Art History Unit 4

cuerda seca

"dry cord" more economical because the tiles are larger not as vibrant and do not reflect color

minor arts

manuscript paintings ceramics textiles

The Catacombs and Funerary Art

"Early Christian art" refers to the earliest preserved works that have Christian subjects, not art done by Christians at the time of Jesus. Found mostly in catacombs ("in the hollows")- vast subterranean networks of galleries (passageways) and chambers designed as cemeteries for burying Christian dead. Made of tufa bedrock, very extensive. 60-90 miles. Housed as many as four million bodies. Christians had to be buried on private property (purchased by a confraternity (association of Christian families pooling funds)) outside of a city's walls. Loculi- openings to receive bodies of the dead, like shelves. Cubicula- small rooms, like Roman houses, that serves as mortuary temples. Martyrs- individuals who chose to die rather than deny their religious beliefs Churches eventually rose above catacombs. Christian catacombs were dug frequently adjacent to non-Christian ones, and sarcophagi with Christian imagery were apparently popular with the richer Christians.

Calligraphy

"ornamental writing" passages from the Koran appeared on walls as well as in books a holy task that required training written from right to left early examples written in Kufic, named after Kufa finial- crowning ornament

Alhambra (Granada, Spain)

"the Red" for its rose colored walls and 23 towers The Palace of the Lions takes its name from its courtyard that boasts a fountain with marble lions carrying water basin on their backs. elaborate stucco ceilings Hall of Abencerrajes- the structure is difficult to discern because of the stucco muqarnas (stalactite prismatic forms) decoration- they catch and reflect sunlight to look like a starry sky

Luxury Arts

***Minor arts (luxury)= jewlery, metalworking, ivories, crafts Major arts= sculpture and painting

Harbaville triptych

3 piece shrine hinged wings for private devotion Deesis (supplication): It's an intercession. That is both of these figures are coming to Christ on behalf of mankind. Small pieces of glass, some with gold in them, some colored. These are tesserae and what's fabulous about them is they're set in the wall at slightly different angles so they all catch the light in different ways. striations, that is the use of line and the drapery to define the folds. Fourth Crusade- the moment of the long downward spiral of Constantinople.

Terms and people

Belisarius and Narses- Justinian's generals Nika Revolt- dangerous rebellion in 532 Procopius- Historian Code of Civil Law- Corpus juris civilis the chi-rho-iota is the monogram of Christ

Sculpture- Santa Maria Antiqua Sarcophagus

Christians rejected cremation and preferred marble sarcophagi for burial. -Sarcophagus with philosopher, orant, and old and new testament scenes; depicts the salvation of Jonah, Christ as the Good Shepherd, and the baptism of Christ (he was baptized at 30). The unfinished heads were portraits of the deceased. Roman workshops made sarcophagi before burial and might add features to faces after purchase. Emperor Constantine was baptized on his deathbed. To produce a sarcophagus like this meant a serious commitment on the part of the maker. The expense of the stone and the time taken to carve it were considerable. A craftsman would not have made a commitment like this without a sense of certainty that someone would purchase it. The common subject of salvation echoes the major emphasis in the mystery religions on personal salvation. The appearance of these subjects frequently adjacent to each other in the catacombs and sarcophagi can be read as a visual litany: save me Lord as you have saved Jonah from the belly of the great fish, save me Lord as you have saved the Hebrews in the desert, save me Lord as you have saved Daniel in the Lion's den, etc. syncretism- the borrowing or sharing of visual images among cultural traditions. The outstretched hands in Early Christian art represent the so-called "orant" or praying figure. The pose of the reclining Jonah with his arm over his head is based on the Greek (pagan) mythological figure of Endymion, whose wish to sleep for ever--and thus become ageless and immortal—explains the popularity of this subject on non-Christian sarcophagi. the Good Shepherd and the Psalms of David, the motif had clear parallels in Greek and Roman art, going back at least to Archaic Greek art, as exemplified by the so-called Moschophoros, or calf-bearer, from the early sixth century B.C.E.

Architecture and Mosaics

Churches had to meet the requirements of Christian liturgy (the official ritual of public worship), had to provide a monumental setting, and accommodate for a growing number of worshipers. Constantine was the first major patron of Christian architecture. Constantinapole was the "New Rome" located in the East. Churches were built in Constantinapole, Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, and Jerusalem, the site of the Crucifixion.

Saint Apollinaris amid sheep

Classe, Ravenna, Italy set in landscape artist rejected the classical illusionism of early mosaics

Chapter 9- Byzantium

Constantine's Constantinople and his original name "New Rome" The term Byzantine pertains to everything Byzantium. Christianized the Slavic people of the Balkans Theodosius established Christianity as Rome's official religion at the end of the fourth century Justinian made it New Rome's only lawful religion

Rome

Constantinian churches (the major ones) stood on sites of Christian martyrs, which were on the city outskirts. Avoided confrontation between Rome's Christian and pagan populations.

Great Mosque (Cordoba, Spain)

Cordoba was the capital of the Umayyad dynasty in Spain. In the hypostyle prayer hall, 36 piers and 514 columns support a unique series of double-tiered horseshoe-shaped arches. The horseshoe shape became associated with Muslim architecture. The maqsura of the mosque was reserved for the caliph and connected to his palace. The design is an example of experimentation with multilobed arches. The dome rests on an octagonal base of arcuated squinches. Crisscrossing ribs form an intricate decorative pattern. Byzantine artists fashioned this mosaic ornament.

Vienna Dioskorides

Dioskorides was a Greek physician, had an encyclopedia of herbs called De materia medica. the ivory was a gift from Honoratai to Anicia Juliana- a patron of art enthroned with personifications of Magnanimity and Prudence

Painting

Early Christian art is Roman in style and Christian in subject. ---The Good Shepherd, the story of Jonah, and orants (praying figures), painted ceiling of a cubiculum in the Catacomb of Saints Peter and Marcellinus, Rome, Italy: Catacomb paintings mixed old and new testament themes. Jonah was popular because he was swallowed by a sea monster and emerged safely (on a whale, or "ketos") after three days, prefiguring (prophetic forerunning) Christ's Resurrection. The sheep on Christ's shoulders represents a sinner who has been rescued. circular frame with a central medallion and lunettes (semicircular frames) around the circumference.

Santa Sabina

Early Christian basilican churches were timber roofed and illuminated by clerestory windows. The Corinthian columns of the nave focused attention on the apse, which framed the altar. a nave arcade is a series of arches supported by columns that separate the naves from the aisles. Spoila- these are columns that were reused from a pagan building, and here have been repurposed in this Christian context.

Old Saint Peter's

Greatest of Constantine's churches, stood on Saint Peter's grave. The building's plan and elevation resemble those of Roman basilicas, not pagan temples. can house 3,000 to 4,000 worshipers at once. Wide central nave with flanking aisles and an apse at the end. All Early Christian basilicas had a longitudinal axis- worshipers entered through a narthex (or vestibule). Apse framed by chancel arch that divided the nave from the transept, or transverse aisle. Basilicas also served as audience halls as a part of imperial palaces. A well-preserved example is found in the northern German town of Trier. Constantine built a basilica as part of a palace complex in Trier which served as his northern capital. The Liber pontificalis, or Book of the Pontiffs (popes) lists Saint Peter's gifts: altars, chandeliers, candlesticks, pitchers, goblets... A marble baldacchino (domical canopy over an altar) marked Saint Peter's tomb. Constantine built churches in Rome including the Church of St. Peter, he built churches in the Holy Land, most notably the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, and he built churches in his newly-constructed capital of Constantinople. Constantine and his architects confronted a major challenge: what should be the physical form of the church? Clearly the traditional form of the Roman temple would be inappropriate both from associations with pagan cults but also from the difference in function. The Christian churches needed large interior spaces to house the growing congregations and to mark the clear separation of the faithful from the unfaithful. At the same time, the new Christian churches needed to be visually meaningful. The buildings needed to convey the new authority of Christianity.

Rossano Gospels

Greek manuscript earliest preserved illuminated book that contains illustrations of the New Testament. The sources for medieval manuscript illustrations were diverse. The way the people form an arch around Pilate on this page suggests that the composition derives from a painting in a church apse. Barabbas us specifically labeled to avoid confusion.

Madrasa Imami

Has the mihrab mentioned above Muhaqqaq- Islamic calligraphy style- fills the mihrab's outer frame.

Chapter 10- the Islamic World

Islam is Arabic for "submission to God" arose in the Arabian Peninsula in the seventh century nomadic herders and caravan merchants Islamic art spread eastward and westward the Muslim world's political and cultural center was the Fertile Crescent of ancient Mesopotamia caliph- head of state "successor" Damascus- capital of Syria (dynasty of Umayyads, also in Spain) Baghdad- capital of Iraq (dynasty of Abbasids) dynasty of Fatimids in Egypt

The Life of Jesus in Art

Jesus of Nazareth is the son of God- the Messiah (savior) of the Jews. Four Evangelists- Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Incarnation and Childhood: Oh my god just pull up the freaking book you are not typing this shite out. PAGE 216 AND 217.

Statuette of Christ

Monumental sculpture decreased. Justin Martyr (Apologia/ philosopher) accused pagans of worshiping statues as gods. -Christ seated, from Civita Latina, Italy; the earliest represenations show Jesus as a young man. Statues of Christ were rare because of the Second Commandment prohibition of idol worship.

Mausoleum of the Samanids (Bukhara, Uzbekistan)

Monumental tombs were virtually unknown in the early Islamic period. The Samanid mausoleum is one of the oldest. Its dome-on-cube form had a long afterlife in the Islamic funerary architecture. made of baked bricks engaged columns- half-round, attached columns blind arcade- a series of arches in relief, with blocked openings colonnettes- thin columns

Norman Sicily

Normans- french descendants of the vikings palantine- palace prismatic (muqarnas) ceiling

Mosque of Selim II

Ottoman architect Sinan the Great The Ottomans developed a new type of mosque with a square prayer hall covered by a dome. Sinan's mosque has a taller dome than Hagia Sophia's and is an engineering triumph. Edirne dome.

Court of the Lions

Palace of the Lions, Alhambra, Granada, Spain named for its fountains unusual statues, it is distinctly Islamic in the use of multilobed pointed arches and the interweaving of Arabic calligraphy and sbstract ornament in its stuccoed walls.

DURA-EUROPOS

Roman outpost overlooking Euphrates River in Syria. Called Europos by the Greeks and Dura by the Romans. Founded after the death of Alexander the Great Captured from the Parthians by Trajan in 115, but returned to Parthian control. Taken in 165 by Marcus Aurelius; fell to the Sasanians (Parthians) in 256- the inhabitants evacuated and left the buildings intact. Roman Garrison town. "Pompeii of the Desert"

Late Antiquity

Rome expands their territories throughout Europe, Africa, and the Near East. During the third and fourth centuries, Romans rejected polytheism- the belief in multiple gods- in favor of monotheism. However, Jewish and Christian art was not forgotten. Formed the foundation of art in the Middle Ages. Two important moments played a critical role in the development of early Christianity: 1. The decision of the Apostle Paul to spread Christianity beyond the Jewish communities of Palestine into the Greco-Roman world. 2. When the Emperor Constantine accepted Christianity and became its patron at the beginning of the fourth century The creation and nature of Christian art were directly impacted by these moments. Christianity in its first three centuries was one of a large number of mystery religions that flourished in the Roman world. The different religious experiences appealed to different aspects of life. In contrast to the civic identity which was at the focus of the public cults, the mystery religions appealed to the participant's concerns for personal salvation. The mystery cults focused on a central mystery that would only be known by those who had become initiated into the teachings of the cult. The monotheism of Christianity, though, was a crucial difference from the other cults. The refusal of the early Christians to participate in the civic cults due to their monotheistic beliefs lead to their persecution. Christians were seen as anti-social.

Third Rome

Russia is the Third Rome Byzantium is the New Rome Rome is the Old Rome

Confronting Lions and Palm Tree

Silk textile. Early examples of Islamic silk textiles are rare because of their fragile nature. This fragmentary fabric from Uzbekistan features animal motifs that were common in secular contexts but shunned for mosques. Early silk textiles are rare because of their fragile nature- they are among the glories of art. Silk was made in China and shipped across the "silk road" through Asia to the Middle East and Europe. Lions- other animals scamper across the silk between the roundels (tondi, or circular frames)

Synagogue Paintings

Synagogue with extensive cycle of mural paintings. that depict biblical themes. Originally a private house with a central courtyard. Defied the laws of the Bible's Second Commandment prohibiting the making of graven images. God (YHWH/ Yahweh) only appears as a hand. Artists tell stories with little action through stylized gestures and lack expression, volume, and shadow; they also stand in frontal rows. SAMUEL APPOINTING DAVID: the features above are also of contemporaneous pagan art. Prophet appoints the future king of Israel while David's six brothers watch. Samuel is larger than the rest. David wears a purple toga, the color associated with royalty. INTERIOR (Wall paintings of Old Testament themes): tempera on plaster; the niche housing the sacred Torah is at the center of one long wall adorned with paintings. Torah= scroll containing the Pentateuch- the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures.

Baghdad

The Abbasids overthrew the Umayyads and moved the capital from Damascus to a site in Iraq near the old Sasanian capital of Ctesiphon Baghdad was called Madina al-salam, the City of Peace

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia (Honorius's half-sister)

The cruciform (cross-shaped) chapel with a domed crossing is an early example of the combination of central and longitudinal planes. The unadorned brick shell encloses a rich ensemble of mosaics. -Christ as the Good Shepherd, mosaic from the entrance wall; Jesus sits among his flock, haloed and robed in gold and purple. The landscape and the figures, with their cast shadows, are the work of a mosaicist still deeply rooted in naturalistic classical tradition. Her father married her off to the king of the Goths in a political alliance. Ultimately, she would remarry, and her son would become emperor, but he was too young to rule. She ruled the western Roman Empire in place of her son until her son was old enough to take over. the wall is covered with decorative forms. Forms that might remind us of ancient Roman carving. For example, we see acanthus leaves and vines although the vines here are very specifically grape vines, and that refers to the Sacrament of the Eucharist, of taking the bread and wine of the body and blood of Christ. mosaics are small tiles of stone, or, in this case, glass. They're brightly colored in blues and greens and reds and golds. So, in this case, gold was sandwiched between pieces of glass, and these pieces, or tesseraei, are set a little bit on edge. In other words, they're not smooth and flat against the wall, and so they catch the light and glimmer. And that would have been especially true when this room was illuminated not by an electric light with its steady illumination, but instead by the flickering light of lanterns.

Junisus Bassus Sarcophagus

The wealthiest Christians, like the recently converted city prefect Junius Bassus, favored elaborately decorated sarcophagi. Here, biblical episodes from Adam and Eve to Christ before Pilate appear in 10 niches. In the top, middle niche, Christ sits between Saint Peter and Paul as their teacher. In another, Jesus is led before Potinus Pilate for judgement. This sarcophagus like the catacomb paintings contain examples of typology- the intententional connection of images illustrating key stories from the Old Testament with those from incidents in the New Testament. The Old Testament is what Christians call the Jewish Torah. this sculpture is really showing a pretty high-pitched naturalism in terms of the rendering of the bodies, the contrapposto that we see the figures standing in, and even some of the sort of emotional attributes of figures. The heads are a little bit too large for the bodies. The bodies are starting to be a little bit on the stubby side. So it's a very interesting transitional moment. What we're witnessing here is the invention of a new iconography. This Is the invention of a new visual language for the telling of this critical stories. the figures are in very, very high relief. Some of them seem to be entirely separate from the marble ground. And I love these columns with capitals and bringing together of the classical and the beginnings of the Christian. Before the time of Constantine, the figure of Christ was rarely directly represented, but here on the Junius Bassus sarcophagus we see Christ prominently represented not in a narrative representation from the New Testament but in a formula derived from Roman Imperial art. The traditio legis ("giving of the law") was a formula in Roman art to give visual testament to the emperor as the sole source of the law. The youthful, beardless Christ, based on representation of Apollo, vied for dominance with the long-haired and bearded Christ, based on representations of Jupiter or Zeus. the figure of Caelus signifies Roman authority and its rule of everything earthly, that is, under the heavens. In the Junius Bassus relief, Caelus's position under Christ's feet signifies that Christ is the ruler of heaven. A panel with the same subject was probably a part of a pagan sarcophagus made for a child. This iconography is based on images of the seasons in Roman art. Again the artists have taken conventions from Greek and Roman art and converted it into a Christian context. The wheat and grapes of the classical motif would be understood in the Christian context as a reference to the bread and wine of the Eucharist. While the dumpy proportions are far from the standards of classical art, the style of the relief especially with the rich folds of drapery and soft facial features can be seen as classic or alluding to the classical style.

Sant'Apollinare Nuovo

Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths, established his capital in Ravenna in 493. His palace-church features an extensive series of mosaics depicting Old Testament prophets and scenes from the life of Christ. a three-aisled basilica dedicated to the Savior. three zones, with the upper two dating to Theodoric. -Miracle of the loaves and fishes, mosaic from the top register of the nave wall; Jesus faces directly towards the viewer. Blue sky has given way to the otherworldy splendor of heavenly gold, the standard background color for medieval mosaics.

Ravenna

Theodosius I established Christianity as a state religion, banned pagan worship, and abolished the Olympic games. Passed power to Arcadius (East) and Honorius (West) after his death. Arcadius moved his capital to Ravenna, 80 miles south of Venice. Ravenna fell to Justinian in 539. RAVENNA- It was a complicated history. And there were migrating peoples coming into the Empire. You might know these as the Ostrogoths, the Visigoths, the Huns. Ultimately, Constantine moved the capital of the Empire from Rome to a strategic location in the East, what is now called Istanbul but which was renamed Constantinople. Before it was Constantinople, it was the Greek town of Byzantium, and that's why we call the culture from the eastern part of the Empire, Byzantine.

Catacomb of Priscilla

This is a labyrinth of narrow passageways occupy about 10 kilometers or more than five miles of burials if we were to dig down, we would hit the natural tufa, the stone of Rome, which is a soft material, which is why it was ideal for this kind of excavation. And what's amazing is that the passageways are stacked on top of each other. And the catacomb is in certain places three stories deep. this was the villa of a wealthy Roman woman named Priscilla. And it seems she donated the land as a place where at first her family would be buried and then eventually the Christian community. some 40,000 tombs have been located very dark passageway, a low ceiling, a rough earth and floor. horizontal niches that are just long enough to accommodate a body. Some are quite short and held the children. And some are longer and would have held adults. Wealthier people would have excavated a space large enough to place a sarcophagus in. But most of the tombs are for the poor. The larger rooms have the name cubiculum. Horizontal shelves for burial are referred to as loculi. these are the locations where we find the earliest Christian art We find the anchor which speaks to safe harbor. That is a reference to salvation. There are representations of a fish, which is a reference to Christ. painting-She is representing the hope of the family that she would enjoy a blessed afterlife. She is shown 3 times But the largest painting in this room is in this shallow dome of the ceiling. And here in the center we see Christ represented as the Good Shepherd. He's surrounded by three goats, one over his shoulders. And he's in a stance that is reminiscent of contrapposto. And then in the four pendentives, there are images of doves with olive branches. So what we're seeing here is the very first tentative steps in what will become into the great tradition of Christian art.

Seduction of Yusuf

Timur (Tamerlane) ruled Central Asia Timurids ruled until 1501 as great patrons of art Herat was a leading center for the production of books. Bihzad- famous persian painter, illustrated the sultan's copy of Sadi's Bustan (Orchard). folio 52- seduction of Yusuf vivid color, intricate detailing brilliant balance between 2d patterning and perspective

Baptistere De Saint Louis

brass basin from Egypt inlaid with gold and silcer, signed six times by Muhammad ibn al-Zayn used for washing hands at ceremonies mamluk hunters and mongol enemies

Ewer in the form of a bird

brass with silver and copper inlay signed and dated by Sulayman one of the most striking examples of metalwork resembles a freestanding statuette the engraved decoration of the body combines natural feathers with abstract motifs and Arabic calligraphy.

Maqsud of Kashan

carpet from mosque of Shaykh Safi al- Din Ardabil carpet 25 million knots

Santa Constanza

central-plan building- domed interior and preferred form for Byzantine churches. Possibly the mausoleum of Constantine's daughter. 12 pairs of columns and an ambulatory (ring-like barrel vaulted corridor). -detail of vault mosaic in the ambulatory; the vault mosaics depict putti harvesting grapes and producing wine, motifs associated with Bacchus, but for a Christian such senses brought to ind the Eucharist and Christ's blood.

Crucifixion Mosaic, Daphni

christ as pankrator- ruler of all golgotha- the place of skulls hellenistic and byzantine

Katholikon at Hosios Loukas (Saint Luke)

cloisonne technique- light stones framed by dark red brick greek cross- four equal length arms

Saint Mark's

doges (dukes) enriched themselves and the city through seaborne commerce martyrium- martyr's shrine liberation from death- anastatis

Christ as Pantokrator

dome mosaic in the Church of the Dormition, Daphni, Greece Christ as the last judge of mankind Byzantine icon hanging dramatically in space connects worshiper with Heaven

Dome of the Rock (Jerusalem)

first great Islamic building- tribute to triumph erected by Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik sacred to Muslims, Jews, and Christians Noble Enclosure- platform Abraham sacrifice of Isaac, Adam's burial site, and where Muhammad went to Heaven and then home (Mecca) vivid colorful patterning wraps like textile

Great Mosque, Damascus

formerly a Byzantine church that was formerly a Roman temple only the direction (toward Mecca) that Muslims face during prayer is important- the qibla the mosaics are the work of Byzantine artists mosque= "masjid" meaning place of prostration congregation mosque "Friday mosque" was for friday noon prayer 5 prayers a day mihrab- semicircular niche set into the qibla wall maqsura- reserved for the ruler minarets- towers sued to call worshipers hypostyle halls- communal worship halls with roofs held up by columns iwans- vaulted rectangular recesses recalls the layout of Muhammad's house

Muhammad

founder of Islam the final prophet preached the religion of Allah Medina- "City of the Prophet" Hijra- emigration, the fleeing from Mecca kaaba- small cubicle building that housed the idols Koran- Islam's sacred book, "recitations", 114 chapters (surahs)

Lamentation over the dead Christ, Nerezi

hilly landscape below a blue sky

San Vitale

honors Saint Vitalis, martyred at Ravenna dedicated by Bishop Maximianus Julianus Argentarius (Julian the Banker) provided 26,000 gold coins

ohrid icons

iconostasis- high screen with doors and tiers of icons christ as savior of souls- finely etched silver foil, typifies eclecticism annuciation- gabriel announces that mary is the mother of god

Vladmir Virgin

icons in their hierarchal order- Christ, Theotokos, John the Baptist, other saints kiev- ukraine vladimir- russia

Illuminated Manuscripts

illustrated books- placing pictures in manuscripts. The tradition began in pharaonic Egypt.

Barberini Ivory

ivory plaque carved in five parts- one missing personifications of the bountiful earth and palm-bearing Victory lion, elephant, tiger

Ivory carving- Crucifixion of Christ

ivory plaque series produced by an Italian sculptor. first known representation of the Crucifixion. Christ is a beardless youth who experiences no pain. Judas, his betrayer, hangs himself.

Diptych of the Symmachi

ivory plaque with pagan themes a diptych is a pair of hinged tablets.

mosaic tilework

large ceramic panels of single colors are fired in the potter's kiln and then cut into smaller pieces and set in plaster in a manner similar to the laying of mosaic tesserae of stone or glass. Madrasa Imami Mihrab- perfect aesthetic union between calligraphy and ornament.

Andrei Rublyev- Three angels (Old testament)

large icon subtle lines and vivid colors a masterwork of Russian painting the three angels who appeared to Abraham

golden paten

large shallow bowl or plate for the Eucharist bread

late

latins- peoples of the west saracens- muslims heretics- latin term for greeks

Theotokos

located at Hagia Sophia the virgin enthroned with the Christ child in her lap "pious emperors" (the Macedonians) "impostors" (the iconoclasts) iconoclasm- concern that people were venerating not the God that an image represented, but the image itself.

Mosque lamps

made of glass and highly decorated conical neck, wide body with six vertical handles, and a tall foot enamel (colors fused to surface) the light is compared to God's light dramatically illuminated a sacred verse

Transfiguration of Jesus

madorla- almond-shaped aureole of light no landscape, just light

Rabbula Gospels

manuscript written by Rabbula, a monk at the monastery of Saint John the Evangelist

Christian Community House

meeting house of the Christian community. also a remodeled private residence with a courtyard. Could accommodate only about 70 people. Contained a courtyard, meeting hall, and baptistery. Baptisms were ceremonies that initiated a new convert into the community. Diocleitan ordered persecutions under Trajan Decius when Christianity began to grow. The Edict of Milan, established by Constantine, made Christianity legal and equal to Roman cults. Here a typical home has been adapted to the needs of the congregation. A wall was taken down to combine two rooms: this was undoubtedly the room for services. It is significant that the most elaborate aspect of the house is the room designed as a baptistry. This reflects the importance of the sacrament of Baptism to initiate new members into the mysteries of the faith.

Luxury Arts in Islam

metal wood glass ivory silk calligraphy

Mount Sinai

monastery- enclosed compound for monks monasticism oratory- monastic church refectory- dining hall

Santa Maria Maggiore

mosaics were vehicles for instructing the congregation about biblical stories and Christian dogma. -the first major church in the West dedicated to Mary. ----the parting of Abraham and Lot, nave of Santa Maria Maggiore; in this mosaic panel representing the Old Testament parting, the artist included the figure of the yet-unborn Isaac because of his importance as a prefiguration of Christ. -"head clusters" separate groups

Hagia Sophia

most important monument Reign of Justinian marks the golden age the most magnificent of the 30 churches Church of Holy Wisdom designed by Anthemius and Tralles dome collapsed once fused vertically oriented central-plans with longitudinal basilicas "a golden chain from heaven" suspends the dome The emperor had his palace close by and that was the reason that the most important church was built here. Now the church that we're standing in is not that original church. That burned down. They were actually burned during riots and the most famous riot took place in the 6th century and it's called Nika Riot. Justinian was the patron of this church. Light in Byzantine thinking is connected with ideas of perfection and the divine. The windows create a rhythm that almost sets the dome in motion and then all of that is resting on walls that are clad with marble that have rich veins and patterns that are all in motion. The floor is made of huge paving stones that seem as if it's almost a pattern of waves. lacks the solidity of Ancient Roman architecture One of the things that distracts our eye from the structure is the surface decoration. All of these upper surfaces that are not colored stone were covered with gold mosaic. When this church was built it was a clear decision to avoid any kind of figural imagery. Voiceover: The decision might have been because of concerns around the commandment against creating raven images. It also may have been to highlight the architecture instead of drawing your attention to Mary or Christ, but instead drawing your attention to overall mystical effect of the space itself. The floors are worn and uneven. Parts of the marble revetment are lost and they've been painted instead. There's clearly mosaics that date from different periods of time. Most obviously there are Islamic inscriptions in the dome from when this building was made into a mosque.

tesserae

new mosaic technique meaning cubes or dice which are tiny cut stones that allow more flexibility

Shahi ("Royal") Mosque of Isfahan

now known as the Imam Mosque the winter prayer hall uses cuerda seca

Vienna Genesis

oldest well-preserved painted manuscript containing biblical scenes. the book is sumptuous. the pages are fine calfskin dyed purple. Rebecca was selected as Isaac's wife because she stopped to water the camels. leaves= folios scroll= rotulus calfskin= vellum lambskin= parchment to adorn or brighten= illuminare

Paris Psalter

page from the psalms of david revived the classical style orpheus, melody, and echo

Christ in Chora

parekklesion- side chapel christ raises adam and eve from their tombs

Berbers

ruled northern Spain for several generations, overtook palaces from the Umayyad caliph. remaining Spanish territories were ruled by the Nasrids

Umayyad Palace (Mshatta, Jordan)

symbol of authority and expression of wealth resembled Diocletians palace at Split and incorporated the amenities of Roman baths but also housed a mosque in which the caliph could worship five times daily Frieze: limestone, 16 ft. triangles with rosettes and geometric plant and animal motifs

Great Mosque at Kairouan

the arcaded forecourt in front of the hypostyle hall of the Kairouan mosque resembles a Roman forum, but it incorporates the distinctie Islamic elements od mihrab, mihrab dome, minbar, and minaret. 8 aisles flank the nave

iconoclasm

the destruction of images used in religious worship "icons" means "images" in Greek iconoclasts- breakers of images iconophiles- lovers of images "renovation" the return to its ancient Hellenistic sources

Vatican Vergil

the earliest surviving painted Latin manuscript is a collection of the poet Vergil's works. Only 50 pages of the Georgics and Aeneid survive- a prime example of survival of traditional Roman iconography of the classical style -Vergil's first visit to a farm

Saint Michael the Archangel

the largest extant ivory rejected the goal of most classical artists- to render the three-dimensional world in convincing and consistent fashion

Malwiya Minaret at Samarra, Iraq

the largest mosque in the world malwiya- "snail shell" unique spiral more than 165 ft. tall announced the presence of Islam in the Tigris Valley originally thought to be a ziggurat suffered damage in 2005

Mausoleum of Sultan Hasan

the lords of Egypt were former Turkish slaves called "mamluks" sultans are rulers Cairo became the largest Muslim city -Madrasa complex ("place of study") devoted to teaching Islamic law- 4 colleges it is also a mosque, mausoleum, orphanage, hospital, and has shops and baths the four iwans derive from Iranian mosques

Shahnama

the successors of the Timurids were the Safavids- Shah Tahmasp ( a great patron of books) Shahnama (book of kings) was copied (742 pages) is a persian national epic poem by Firdawsi -Court of Gauymars, folio 20 the off-centered placement enhances the sense of lightness

Great Mosque (Isfahan, Iran)

the typical Iranian mosque plan with four vaulted iwans and a courtyard.

pendentives

triangular sections of a sphere used to transfer weight from the great dome to the piers beneath, rather than walls pendere- to hang squinches bring the corners of the square to form an octagonal base

Jewish Subjects in Christian Art

typology: Jonah's three-day stay in the belly of a sea monster vs. Christ being dead and coming back three days later. Four most popular: -Adam and Eve "not Adam and Steve!!!1!!11": The Original Sin was eating the forbidden fruit. Christ and Mary became the new Adam and Eve. -Sacrifice of Isaac: God forced Abraham (father of the Hebrew Nation) to sacrifice his son Isaac to prove his faith. A ram was sacrificed in his place; this became a prefiguration for God sacrificing Jesus. -Jonah: above -Daniel: thrown into a den of lions by the Persians.

Theodora

wife of Justinian and empress of Byzantium her father was the "keeper of bears"

Canteen with episodes from the life of Christ

work of an Ayyubid metalsmith in the employ of a Christian pilgrim to the Holy Landd three scenes from the life of HEYZUES (jesus)