...http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-byzantine-art.htm - Source C Byzantine paintings and icons are often recognized for their relatively two-dimensional representations. The emphasis of the artists was not on realism but on forms that could be easily identified to transmit stories from the Bible and Christian history. In this style, painted figures often look stiff and awkward. In some paintings, the subjects appear to be weightless, floating in golden ether. Typically rich in color, Byzantine artists often used deep gold, blues and greens. The use of gold expressed the glory and richness of the faith. Bright colors helped make figures in paintings and mosaics identifiable from a distance. In secular art, those colors helped to distinguish the ranks of the subjects being depicted. For many Byzantine pieces, those colors have withstood centuries of exposure and remain vibrant today. http://archaeology-travel.com/photo-album/byzantine-mosaics-in-the-art-institute-of-chicago/ Mosaic traditions in the Middle East begin in late Antiquity, and one of the largest and best preserved Roman mosaics is the now well-travelled Lod Mosaic found not that long ago in Israel. From the fifth century on, from Syria to Egypt mosaics were used to decorate both religious and secular, public buildings. The tradition comes to an end in the eighth century, after the fall of the Umayyad dynasty in 750: churches fell into disrepair and were later destroyed. The only surviving examples are...
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...Final research paper Art history Beth mchale Mrs Cozad 14th December, 2015 Christian art and architecture has been developed dramatically though out the centuries, from Early Christian through the Gothic eras. There are four classification in the development of Cristian art: Early Christian and Byzantine, Early Medieval, Late Medieval—Romanesque and Late Medieval—Gothic. Art and architecture from these periods all tell stories from that specific time in life, they give factual knowledge on the information that we have today, allowing us to relate to these time periods. The first era in which is going to be spoke about is the Early Christian and Byzantine time period of 500-1000. In the Early Christian and Byzantine time...
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...Samantha Fitzgerald HIST 110 Winter 2018 How Did Art Reflect the Byzantine Era? INTRO: Art reflects life. Art reflects society. Art reflects emotions. Whether a painting portrays a king, or a building reflects advancements within a society, all art communicates ideas and feelings. While looking at a piece of art, you look into the mind of the artist at that exact period in time. The artist has been influenced by a variety of beliefs, perceptions, and community, all leading up to the final product. During the Byzantine Empire, there was a drastic shift after the Byzantine had separated from, but was an extension of, the Roman Empire. Roman and Greek culture was prevalent in the Byzantine Empire, making this period unique on its own. The laws...
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...ByZantine Music culture Body What is known today as Byzantine music has been developed and refined for over two millennia. With its earliest roots going back to Pythagoras' philosophy on the division of chords, its latest and final revision took place in 1881 in the city of Istanbul; the city still referred to by the practitioners of this complex art by its more ancient name of Constantinople. For the purposes of this essay, the name Constantinople will refer to the city up to and including the present day. To provide for a clearer understanding of the theory of Byzantine music, the process of the development of Byzantine music as it is known today will be divided into two eras. We will call these two eras pre-Byzantine, and Byzantine periods of musical development. The pre-Byzantine part of the essay will cover developments made before the foundation of Constantinople. This period includes everything before c. 330 C.E. The Byzantine period will include all of the advancements made after the founding of Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire. Every refinement made up to the present day, the most important dates being the simplification of the notation in 1821 by John Koukouzeles and the great council of 1881, will be included in this period, but not, unfortunately in the essay. Although there is a very significant part played by notational theory on the development of Byzantine music theory and Hymnography, the scope of this essay does not allow for us to delve into...
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...ARTISTIC IDEAS OF BYZANTINE Byzantine art is the artistic products of the Eastern Roman, or Byzantine, Empire, as well as the nations and states that inherited culturally from the empire. Though the empire itself emerged from Rome's decline and lasted until the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, many Eastern Orthodox states in Eastern Europe, as well as to some degree the Muslim states of the eastern Mediterranean, preserved many aspects of the empire's culture and art for centuries afterward. A number of states contemporary with the Byzantine Empire were culturally influenced by it, without actually being part of it (the "Byzantine commonwealth"), such as Bulgaria, Serbia, and the Rus, as well as some non-Orthodox states the Republic of Venice and Kingdom of Sicily, which had close ties to the Byzantine Empire despite being in other respects part of western European culture. Art produced by Eastern Orthodox Christians living in the Ottoman Empire is often called "post-Byzantine." Certain artistic traditions that originated in the Byzantine Empire, particularly in regard to icon painting and church architecture, are maintained in Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Russia and other Eastern Orthodox countries to the present day. Byzantine Mosaics (c.500-843) Using early Christian adaptations of late Roman styles, the Byzantines developed a new visual language, expressing the ritual and dogma of the united Church and state. Early on variants flourished in Alexandria and Antioch...
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...Byzantine Mosaics Byzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine Empire, also known as the Later Roman or Eastern Roman Empire. Early Byzantine architecture was used as a way of reminiscing on Roman architecture. Some advancements were the increased geometric complexity, mosaics, addition of brick and plaster, complex domes, and windows that filtered light through thin sheets of alabaster. Byzantine architecture became characteristic by the 6th century with the building of Hagia Sophia, which was the first masterpiece and most famous building of the time period. One key element in the Hagia Sophia was the use of mosaics, which then led to mosaics becoming a key design element in the Byzantine era. The Byzantine Empire inherited...
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...the prayer hall, rests on eight muqarnas-corbelled squinches that are supported by eight large columns. Muqarnas are used to bridge a point of transition. This time for the dome and the columns. The muqarnas steps outward it rises, creating a corbelled effect, and allowing for a more open space. The squinches are the architectural support, which is different. The base is also an octagon, much like the San Vitale. Essay: How do various works from Early Christian, Byzantine, and Islamic cultures express or relate to the beliefs and practices of each religion? Paragraph 1: When you first think of Art in Islam, Christianity, and Byzantine, you may believe that since the religions are different, then the architecture must be different too. Although religion heavily impacts art, there are similarities in architecture. They both use light for divinity and open space in their architecture, with influences from past cultural periods. A major difference would be in Islamic Art does not have humans or animals, while it is allowed in Christian and...
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...Barbarians are often thought of as men who are like savages and only desire war and empowerment. After some research, however, one can see that, that is not the case. Most people were thought to be barbarian if they were a different group of people from a different place. In fact, the word barbarian is a Greek word that means “anyone who didn’t speak Greek” (Fascinate). This essay will examine how barbarians were interpreted in European art and how it influenced European Christian art. As the Roman Empire spread all through Europe and Northern Africa, they experienced different clans and groups of people. Some battled against the Roman armed forces, and kept striking after Roman triumph of their countries. The Romans, with their efficient...
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...the development and the nature of the Byzantine institutions (church and state), social and urban life, and cultural achievements? Answer: Byzantine art is the term commonly used to describe the artistic products of the Eastern Roman Empire from about the 5th century until the fall of Constantinople in 1453. (The Roman Empire during this period is conventionally known as the Byzantine Empire.) The term can also be used for the art of states which were contemporary with the Byzantine Empire and shared a common culture with it, without actually being part of it, such as Bulgaria, Serbia or Russia, and also Venice, which had close ties to the Byzantine Empire despite being in other respects part of western European culture. It can also be used for the art of peoples of the former Byzantine Empire under the rule of the Ottoman Empire after 1453. In some respects the Byzantine artistic tradition has continued in Greece, Russia and other Eastern Orthodox countries to the present day. The finest work, the most elegant, and the most accomplished technically, was, naturally enough, associated with the Byzantine capital, Constantinople, which was the very hub of the civilized world from the foundation of the city as capital around 330 till its conquest by the Turks in 1453. But there were other great centers too. In Rome, Milan, Ravenna, and elsewhere in the West works of the greatest importance that were in no way provincial were executed in the early years of Christendom, though little...
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...century when King Abas I was still reigning. It was founded almost at the same time with the Sanahin, another nearby monastery. Haghpat Monastery is a medieval monastery which was built by the Byzantines as a monastic complex in Haghpat, Armenia. The village Haghpat, where the monastery takes its name from, lies on plateau in region of Gouark. This plateau is dissected by deep cracks which were formed by the Debed and Pampak Rivers. Unlike other plateaus in Armenia, it has plenty of water and an abundance of vegetation. The book of Documents of Armenian Architecture says “In this natural setting, it is to be framed the simple, substantial volumetric massivity of the buildings of Haghpat built (as a typical in Armenian architecture) with local stones, such as stuff or eruptive rocks, these contributing to give an absolute homogeneity to the landscape. This process of communion with nature, springing maybe from a remote ancestral feeling of respect and almost veneration for one’s land intended as a mother, in whose “womb” one seeks for protection causes sometimes the buildings to compenetrate the landscape” . Besides, Haghpat Monastery catches the sight of the Pampak River in Northern region of Armenia that has boundaries with Georgia. The Byzantines did not establish it on a peak, but a verdant highland was chosen to build, because halfway of hillside is easier to afford protection and hiding from prying people than pinnacle. This situation not only shows both...
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... Art during the Middle Ages saw many changes and the emergence of the early Renaissance period. Byzantine Art was the name given to the style of architecture used in very early Middle Ages Art. This period was also known as the Dark Ages ( 410 AD - 1066 AD ). The advances of art in the Middle Ages was due to the changes in more liberal religious beliefs and the efforts and the pioneering art styles developed by the artists, sculptors and painters of the Medieval period of the Middle Ages. The Later Middle Ages saw the emergence of Gothic Art and the advances of art in the Middle Ages. During this period, artists broke away from the influences of the Byzantium and Romanesque art style. It developed into Gothic and Middle Ages visual art. Middle Ages art increased from the type of art depicted in Pietistic painting (religious art) in the form of illuminated manuscripts, mosaics and fresco paintings in churches. Christian Art - based on religion Romanesque Art Approximately 1000 A.D. to the 13th century. Spread across the whole of Catholic Europe Influenced by Byzantine art Gothic Art developed out of Romanesque art in the mid-12th century spread to all of Western Europe consisted of sculpture, panel painting, stained glass, and fresco. Byzantine Art had more of a symbolic approach developed out of the art of the Roman Empire iconography was created. The artists and painters were founders of the movement towards greater realism that culminated in the Renaissance art style...
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...developments and views regarding Mary, the Blessed Virgin, from the early first century through the twentieth. The first image of Mary that we see is in the early second century and it is the earliest veneration of Mary with her son, Jesus. It was found in the Catacomb of Priscilla, Rome and is a fresco that included Mary and Saint Peter together. Mary’s status as the Mother of God is clear in the Gospels and the different venerations of Mary have been an important subject in Catholic art. Early Christians saw Mary as the bridge between the new and the old, as well as the second Eve because of her and Eve’s willing acceptance of God’s choice. Marian religion deals with the Virgin and her life, as well as veneration in daily life, prayer, music, architecture, and art of the Christian faith. Religious toleration was not well seated among its peers during the Roman Empire, but in 313 Emperor Constantine signed a letter, the Edict of Milan, that proclaimed that Christians were permitted to worship openly and the venerations of Mary became public. People began to build Cathedrals and churches for public worship in the name of Mary. The first Marian churches dated back to the fifth century in Rome, Saint Maria Marggiore. Though the earliest extant of biographical writing on Mary is Life of the Virgin attributed to the 7th century saint, Maximus the Confessor, which portrays her as a key element of the early Christian Church after the death of Jesus. Once this major event occurred people...
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...WHAP Cultural Heavyweights Dar Al-Islam and The Byzantine Empire. The Muslim World and The Byzantine Empire were two of the most powerful and most-linked-together civilizations during the Middle Ages due mostly to their cultural achievements, religious values, and economic activities. The Byzantine Empire and Muslim World had very similar and different cultural achievements due to their very unique styles but also sharing each other’s ideas as well. The Muslim world’s cultural achievements focused more on the development and interaction of cultures while the Byzantine Empire’s cultural achievements revolved more around the ideology of state building and the arts, but although there are some obvious differences between the two civilizations, their cultural achievements were very similar in many ways. Although the two civilizations practiced religions that shared some similarities, they did have religious oppositions as well and differed in many of their beliefs. Contrary to their very different religious values, they had very similar economic structures by trading on the silk roads and having very strong banking systems. The Muslim World and Byzantine Empire do share some similarities when it comes to economic activities and cultural achievements, they vary and contrast greatly when it comes to each of the civilization’s religious values. The Dar Al-Islam and the Byzantine Empire had quite different religious values, although some similarities are...
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...The tripartite schema Around the 1000 AD, western sources depicted Christian society according to a new system which composed of a threefold people- priests, warriors and peasants. The three made the fabric of society. Between the 8th and 11th century the aristocracy organized itself into a military class, a typical member of this class being called miles or knight. In the Carolingian period, the clergy transformed themselves into a clerical caste. The evolution of the liturgy and of religious architecture is an expression of this change. The conditions of the peasants became more uniform and to sink to the lowest level, that of the serfs. The tripartite schema was a symbol of social harmony. It was a vivid way of diffusing class struggle and...
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...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...
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