Art History 1 – Section1303
Essay # 3

Section # 1

In video #18, Early Christian, Byzantine, and Islamic Art (Part 1), Sant’ Apollinare in Classe housed the body of Saint Apollinare. The church is adorned with intricate mosaic jewels. The basilica end is semicircular apse; mosaic covers the semicircular apse and the triumphal arch. The upper part of the apse mosaic illustrates the transfiguration of Christ on the mount is symbolically represented and the three sheep facing the jeweled cross symbolically represent his disciples Peter, James and John. The hand of God is represented by the cloud above the jeweled cross, the jeweled cross, the fish symbol in the Greek word means Jesus Christ, Son of God and alpha and omega at the side signifies that Jesus Christ is the beginning and the end. At the bottom of the jeweled cross, the word “Salus Mundi” which means salvation to the world. On each side on the blue background with the clouds are four symbols for the Evangelists, winged figures holding books. The eagle, angel, lion and ox represent John, Matthew, Mark and Luke respectively. The twelve white sheep marching towards Christ symbolizes the Apostle emerging from the doors of two cities Jerusalem and Bethlehem which signifies the Jewish and Gentile Churches. The lowest register on the triumphal arch, Archangels Michael and Gabriel are shown as celestial guards. They are shown against a golden background. The lower part of the apse shows the center of green landscape, Saint Apollinare is robed in a white dalmatic and purple tunic symbolizes eloquence, with outstretched arms praying. The twelve sheep at his feet symbolizes the community of the faithful believers in Christ.

In videotape #19, Early Christian, Byzatine, and Islamic Art (Part 2), the Harbaville Triptych, a transportable shrine with hinged wings used for personal devotion. The triptych combines oriental, accents of classical antiquity and Christian tradition in the creation of this work of art. The central scene is the Deesis with Virgin Mary and Str. John the Baptist interceding before Christ enthroned on behalf of the viewer to the enthroned Christ. The scene beneath and on the two side panels are friezes of apostles, holy martyrs, holy bishops and soldiers joining in the intercession and supplication. Some of them are holding crosses, books and sword and shields. Most of the statues have sober and austere look on their faces.

In videotape #20, the High Cross of Muiredach is a massive majestic monument in Ireland. It measures about 19feet in height and the base is about2 feet 3 inches. The cross is made of sandstones and each piece of the cross is divided into panel and these panels are decorated with carvings. The cross has north, south, east and west faces. The middle panel on the east face represents The Last Judgment, it contains about 45 figures, and Jesus is standing in the center, holding a scepter in the right hand and the Cross of the Resurrection in the left. A small figure kneeling down with an opened book over the head is at the foot of Jesus Christ. On the west face, the central panel shows the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross with outstretched arms. At the bottom of Christ are the cravings of lance and sponge bearers and two small figures of a woman and a man kneeling down. These two small figures probably represent Virgin Mary and John the Beloved.

In videotape #21, the Art of the Western World, the Vezelay tympanum portrays the Pentecost and the Mission of the Apostles. The central tympanum shows the compassionate Christ assigning his message to the Apostle, who flanks him on either side. Christ arms are wide opened in a contraposto position delivering a message to his 12 disciples The light rays emanating from his hands represents the instilling of the Holy Spirit and the Apostles holding the Gospel books and receiving instructions to go preach the good news to the World. The drapery line of Jesus’ clothes shows zigzag rhythm and whorls conveying the spiritual light and energy that flows from Christ to all humanity. The lower compartments shows nations that have already accepted the gospel message while those in the lintel represented those who have not received Christ and are in need of salvation. The upper compartments represents the second mission of the Apostles, in one compartment, a pair of lepers is shown as being miraculously healed of their leprosy.

Section #2

In videotapes #18 and #20, Early Christian, Byzantine, and Islamic Art (Part 1) and the Early Medieval Art, the San Vitale church in Ravenna was the inspiration for Charlemagne’s palatine chapel in Aachen, Germany. Both buildings were places of Christian worship with two stories octagonal structures surrounded by sixteen sided ambulatory. The plan of palatine chapel had better geometric clarity than that of San Vitale but it had no marble floored stone structures with arcades or mosaics. The interior of the palatine chapel was not as grand as that of San Vitale, its windows were small and walls were clunky.

In videotapes #22 and #23 (the Romanesque and Gothic Arts), both arts have unique and definite styles in their building designs but their main focus for these massive and impressive cathedrals were the representation of their God, his authority and how much the people adorned him. The building of the cathedrals was difficult tasks that took many years, resources and skills from many people including the rich and the poor to complete. There are many contrasts between Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals in the following styles. The Romanesque had barrel vaults, the main vault support were thick wall and column buttresses, the clerestory had small windows, the radiating chapels and apse were separated compartments, rounded arches, the elevations were horizontal and modest heights, the exterior were plain with little decorations that were solid, there were elongated, thin and abstract figures including demons, plants and animals. The moods of the building were dark and gloomy. On the contrary, the Gothic cathedrals have groin vaults, the main vault support were flying buttresses, clerestory have large stained glass windows with elaborate designs, the radiating chapels and apse were unified, the arches are pointed, elevations were vertical and towering with many stories. Exterior walls were ornate and have lots of biblical sculptures; the scriptural designs are more realistic proportions and have individualized features, the people are realistic, they showed movements and expressions. The moods of the Gothic cathedrals were tall and well lighted.

Section #3

The piece of art work discussed in the videotapes that I can relate with the current building in our world is the Gothic Architectural designs is the National Cathedral in Washington DC, the cathedral is designed after the Gothic style. It took 83 years to complete the construction, it consist of eight bay naves, five bay chancel, intersected by a six bay transept and long narrow rectangular mass. The flying buttresses help hold up the walls by bracing them thereby supports the vertical soaring elevation. One of the stories in the south transept had a large portal with a craved tympanum, there are 231 stained glass windows making the cathedral a well lit environment and most of the decorative cravings have Christian symbolism or memorials of famous people or events just like the decorative cravings in the Gothic cathedrals.

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