Chapter FourEarly Christianity and Byzantium

Prepared by Kelly Donahue-Wallace

Randal WallaceUniversity of North Texas

Gardner's Art through the Ages, Concise Edition by Fred Kleiner

Early ChristianDates and Places: • 3rd and 4th centuries CE• Rome

People:• Monotheistic • Co-exist with polytheistic

Roman religion• Christianity legalized by

Constantine in 313CE

Interior, Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, dedicated 504. Fig. 4-5.

Early ChristianThemes:• Christ as good shepherd,

emperor• Old Testament

prefigurations• Appropriated Roman

symbols for new useForms:• Stylized forms, non-

illusionistic • Conceptual, not optical

Miracle of the loaves and fishes mosaic, Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, ca. 504. Fig. 4-9.

Early Christian

Painting, Catacomb of Saints Peter and Marcellinus, early fourth century. Fig. 4-2.

Early ChristianExample: • Christ as Good Shepherd • Old Testament

prefiguration, Jonah• Orants • In catacomb of Christian

burials • Adapt Roman

iconography Painting, Catacomb of Saints Peter and Marcellinus, early fourth century. Fig. 4-2.

Early Christian

Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, ca. 359. Fig. 4-3.

Early ChristianExample: • Conventionalized,

stylized forms like Arch of Constantine

• Christian disinterest in the body

• Christ as emperor• Old Testament

prefiguration• New Testament

redemption

Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, ca. 359. Fig. 4-3.

Early Christian

Plan and cutaway, Old Saint Peter’s, begun ca. 319. Fig. 4.4.

Early ChristianExample: • Adapt Roman basilica

for growing congregations

• Nave, aisles, apse, atrium, narthex

• On site of Peter’s burial• Principle church of

Christianity, pope as Peter’s successor Plan and cutaway, Old Saint Peter’s, begun

ca. 319. Fig. 4.4.

Early Christian

Plan, Santa Costanza, ca. 337-351. Fig. 4-7.

Early ChristianExample: • Central-plan adopted

from Roman art • Used for mausoleums,

baptisteries, chapels• Ambulatory surrounds

central domed cylinder• Mosaics inside Plan, Santa Costanza, ca. 337-351. Fig. 4-7.

Early Christian

Christ as the Good Shepherd mosaic, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, ca. 425. Fig. 4-8.

Early ChristianExample: • Mosaic, tesserae• Plain exterior, colorful

interior• Art advertises faith• Christ as Good

Shepherd and emperor• Imperial iconography• Illusionism

Christ as the Good Shepherd mosaic, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, ca. 425. Fig. 4-

8.