Chapter 7 EARLY CHRISTIAN ART AND ARCHITECTURE

Theotokos

From the Greek for "bearer of God." A title bestowed on the Blessed Virgin Mary by the council at Ephesus in 431.

Torah

From the Hebrew for teaching or learning. A Jewish sacred scroll containing the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures; often called "The Law."

illumination

From the Latin 'illuminare' meaning to adorn. Decoration with drawings (usually in gold, silver, and bright colors), especially of manuscript pages.

nave

From the Latin meaning 'ship.' The center or main aisle of a church extending from the entrance to the crossing or choir.

baptistery

In Christian architecture, the building used for baptism, usually situated next to a church.

Holy Spirit

In Christianity, the third "person" of the Trinity (with the Father and the Son), often symbolized by a dove.

orant

In Early Christian art, a figure represented with hands raised in prayer.

prefiguration

In Early Christian art, the depiction of Old Testament persons and events as prophetic forerunners of Christ and New Testament events.

basilica

In Roman architecture, a civic building for legal and other civic proceedings, rectangular in plan. In Christian architecture, a church plan based on the Roman basilica with a longitudinal axis and an entrance at one end and an apse at the other.

cruciform

Literally means "cross-shaped."

Cathedra

Literally, the seat of the bishop, from which the word cathedral is derived. So a cathedral is a Bishop's church.

Christ as the Good Shepherd

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, 425, mosaic ➖ Lunette, above the entrance ➖ Christ is regal and imperial looking, wearing a gold-striped tunic and purple mantle ➖ Sits on a rock surrounded by his flock of sheep, and has a huge golden halo ➖ Holds a long Latin cross staff ➖ Artist is still using Greco-Roman illusionist painting techniques but the conception and depiction of Christ has evolved from simple shepherd to regal enthroned ruler

Santa Constanza

Rome, 337-351 ➖ One of the earliest central plan churches built in Rome ➖ Originally built as Italy. the mausoleum for Constantine's eldest daughter Constantina (Costanza) ➖ exterior of the building was unrevmarkable and unadornedv

Detail of Vault Mosaic, Santa Costanza

Rome, 337-351, ambulatory mosaic ➖ On the barrel vaulted ceiling of the ambulatory, mosaic decoration depict both pagan and Christian elements ➖ Center of one panel is a bust portrait of a woman, perhaps Costanza, surrounded by rich scrolling vine ➖ Corners are scenes of putti harvesting grapes and producing wine == wine in pagan world associated with the god Bacchus, but for Christians it represented the blood of Christ

Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, detail of Sacrifice of Isaac

Rome, Italy, c. 359, marble, 359, Vatican Treasury ➖ Located upper left ➖ Abraham was called on by God to sacrifice his only son, and was going to do so obediently ➖ Often seen as a prefiguration of God's sacrifice of his own son

Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus

Rome, c. 359, marble, 3'10"x8', Vatican Treasury ➖ Most important surviving early Christian works of art ➖ Belonged to a Roman official named Junius Bassus ➖ Inscription on the sarcophagus reveals he was baptized just before his death ➖ Public and demonstrative celebration of his Christian faith is impressive at this early date ➖ Sarcophagus was originally buried near the tomb of St. Peter ➖ Carved on three sides with a flat back side that would have stood against a wall in a mausoleum ➖ Lid depicted masks at either end and a reclining portrait of the deceased ➖ Dedicatory plaque at the center ➖ Sides depict putti (a putto is a young cherub-like figure with wings) harvesting grapes, and other seasonal imagery ➖ Front are two horizontal registers with ten small scenes ➖ Scenes are from both the Old Testament and the New Testament ➖ Upper register: == Abraham and Isaac (often seen as a prefiguration of God's sacrifice of his own son) == St. Peter taken prisoner == Christ enthroned between Peter and Paul == Christ under arrest == Christ before Pilate ➖ Lower register: == Job on the dunghill == Adam and Eve (precipitated the need for salvation) == Christ entering Jerusalem == Daniel in the lion's den (scene of salvation) == St. Paul being led to his martyrdom ➖ Christ == takes up the central niche on both registers: personification, depicted as a semi-nude bearded man holding a billowing sail above his head, is meant to signify that the seated ruler above is ruler of the entire universe == seated between Saints Peter and Paul to whom he hands his law: traditio legis == sitting on a donkey riding into Jerusalem ➖ No depiction of the Crucifixion

Restored view of Old Saint Peter's

Rome, c.320 ➖ Basilica was built on the west side of the Tiber river, literally on top of the site of Peter's burial ➖ Needed to be based on an imposing architectural model that did not previously have any strong pagan religious significance == turned to Roman civic architecture, specifically the basilica, for inspiration ➖ Structure: == wide central nave (center aisle) with double flanking side aisles == a semicircular niche or apse at one end (usually the east end) == niche preceded by a large open colonnaded courtyard called an atrium == worshipers entered the basilica through the narthex (vestibule) == altar was framed by an architectural feature called a triumphal arch that divided the apse from the transept == transept, or transverse arm, was an aisle set perpendicular to the nave at the apse end that symbolically altered the basilica form into a shape that mimics the cross (specifically Constantinian innovation) == entrance was moved from the long flank (as it had been in Roman structures like the Basilica Nova), to the short side == columns supported an entablature, and clerestory windows above == trussed wooden roof == huge marble canopy (baldachino) supported by four spiral columns, to mark the altar just above the sacred spot of the burial of St. Peter ➖ Completely torn down to accommodate Baroque, basilica

Christ before Pilate and suicide of Judas

Rossano Gospels, early sixth cen, purple vellum, 11 × 10, Museo Diocesano d' Arte Sacra, Rossano ➖ Depicts a scene from the Trial of Christ (Matthew 27: 2-26) ➖ Shows Jesus brought by soldiers before Pontius Pilate who sits on a dais (a raised platform) decorated with imperial portraits ➖ Standing next to the dais, are accusers and imperial guards ➖ Lower portion, Judas repentant, tries to return the pieces of silver he was paid to betray Jesus but cannot ➖ At the far right we see the suicide of Judas ➖ Desire to illuminate the actual text, but to do so with clarity and an emphasis on the message, as opposed to artistic convention and landscape details

codex (pl. codices)

Separate pages of vellum or parchment bound together at one side and having a cover; the predecessor of the modern book.

catacombs

Subterranean networks of galleries and chambers designed as cemeteries for the burial of the dead.

atrium (pl. atria)

The court of a Roman house that is partly open to the sky. Also the open, colonnaded court in front of and attached to a Christian basilica

Old Testament

The first part of the Christian Bible, corresponding to the Hebrew Bible, that recounts the creation of the world and the history of ancient Israel.

Gospels

The four books of the New Testament that relate the life and teachings of Jesus. The Gospels were written by the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

What is the term for the biblical interpretation in which individuals and events from the Old Testament serve as prefigurations of New Testament individuals and events?

Typology

Rebecca and Eliezer at the well

Vienna Genesis, miniature in the Vienna Genesis, early sixth cen, tempera gold and silver on purple vellum, 12 in × 9 in, Osterreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna ➖ The oldest, best-preserved illuminated manuscript containing scenes from the Bible, is the early sixth century manuscript called the Vienna Genesis == combination the Old Testament book of Genesis and its current location in Vienna ➖ Pages of the Vienna Genesis are vellum, that was died purple and the text, in Greek, was written in silver ink ➖ Eliezer was the servant of Abraham ➖ Sent out to find a wife for Abraham's son Isaac ➖ Eliezer chooses Rebecca because when they meet at a well outside of her city she offers water to both him and his camels ➖ Piece is an example of the use of continuous narrative ➖ At the left we see the lovely Rebecca == She is walking away from her city, the little walled town of Nahor, to fetch water from the well == In the lower portion we see Rebecca again giving water to Eliezer and his camels ➖ Roman artistic devises used in the illumination: == prominently the semi-nude reclining female that appears to lie on the ground in front of Rebecca == figure leans over an over- turned amphora, and serves here as a personification of the spring or river that is the source of the well wate ➖ White columns suggest a colonnaded walkway ➖ Piece depicted with a minimum of detail in order to keep the message clear and simple

reliquary

a container for keeping, holding, or displaying a relic.

Where did Honorious, the Emperor of the West, move the capital?

moved the capital of the West from Rome to Milan, and then again to Ravenna, a small provincial town on the Adriatic coast

saint

from the Latin 'sanctus' meaning 'made holy by God.'

Typology

the iconographical pairing or coupling of Old with New Testament imagery

What is difference between vellum and parchment?

vellum (calfskin) parchment (lambskin)

Peter

➖ Apostle of Jesus, a martyr, and a saint ➖ Considered Rome's first Bishop and therefore the first Pope ➖ Had been crucified upside down during the reign of the Emperor Nero

.

➖ Christian art == 2nd and 6th centuries ce ➖ Byzantine art == art made after 525 ce ➖ Common era == time after Byzantine

What is a Chi Rho? Describe it and explain where it first appears?

➖ Christian monogram and symbol formed from the first two letters X and P of the Greek word for Christ ➖ Catacombs of St. Callixtus

baldacchino

A canopy, often freestanding, on columns, frequently built over an altar. Also called a ciborium.

ambulatory

A covered walkway; especially the passageway around the apse and the choir of a basilica plan or central plan church

arch

A curved structural member that spans an opening and is generally composed of wedge-shaped blocks (voussoirs) that transmit the downward pressure laterally

putto

(pl: putti): Italian term for a nude, often winged, cherubic young boy.

diptych

A two-paneled painting or altarpiece; also, an ancient Roman, Early Christian, or Byzantine hinged writing tablet, often of ivory and carved on the external sides.

nimbus

A halo (aureole) appearing around the head of a holy figure to signify divinity.

cloister

A monastery courtyard usually with covered walkways or ambulatories along the sides.

mausoleum

A monumental tomb. A large stately tomb or building, often above ground, housing a single tomb or several tombs.

folio

A page of a manuscript or book.

pieta

A painted or sculpted representation of the Virgin Mary mourning over the body of Christ.

portico

A porch with a roof supported by columns; an entrance porch.

apse

A recess, usually singular and semi-circular, in the wall of a Roman basilica or at the east end of a Christian church

central plan

A round domed building plan in which the parts of the structure are arranged, with equal or almost equal, distances from the center. ➖ has the ancient tholos tomb as its inspiration ➖ generally reserved for smaller buildings like martyriums; mausoleums; baptisteries; and private chapels

lunette

A semi-circular area (with the flat side down) in a wall over a door, a niche, or a window

martyrium

A small building intended to mark the site of a burial of a Christian martyr.

cubiculum (pl. cubicula)

A small room that opens onto the atrium of a Roman house. Also, a small chamber in an Early Christian catacomb that served as a mortuary chapel. ➖ carved out of the rock that could contain a number of loculi, often used for a family burial, like a mortuary chapel

personification

An abstract idea or quality represented in bodily form.

relics

An object of religious veneration, especially a piece of the body or a personal item of a saint or holy person.

anagogical axis

Anagogical means spiritual or mystical; an axis is a straight line. The anagogical axis of a work of art is the invisible line on which all of the most spiritual or mystical elements are arranged or lined up

What is the term for the vast network of subterranean galleries that contain a great number of early Christian artworks?

Catacombs

Christ as Good Shepherd

Catacombs, ceiling painting from two different cubicula, Rome, early 4th cen ➖ Fresco ➖ Shown youthful and beardless, carrying a sheep on his shoulders == image is based on an already established form, the moscophoros ➖ New Testament ➖ Christ portrayed as a shepherd or a teacher is a common depiction for him until after Christianity becomes the official religion of the Empire == after Christianity is legalized Christ depicted wearing imperial robes and a halo ➖ Spaces between the lunettes are standing orant figures, both male and female == early Christian attitude of prayer was one with arms outstretched and palms raised upward ➖ In the lunettes, around the edges, are scenes from the Old Testament story of Jonah: == one scene sailors throw Jonah from a boat == another we see the whale/ sea dragon == Jonah reclines under an arbo ➖ Story of Jonah and the whale is considered a prefiguration (a prophetic forerunner) of Christ's death and resurrection ➖ Typology ➖ Commonly found in the catacombs; message of salvation: == Jonah == Daniel in the lion's den == three hebrews in the fiery furnace == Moses striking the rock ➖ Image not found in the catacombs is the crucifixion == too violent and perhaps too present in the everyday world ➖ Have been called the "archives of the early church"

Catacombs of St. Callixtus

Chi Rho, cubicula, Rome 2nd- 4th cen ➖ Made up of a series of symbols meant to represent Christ and Christian beliefs ➖ Inscriptions like: == Chi Rho == Christogram == Alpha and omega == symbol of a fish == Acrostics such as IXθYC ➖ Greek word fish: == composed from the initial letters if the Greek phrase "Jesus Christ Son of God Savior" ➖Symbolic of larger Christian themes and messages: == dove == fish == peacock == lamb == grapevine == anchor ➖ Syncretism == roman in style but Christian in context

Catacombs of Priscilla

Interior, gallery with loculi, Rome 2nd- 4th cen, tufa rock ➖ Located just on the outskirts of Rome ➖ Vast subterranean network of galleries and chambers designed as cemeteries in which to bury the Christian dead ➖ Keeping with Roman laws by being located outside the old pomerium/ sacred boundary of the city proper ➖ Constant use between the 2nd and 4th centuries ➖ Consist of varying levels of narrow street-like tunnels with niches, or larger cubiculas, cut in the walls ➖ Dug by professional men called fossores who served as grave-diggers, tunnelers, and guides to visiting families and pilgrims ➖ Two main types of burial spaces within the catacombs: == loculi == cubicula ➖ Believed in the eventual resurrection of the dead == practiced inhumation ➖ After the legalization of Christianity in 313, churches were often located near or over parts of the catacombs and chapels designated for worship of some of the martyrs were designed in the catacombs themselves

Christus Patiens

Latin for "suffering Christ." An image of Christ depicted dead on the cross.

Christus Triumphans

Latin for "triumphant Christ" An image of the living Christ on the cross.

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, interior

Ravenna, Italy c. 425 ➖ Covered in brilliant glass mosaics == composed of small cubes of colored glass cut to desired size and shape; these tesserae are then set into wet plaster ➖ Decorative medallions that resemble stars and snowflakes ➖ Crossing vault mosaic has a large gold cross at the center, set against a star-filled sky ➖ In the corners are symbols of the evangelists == winged man for Matthew == winged lion for Mark == winged ox for Luke == eagle for John == derived from the Old Testament vision of Ezekiel

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, exterior

Ravenna, Italy c. 425 ➖ Gall Placidia commissioned a tiny cruciform (cross-shaped) structure with barrel-vaulted arms and a small crossing tower ➖ Building was originally attached to the Imperial Palace ➖ May have initially been dedicated to Saint Lawrence ➖ Later adapted to serve as the Imperial funerary chapel ➖ Little chapel is often cited as one of the earliest examples of the architectural fusion of the longitudinal basilica and vertically oriented central plan

New Testament

The second part of the Christian Bible dealing with the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

crossing

The space in a cruciform church formed by the intersection of the nave and the transept.

narthex

The vestibule of a church ; a transverse hall in front of the nave.

Magi

The wise men from the East who present gifts to the infant Jesus.

monotheism

The worship of a single all-powerful God. (the opposite of polytheism: the belief in multiple gods).

Suicide of Judas and Crucifixion of Christ

c. 420, ivory, 2.8 × 3.9 inches, British Museum, London ➖ Earliest known example of the Crucifixion in the history of Western art ➖ Plaque is actually part of a series of four plaques depicting the suffering and triumph of Christ that were made for a small ivory box ➖ Depicts two separate but related events: == Far left we see the suicide of Judas. Felt remorse for betraying Jesus and tried to return the money he'd accepted, but could not. Hung himself from a tree. Money bag at his feet filled with the 30 pieces of silver. The strap to tie the bag mimics a snake at the feet of Judas. == Right is the image of the Crucifixion. Center Jesus is nailed on the cross. On his right, his mother Mary and John the Evangelist (both present at the crucifixion). On his left is the Roman centurion, Longinus, who pierces him in the side with his sword. Above Christ's head is the superscription REX IUD, which is a shortened form in Latin for Rex Iudica, or King of the Jews. ➖ Term for this type of image is a Christus Triumphans, (Christ triumphant) == refers to the image of Christ alive on the cross ➖ Image is contrasted in art with the Christus Patiens == image of the tortured Christ dead on the cross ➖ Christ's triumph over death is visually and theologically contrasted with the lifeless body of Judas

What is the term for the architectural design of Santa Constanza?

central plan churches

The Old Farmer, Vatican Vergil

codex, AD c. 400-420, tempera on parchment, Vatican Library, Rome ➖ The Vatican Virgil, or Vergilius Vaticanus, is a codex that contains fragments of Virgil's Aeneid and Georgics ➖ Oldest extant preserved illuminated manuscript containing classical literature ➖ Miniatures depict a variety of subjects: == landscapes == seascapes == architectural views == humans == animals == Each of the miniatures is painted in a classical style and contained within a frame

The parting of Lot and Abraham, S. Maria Maggiore Nave

nave arcade, Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome 432-440, panel approximate height 3′5 ➖ Early and impressive cycle of mosaic imagery ➖ First major church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the West ➖ Church was begun in the year 432 == same year the Virgin Mary had been officially given the title, Theotokos, or "Bearer of God" ➖ Nave of the huge church is decorated with mosaics on the entablature (wall portion above the columns) with scenes from the Old Testament ➖ Old Testament scene (Genesis 13: 1-12) represents the separating of Abraham and his nephew Lot == allegory for the separation of good from evil ➖ Abraham represents good == moves to the right toward a temple in Canaan (Palestine) == son Isaac is in front of him ➖ Lot represents evil == moves off to the left in the direction of the city of Sodom == his two daughters in front of him ➖ Message one chooses wisely and righteously; the other did not ➖ Groups are reduced to head clusters ➖ Use of broad gestures and simplified motion == characteristic of early Christian art

sarcophagus

rom the Latin meaning " consumer of flesh." A coffin, or container for the body, usually made of stone.

loculi

small rectangular shelf like openings in the walls of catacombs to receive the dead. ➖ shelf-like openings in the walls of the galleries placed one above the other,

Who commissioned St. Peter's Basilica? Describe its design and location.

➖ Constantine ➖ Basilica was built on the west side of the Tiber river, literally on top of the site of Peter's burial ➖ Structure: == wide central nave (center aisle) with double flanking side aisles == a semicircular niche or apse at one end (usually the east end) == niche preceded by a large open colonnaded courtyard called an atrium == worshipers entered the basilica through the narthex (vestibule) == altar was framed by an architectural feature called a triumphal arch that divided the apse from the transept == transept, or transverse arm, was an aisle set perpendicular to the nave at the apse end that symbolically altered the basilica form into a shape that mimics the cross (specifically Constantinian innovation) == entrance was moved from the long flank (as it had been in Roman structures like the Basilica Nova), to the short side == columns supported an entablature, and clerestory windows above == trussed wooden roof == huge marble canopy (baldachino) supported by four spiral columns, to mark the altar just above the sacred spot of the burial of St. Peter

Codex

➖ Costly art form that dominated the early Christian period ➖ Essentially the ancestor of the modern book ➖ It composed of separate leaves or pages, called folios, that are enclosed together within a cover and bound together at one side ➖ Format essentially replaced the rotulus or scroll format == scrolls primarily made of papyrusn which was costly/ brittle == scrolls were difficult to manage ➖ Codex pages were flat and made of sturdy vellum (calfskin) or parchment (lambskin) == better surface for writing and painting and could be decorated on both sides ➖ Early decorated codex is an illuminated manuscript ➖ Illuminations in a codex are called miniatures ➖ Illuminated manuscripts, or codices, were incredibly expensive and time consuming to produce == beginning of the process required the raising of the animals, then the curing, cutting, and in some cases dying of the skin == then the planning and plotting of each page for the location of text and illumination == then the actual lettering and illuminating == finally the folios needed binding and then the addition of a decorated cover ➖ Illuminated manuscript was adopted by the Christians as the preferred medium for scripture == visual connection between the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament == scroll format was always and only used for the Tora

Christian Church at Dura Europas

➖ Earliest Christian churches discovered ➖ Located near the Euphrates river in Syria ➖ Small Roman outpost was destroyed by the Sassanians in 256 and abandoned == excavations discovered a Jewish synagogue and a Christian community house ➖ When it was still illegal to practice, Christians, like Jews, gathered in private homes ➖ Built like other Roman houses with small rooms (cubiculas) surrounding a courtyard == could hold approximately 70 worshippers ➖ Had a small recess or niche that contained a baptismal font with image of Christ as the Good Shepherd'/ image of Adam and Eve == font evidence of the importance of the rite of Baptism for Christians ➖ Communal dining room in which the Christians practiced the celebration of the Eucharist == consumption of bread and wine ➖ Decoration of the house included mural scenes: == Marys visiting Christ's tomb == Christ healing == David and Goliath

Arcadius and Honorious

➖ Father: Emperor Theodosius I ➖ East ruled by Arcadius ➖ West ruled by Honorious == c == when he died, position was briefly filled by his half-sister Galla Placidia

Christians

➖ General term given to followers of Jesus of Nazareth == crucified in the year 30, during reign of Emperor Tiberius under Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea ➖ Persecution of the members of Christianity began around 64 == Emperor Nero blamed the fire of Rome on the Christians == ordered the execution of both St. Peter and St. Paul == Christians executed primarily because they refused to worship the Emperor or to take part in the rites of the state's imperial cult ➖ Persecution of Christians did not stop until 313 when Constantine wrote his Edict of Milan == after that date that Christians were free to worship and to create public works of art and architecture in honor of their faith

Rossano Gospels

➖ Illuminated manuscript similar to the Vienna Genesis ➖ Purple vellum manuscript with Greek text in silver ink ➖ Subjects come from the GOSPELS of the New Testament ➖ Earliest preserved illuminated manuscript of the New Testament

What is the earliest extant illuminated manuscript with scenes from the New Testament?

➖ Rossano Gospels == Christ before Pilate and suicide of Judas

What is the date of the earliest depiction of the crucifixion scene in the history of Western art? Describe it. What is the medium?

➖ Suicide of Judas and Crucifixion of Christ ➖ c. 420 ➖ Ivory

Christian Art

➖ Very little is known about Christian art in the first century == early Christians, having come from a faith whose basis was Judaism, shared a reluctance to make figural art ➖ Graven images were interpreted by Christians to mean carved in wood or stone == expressly prohibited by the second commandment == images were often made in paint and mosaic but rarely in three dimensions ➖ Desire to use images as teaching tools == particularly for the mostly illiterate, images were the best way to express tenets of faith and tell the stories of the Bible

Mosaic in Christian Art

➖ a favorite method of decoration during the early Christian period ➖ classical world mosaic had traditionally served as a floor decoration, but the Christian adaptation was to transfer mosaics upward to the walls and vaults

Interior of Santa Constanza

➖ interior of the central plan building, because of its shape, does not have a nave and side aisles, but instead has an ambulatory ➖ Would have been sheathed in rich marbles and both the floor and ceiling covered with mosaics == subject matter including bust portraits, decorative coffers, and scenes reminiscent of the catacombs and sarcophagi

Constantine

➖ the first major patron of Christian architecture ➖ greatest of the Christian churches erected by Constantine was Saint Peter's