan building