Ch 9 Byzantium
Overview 324-726 Constantine Founds Constantinople 324CE Justinian builds Hagia Sophia with 180 ft high dome resting on pendentives 532-537 CE Maximanus dedicates San Vitale at Ravenna with its rich mosaic program 547CE Icon painting flourishes at Mount Sinai until Leo III bans picturing the divine in 726 843-1204 Middle Byzantine THeodora repeals iconoclasm 843ce Churches feature exterior walls with decorative patterning, Greek cross plans and domes on drums resting on pendentives or squinches Irory triptychs for personal pryer become popular 1261-1453 Ce Late Byzantine Michael VIII recaptured Constantinople after the Crusader sack 1204CE Late Byzantine artists revive mural and icon painting Constantinople falls to the Ottoman Turks, 1453 CE
Byzantium http://www.vox. com/2014/8/19/5942585/40-maps-thatexplain-the-roman-empire Byzantine refers to the city and region that later became Constantinople Despite speaking Greek, not Roman, The byzantines referred to themselves as Roman, and direct descendents to the Roman empire. Byzantine Empire adopted christianity as its official religion, and spread the faith throughout europe, parts of africa, the Balkans and Russia as Orthodox Christianity.
Byzantium http://www.vox. com/2014/8/19/5942585/40-maps-thatexplain-the-roman-empire The fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453 had an effect that started the renaissance in western Europe. Academics and Scholars who were in Constantinople fled west as the Ottoman Turks invaded and crushed the Byzantines.
Archangel Michael, right leaf of a diptych, early 6th century. The golden age of Byzantine art began with the leadership of Justinian in 537, and are few examples of art that survive prior to his reign that are Byzantine. Part of a diptych (two paneled artwork), Triptych (three paneled artwork) Inscription at top opens with Receive these gifts, The dedication is a reference to the orb of power held by michael offered to a byzantine emporer depicted on the missing diptych panel.
Winged archangels probably derived from winged nike figures of greek mythology. Natural representation is being ignored, the feet rest of three steps simultaneously and the archangel dwarfs the surrounding architecture, The Byzantines adopt a more abstract anti naturalistic style in representation.
Vienna Dioskorides https://youtu.be/nunfdhntv9o One of the oldest surviving, secular medieval manuscripts. Greek physician named Dioskorides created an encyclopedia of medicinal herbs called de materia medica The Vienna Dioskorides was a 6th century ce copy of this greek manuscript Contains 498 illustrations of images of plants in scientific illustration
Vienna Dioskorides One page, cant be a copy, it was the dedication page, featuring a portrait of Anicia Juliana in an 8 pointed star and circle frame. Anicia Juliana was a princess in the Justinian family dynasty She is enthroned between personifications of Magnanimity (generosity) and Prudence. Kneeling figure of gratitude at her feet The shading and modeling of the figures, the heads seen at oblique angles
Vienna Dioskorides The shading and modeling of the figures, the heads seen at oblique angles, and the use of personifications- the act of representing a non human thing, an ideal as human.. like using people to describe prudence or magnanimity. These are all ingredients of Byzantine art.
Justinian as world conqueror, (Barberini Ivory), mid sixth century. Justinianic art, was both religious and secular. Barberini Ivory was once part of the 17th century collection of Cardinal Francesco Barberini in Rome. Carved and pieced together in 5 parts, (right panel is lost) At center is Justinian riding on a rearing horse, as a barbarian is startled behind him Twisting postures, are familiar Byzantine Mofiffs. Borrowed from old rome are the barbarians at the bottom panel paying tribute, and seeking clemency
Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus. (a theoretical mathematician and a physicist, not architects.) Hagia Sophia, Constantinople (Istanbul,Turkey) 532-537 CE https://youtu.be/xfpuswed2je Justinian began work on this project after a fire destroyed the old church during the Nika riots January 532. Justinian place these people to work. Combines both a central and basilica plan church by use of Pendentives. https://youtu.be/zwleoe7gnro
Hagia Sofia s dimensions are gigantic considering the structure is not made from steel reinforcement. 270 feet long and 240 feet tall The first dome collapsed in 558 with an earthquake and was built taller to distribute the weight better throughout the structure Use of light flooding into the interior space creates a mystical quality, and the initial lack of figuration (iconoclasm), a uneasiness about breaking the 2nd commandment, spatial light and geometry were used to create a sense of divinity.
Top of the dome has 40 windows piercing its base, light flooding in hides architectural components that create a sense that the dome is levitating
Pendentives To achieve this solution to placing a dome on a square base, also creating the sense of the dome levitating, pendentives were used and developed. In a pendentive, a dome is placed on top of a second larger dome, forming 4 curved triangles. This allowed architects to fuse two plans basillica and central plan buildings into a new style of building.
Byzantine Architecture allowed for buildings to be flooded with light, thru stained glass, creating a tremendous spectacle that spread the religion across europe and russia. Russia employed Byzantine influences in its use of Eastern Orthodoxy.
Ravenna, San Vitale, 526-547. https://youtu.be/it3i-dkusim Justinian captured Ravenna from the visigoths. Ravenna became the western foothold for the Byzantine empire for 200 years. San Vitale was constructed by funding from Julianus Argentarius, with 26000 solidi, about 350 lbs of gold. Its is not a basilica but a centrally planned church that combines basilica elements
Ravenna, San Vitale, 526-547. https://youtu.be/it3i-dkusim Justinian captured Ravenna from the visigoths. Ravenna became the western foothold for the Byzantine empire for 200 years. San Vitale was constructed by funding from Julianus Argentarius, with 26000 solidi, about 350 lbs of gold. Its is not a basilica but a centrally planned church that combines basilica elements
Interior of the church was adorned with rich book matched marbles, and golden colorful mosaics depicting justinian as the central ruler. Justinian is seated at the center of a blue orb, the earth, the universe. being flanked by bishop Maximianus, showing the authority of the leadership in Ravenna.
Neither Justinian or Theodora every entered San Vitale or Ravenna Figures surrounding Justinian express rank of the members of the church in Ravenna Justinian s purple robe signifies a connection to Jesus who is in the vaulted ceiling in another mosaic in San Vitale. Figure on the right to Justinian in the gold robe is Bishop Maximianus who was responsible for San Vitale s completion.
Monastery of Saint Catherine, Mount Sinai Egypt 548-565CE uilding happened throughout the Byzantine Empire during Justinian s reign. Mount Sinai was significant because it was believed that Moses received the ten commandments from god on Mt Sinai in Egypt. Became a pilgrimage site Justinian placed walls around the monestary to protect it.
Transfiguration of Jesus, Apse Mosaic, Church of the Virgin, monastery of Saint Catherine, Mount Sinai Egypt 548-565CE Building happened throughout the Byzantine Empire during Justinian s reign. Jesus is depicted in an almond shaped mandorla. An architectural component used in paintings and mosaics that held Christ. Signifying the spiritualization of jesus. Other disciples are ins various poses of astonishment. No landscape, the figures are in a depthless field of gold.
Rebecca and Eliezer at the well, folio 7 recto of the Vienna Genesis, early sixth century. Vienna Genesis is the oldest well preserved painted manuscript containing biblical content. Pages are calfskin (vellum) dyed with rich purple, the same dye used to give imperial cloth its color. continuous narration illustrates multiple scenes of a narrative within a single frame. Multiple actions and scenes are portrayed in a single visual
Story of Jacob, Vienna Genesis Vienna Genesis is the oldest well preserved painted manuscript containing biblical content. Pages are calfskin (vellum) dyed with rich purple, the same dye used to give imperial cloth its color. continuous narration illustrates multiple scenes of a narrative within a single frame. Multiple actions and scenes are portrayed in a single visual
Ascension of Christ, folio 13 Verso of the Rabbula Gosphels. Verso Front, Recto Back, Latin. most popular early medieval manuscripts were of the Gospels Two early popular versions were the Rossano Gospels and later the Rabbula Gospels. Rabbula Gosphels were written in Syriac by the monk Rabbula in Syria. THe account of Christ ascending to heaven is not part of the Rabbula Gospels but comes from the Book Acts in the Bible.
Art Virgin and Child enthroned, Apse mosaic, Hagia Sophia, Constantinople 867 ICON (GREEK--Image) are small portable paintings depicting Christ, the virgin mary, or saints. Icons survived the early (non state sanctioned) period of christianity as early as the 4th century. They become very popular in Byzantine worship, public and private. https://youtu. be/jf5z_yalpsw Iconoclasm (breaking images) became a period that outlawed images in the byzantine empire, a sort of civil war around religious figures.
Art Paintings and Mosaics were ripped down. Period lasted for 100 years. Virgin and Child enthroned, apse mosaic, Hagia Sophia Constantinople 867. The Virgin mosaic was made at the end of the period of Iconoclasm, commemorating the virgin mosaic that was smashed.
Middle Byzantine Art Katholikon Monastery of Hosios Loukas, Greece 11th Century. (ST LUKE) Later Byzantine Churches adopt Squinches as a way to unite a circular dome and a square opening. It's a drum shape. Churches of this period are smaller vertical and high shouldered, and have exterior wall surfaces decorated with patterns reflecting islamic architecture. Light stones are framed with red bricks, cloisonne technique, a term borrowed from jewelry enamel work.
Middle Byzantine Art Interior of the church of the Dormition, Dome Daphni Greece 1100 CE Similar in design to the Katholikon Church of the Dormition (latin Sleep) referring to CHrist s receiving the soul of the Virgin Mary at the moment of her death. Dome opeings create a mystery of space, surface, light, adn dark, with concave and convex surfaces, wide and narrow openings. Christ as Pantokrator, Ruler of all Greek.
Middle Byzantine Art Crucifixion Mosaic in the north arm of the east wall of the Church of the Dormition 1100ce Post iconoclastic style byzantine. a subte blend of the painterly naturalistic style of late antiquity combined with an even more abstracted stretched formal Byzantine style. Virgin Mary and St john both flank Christ. The picture is not a narrative of the historical event of Jesus execution, the approach taken by early christian artists. Nor is Christ Triumphant youth Both John and Mary are pointing towards christ as a devotional icon.
Middle Byzantine Art Christ between Constantine IX and Empress Zoe. Hagia Sophia 1028-1035 Portraits of imperial patrons went inside church interiors combining state and religious influences.
Middle Byzantine Art Saint Sophia, Kiev Ukraine 1037. Byzantine influences and Eastern orthodoxy spread throughout europe and Russia. Russians converted all slavs to Christianity Russia was isolated and never was affected by Roman rule, nor technology/infrastructure, these influences moved thru Russia with religion and as a means to control the population. Kiev was a seat of Power during the middle/late byzantine empire.
Middle Byzantine Art Russian Cyrillic alphabet derives from the Greek Alphabet, brought in by Orthodox/Byzantine influences. Grand Prince Vladimir Assumed power in Kiev at this time 980989 that Orthodox Christianity moved into russia. Byzantine influences were adapted to solidify power among the people on the land. Vladimir had magistrates ride to find the best architecture/imagery from surrounding lands and found Byzantine influences.
Middle Byzantine Art https://youtu.be/_fagls5bgxs Saint Mark s, Venice, Italy, 1063 Building Dedicated to the Martyr of St Mark. Saint Mark s body was stolen from Alexandria and placed as a relic in the Church commemorating his martyrdom. 4 Dome placed in a cross plan4 equal arms of the Greek Cross It is in th Byzantine style of domes with well lit windows creating an open vaulted space giving the appearance of levitation
Middle Byzantine Art Pantokrator, Theotokos and child, angels, and saints, apse mosaic Monreale, Italy 11801190 Byzantine mosaic influences spread throughout europe, by traders, by illuminated manuscripts.
Middle Byzantine Art Christ enthroned with saints (Harbaville Triptych) 950 Ce Ivory Carving Triptych ( 3 panels) Portable shrine with hinged wings used for private devotion (Prayer) On either flanking wing, four sets of full length figures and two pairs of medallions depicting saints On the inside is a scene of Deesis (a traditional representation of Christ) again abstract ¾ views, figures without contrapposto appearing to float, is prevalent in mosaics, and illuminated manuscripts.
Middle Byzantine Art David Composing the Psalms, folio 1 verso of the Paris Psalter 950-970 CE Naturalistic styles were adapted in the period after Iconoclasm, allowing scenes to be made in landscape scenes, a key development of painting/representation leading to the Renaissance. Re asserting values of greco roman past conventions. This was made in Greece in a period known as the Macedonian Renaissance, study of Greek antiquity.
Late Byzantine Art Anastasis Fresco apse of Parekklesion Constantinople 1310-1320 Themes of portraying themes of human mortality and redemption by christ and of the intercession of the virgin. Christ is Trampling Satan, Breaking down the gates of hell and raising adam and eve from their purgatory, saving old testament figures who were born before his raising.
Late Byzantine Art Christ as savior of souls 14th C, Ohrid Icons. Doors/frames were made to hold large icons called Iconostasis (icon stand) Christ is rendered with tempura paint and silver leaf foil Two sided because Iconostasis were carried on posts in percession.