Byzantine Art

History of Western Art

 PRETEST
 EASTERN CHURCH OR WESTERN CHURCH
1. ALSO KNOWN AS ROMAN CATHOLIC
2. PRIESTS CAN MARRY
3. PRIESTS WERE REQUIRED TO PRACTICE
CELIBACY
4. POPE HAS THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY
5. PATRIARCH IS THE LEADER OF THE
CHURCH
6. DOES NOT ACCEPT RELIGIOUS ICONS
7. ACCEPTS RELIGIOUS ICONS
8. THE SEAT OF POWER IS IN ROME

9. THE SEAT OF POWER IS IN

CONSTANTINOPLE/ISTANBUL.
10. ALSO KNOWN AS BYZANTINE

ORTHODOX
Emperor Justinian
and His Attendants

 Introduction:
 Byzantine art belonged principally to the
eastern Roman empire, with its magnificent
centre, Constantinople (modern Istanbul).
 In the year 330 A.D., the emperor
Constantine transferred his capital from Rome
to the site of the ancient Greek colony called
Byzantium, to which he now gave his own
name: Constantinople (the city of
Constantine).
Emperor Justinian
and His Attendants

 In the sixth century, Byzantine art

reached its maturity, in short but
brilliant period called the First Golden
Age, under Justinian (527 – 565 A.D.).
Emperor Justinian
and His Attendants

 The glory of this epoch was the building

of the greatest and most splendid
Byzantine church, known as Hagia
Sophia (Holy wisdom).
Emperor Justinian
and His Attendants

 Mosaics and Painting

 The Byzantine artists showed their
greatest originality and accomplishment
in pictorial representations on flat
surfaces, namely with mosaics, wall –
paintings, manuscripts illuminations and
icons.
Emperor Justinian
and His Attendants

 It was they who realized best the splendid

possibilities of mosaic work.
 This art, well suited to the decoration of
churches, became their principal means of
creating rich colour effects.
 Their chief concern was spiritual rather than
physical vision. Material details were ignored.
This is why they preferred to concentrate on
pictorial rather than sculptural art.
Emperor Justinian
and His Attendants

 Exact anatomy and perspective were

disregarded.
 Instead of using the landscapes of the
classical style as a background, the figures
were surrounded by golden light as if they
are outside of space and time.
 Garments are heavy and stiff, with stylized
folds. They cover thin elongated, seemingly
weightless bodies.
Emperor Justinian
and His Attendants

 Instead of employing light and shade,

they made clear outlines by means of
vivid colours, and stiffly stylized
gestures, often repeated.
 The figures are shown in front view.
Emperor Justinian
and His Attendants

 Not physical position but spiritual importance

determines the size of the figure.
THE GREAT SCHISM
(1054 A.D.)
 THE FORMAL BREAK BETWEEN
EASTERN AND WESTERN CHRISTIAN
CHURCHES.

 CULTURAL AND POLITICAL ISSUES

STEMMING FROM THE DIVISION OF
ROMAN EMPIRE CENTURIES BEFORE
AND SOME RELIGIOUS
DISAGREEMENTS.
 BECAME KNOWN AS ROMAN
CATHOLIC

SEAT OF POWER:
ROME
POPE WAS THE RELIGIOUS
LEADER AND ULTIMATE
AUTHORITY ACCEPTED AND USED
ICONS

PRIESTS WERE REQUIRED TO

PRACTICE CELIBACY

WESTERN CHURCH
 BECAME KNOWN AS
EASTERN/BYZANTINE ORTHODOX

SEAT OF POWER:
CONSTANTINOPLE
PATRIARCH WAS THE RELIGIOUS
LEADER
EMPEROR=ULTIMATE AUTHORITY ICONS WERE NOT ACCEPTED
AND DESTROYED

PRIESTS WERE REQUIRED TO

PRACTICE CELIBACY

EASTERN CHURCH