Part 1: Summary of work done
Byzantine History
Early Christian and Byzantine art refers to a collection of work created for the early Christian Empire. During this time Emperor Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire to Byzantium, later changed to Constantinople. It was here in this city where the birth of Byzantine art took place. This was the first time where Christianity was publically allowed to be expressed. Because of this, the artwork dramatically shifted towards images of Jesus, so much so that Byzantine art is heavily correlated with Christianity.
Byzantine Art
A popular form of Byzantine art was the mosaics style.
Mosaic is defined as a decorative art form creating pictures and patterns on a particular surface by placing small colored pieces of glass, gold, marbles or other materials in a bed of cement or plaster.
Byzantine artists found that it was difficult to create a work of art that showed the divinity of Jesus. He was simply too powerful and mysterious to fully do justice to in a work of art. Realistic details were lost in favor of adding spiritual elements (such as the halo shown below). Mosaics were thought to be the best way to depict Jesus in the Byzantine Empire. Bright glass and gold were used in order to signify the divinity of Jesus.
Mosaic is defined as a decorative art form creating pictures and patterns on a particular surface by placing small colored pieces of glass, gold, marbles or other materials in a bed of cement or plaster.
Byzantine artists found that it was difficult to create a work of art that showed the divinity of Jesus. He was simply too powerful and mysterious to fully do justice to in a work of art. Realistic details were lost in favor of adding spiritual elements (such as the halo shown below). Mosaics were thought to be the best way to depict Jesus in the Byzantine Empire. Bright glass and gold were used in order to signify the divinity of Jesus.
Christ between two angles, San Vitale, Ravenna Italy, 526-547 AD
Characteristics of Byzantine Art
Lack of realism- The art in Byzantine mosaics was sometimes criticized for its simplicity. However, this was the goal. The artists focused on creating a simple image with Jesus being the main focus
Front facing
Long narrow solemn faces
Focus on Symbolism rather than naturalism- Purple robe, Halo
Gothic History
The Gothic era is a chapter in history between 1150 and 1400 which marks the transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.
Gothic Art
During the Gothic era, art differs from the Byzantine era in that there was an emphasis on the freedom of interpretation. The art was only limited by the imagination of the artist. Gothic art differed from previous eras by an increase in naturalism expressed in the shape and posture of the figures. The pattern and colors were more vibrant and bold than previous eras. All of these changes allowed the artist more freedom of interpretation. During the Gothic era, architecture was also influenced by freedom of interpretation. The change of art between the two eras is most evident in the architecture of the churches. These elaborate churches were built not only to signify the divinity of Jesus, but to emphasize relief sculptures which were found on the walls and ceilings of these structures.
The Betrayal of Judas, 1230, Naumburg Cathedral
Characteristics of Gothic Art
Sculptures- Relief sculptures built into the Churches as forms of art rather than mosaics or paintings
Bright Colors- Move away from dull, muted colors-Use of bold, statement making colors
Naturalism- The sculptures look more realistic than the mosaics seen in the Byzantine era- facial expressions, emotion, body movements
Part 2: Byzantine vs Gothic Christian Art
Jesus as seen through Byzantine and Gothic Art
Depicting Jesus artistically has been task that many artists have attempted to take on over the centuries. Jesus is such an influential figure that is it no wonder so many artists chose to create masterpieces with Him as the inspiration. With that being said, creating an image of Jesus isn’t as easy as it sounds. He is so powerful, mysterious and holy that artists have a hard time figuring out how to create a work of art that fairly depicts all of these qualities. Because of the uncertainty, art with Jesus as the focus has seen many different sides. Each culture has its own interpretations and beliefs about how artwork should be structured in order to give Jesus the respect and honor He deserves. Two of the earliest empires after the death of Jesus include the Byzantine and Gothic. Although they both have the same goal of glorifying God, the styles used are drastically different. These styles were based on societal ideals and the context of what was happening during each specific time period.
In the year 330 AD, Constantine took over as the Emperor of the Roman Empire. After his defeat of Licinius, Constantine was focused on rebuilding Byzantium as a Christian capital. Constantine was the first Christian leader Rome had ever seen and was determined to create a safe environment for Christians to worship and express themselves freely. (History World) In previous years, Rome was not a Christian nation, and in fact Christians had to practice their faith in the secrecy of Catacombs. These Catacombs were elaborate underground tunnels where Christians would worship Jesus, and bury their dead in the hopes that they would rise to Heaven and be with Jesus. (Milburn 1988, 19-23) (Also see Meer 1959, 34) Considering that Constantine was so focused on creating a Christian capital, it is no wonder that there was a boom in Christian artwork that was created during this time period. This was the first time in Rome where artists were allowed to express their ideas about Jesus publically.
Although art had made great strides in the years before Jesus and had become increasingly more and more naturalistic, this was not the style used in artwork that depicted Jesus. (Kleiner 2013, 178-231) Byzantine artists had a hard time creating an image of Jesus that fully shows off the level of his divinity and holiness. This idea about Christianity is summed up by Eric Newton in his book 2000 years of Christianity; “For Christian faith, unlike a jug, has no visual existence…For the artist, in such a world, only symbolism will serve.” (Newton and Neil 1966, 13) (Also see Finaldi 2000, 193) Artwork of the Byzantine era did just that. Artists focused on creating an image of Jesus that was simple and straightforward and emphasized symbolism. (Kleiner 2013, 254-281) By far, the most popular form of Byzantine art was the mosaics style. Mosaic is defined as a decorative art form creating pictures and patterns on a particular surface by placing small colored pieces of glass, gold, marbles or other materials in a bed of cement or plaster. (Byzantine Art and Architecture 2011) Bright glass and gold were used in order to signify the divinity of Jesus. (Newton and Neil 1966, 40-41) Christ between two angles at San Vitale in Ravenna Italy created between 526-547 AD, is a great example of a typical Byzantine work of art. This mosaic shows Jesus sitting on a globe, signifying the earth, surrounded by angles and is said to be a depiction of His second coming. (Kleiner 2013, 254-281) There are many characteristics of Byzantine artwork that are displayed in this piece of art. One theme found in Byzantine works of art is a lack of realism. In this mosaic, Jesus is clearly portrayed in human form. However, his facial expression and features are not naturalistic looking in the least. As stated earlier, Byzantine art was focused more on symbolism than naturalism. Another characteristic, which goes along with symbolism, is the use of icons and colors as representations in the mosaic. (Mathews 1998, 52-65) The halo above Jesus is an example of an icon that was used in order to signify importance and significance of Jesus. Another example is the use of purple on Jesus’s robe. This color signifies royalty and honor. (Kleiner 2013, 254-281)
As the Roman Empire gradually began to fall apart, the Gothic era and its influences began to become more prevalent. The Goths were seen as unstable barbarians and generally viewed in a negative manner. Although they were seen as Barbarians, they had had acquired wonderful craftsmanship skills. They were also very aware and involved with the Christian faith. (Newton and Neil 1966, 88)
During the Gothic era, art differs from the Byzantine era in that there was an emphasis on the freedom of interpretation. The art was only limited by the imagination of the artist. Gothic art differed from previous eras by an increase in naturalism expressed in the shape and posture of the figures. The pattern and colors were more vibrant and bold than previous eras. (Middle Age History) (Camille 1996, 105) All of these changes allowed the artist more freedom of interpretation. During the Gothic era, architecture was also influenced by freedom of interpretation. The change of art between the two eras is most evident in the architecture of the churches. These elaborate churches were built to signify the divinity of Jesus. Jesus was glorified through relief sculptures made in His honor, which were found on the walls and ceilings of these structures. (Newton and Neil 1966, 89-93)
The Betrayal of Judas, 1230, Naumburg Cathedral is an example of a stereotypical piece of artwork done in the Gothic era. During this time, sculptures were very popular. As seen in the remains of the sculpture mentioned above, vibrant colors were used in order to make the sculptures stand out. Sculptures were also shifted towards naturalism; the faces and body parts were more realistic than they were during the Byzantine Empire. Not only were they more naturalistic, the sculptures were also very raw and emotional. The artists had a goal of trying to get the viewer to emphasize with the sculpture. The sculptures were not limited by anything but the artists’ imagination. (Camille 1996, 105)
After analyzing both the Byzantine and Gothic eras, it is clear that Jesus was played a significant role in the art created during the two different time periods. Each had its own ideas about how Jesus should be displayed. Although they had very different ideas and styles, the goal was the same; to make a work of art that honored Jesus.
Depicting Jesus artistically has been task that many artists have attempted to take on over the centuries. Jesus is such an influential figure that is it no wonder so many artists chose to create masterpieces with Him as the inspiration. With that being said, creating an image of Jesus isn’t as easy as it sounds. He is so powerful, mysterious and holy that artists have a hard time figuring out how to create a work of art that fairly depicts all of these qualities. Because of the uncertainty, art with Jesus as the focus has seen many different sides. Each culture has its own interpretations and beliefs about how artwork should be structured in order to give Jesus the respect and honor He deserves. Two of the earliest empires after the death of Jesus include the Byzantine and Gothic. Although they both have the same goal of glorifying God, the styles used are drastically different. These styles were based on societal ideals and the context of what was happening during each specific time period.
In the year 330 AD, Constantine took over as the Emperor of the Roman Empire. After his defeat of Licinius, Constantine was focused on rebuilding Byzantium as a Christian capital. Constantine was the first Christian leader Rome had ever seen and was determined to create a safe environment for Christians to worship and express themselves freely. (History World) In previous years, Rome was not a Christian nation, and in fact Christians had to practice their faith in the secrecy of Catacombs. These Catacombs were elaborate underground tunnels where Christians would worship Jesus, and bury their dead in the hopes that they would rise to Heaven and be with Jesus. (Milburn 1988, 19-23) (Also see Meer 1959, 34) Considering that Constantine was so focused on creating a Christian capital, it is no wonder that there was a boom in Christian artwork that was created during this time period. This was the first time in Rome where artists were allowed to express their ideas about Jesus publically.
Although art had made great strides in the years before Jesus and had become increasingly more and more naturalistic, this was not the style used in artwork that depicted Jesus. (Kleiner 2013, 178-231) Byzantine artists had a hard time creating an image of Jesus that fully shows off the level of his divinity and holiness. This idea about Christianity is summed up by Eric Newton in his book 2000 years of Christianity; “For Christian faith, unlike a jug, has no visual existence…For the artist, in such a world, only symbolism will serve.” (Newton and Neil 1966, 13) (Also see Finaldi 2000, 193) Artwork of the Byzantine era did just that. Artists focused on creating an image of Jesus that was simple and straightforward and emphasized symbolism. (Kleiner 2013, 254-281) By far, the most popular form of Byzantine art was the mosaics style. Mosaic is defined as a decorative art form creating pictures and patterns on a particular surface by placing small colored pieces of glass, gold, marbles or other materials in a bed of cement or plaster. (Byzantine Art and Architecture 2011) Bright glass and gold were used in order to signify the divinity of Jesus. (Newton and Neil 1966, 40-41) Christ between two angles at San Vitale in Ravenna Italy created between 526-547 AD, is a great example of a typical Byzantine work of art. This mosaic shows Jesus sitting on a globe, signifying the earth, surrounded by angles and is said to be a depiction of His second coming. (Kleiner 2013, 254-281) There are many characteristics of Byzantine artwork that are displayed in this piece of art. One theme found in Byzantine works of art is a lack of realism. In this mosaic, Jesus is clearly portrayed in human form. However, his facial expression and features are not naturalistic looking in the least. As stated earlier, Byzantine art was focused more on symbolism than naturalism. Another characteristic, which goes along with symbolism, is the use of icons and colors as representations in the mosaic. (Mathews 1998, 52-65) The halo above Jesus is an example of an icon that was used in order to signify importance and significance of Jesus. Another example is the use of purple on Jesus’s robe. This color signifies royalty and honor. (Kleiner 2013, 254-281)
As the Roman Empire gradually began to fall apart, the Gothic era and its influences began to become more prevalent. The Goths were seen as unstable barbarians and generally viewed in a negative manner. Although they were seen as Barbarians, they had had acquired wonderful craftsmanship skills. They were also very aware and involved with the Christian faith. (Newton and Neil 1966, 88)
During the Gothic era, art differs from the Byzantine era in that there was an emphasis on the freedom of interpretation. The art was only limited by the imagination of the artist. Gothic art differed from previous eras by an increase in naturalism expressed in the shape and posture of the figures. The pattern and colors were more vibrant and bold than previous eras. (Middle Age History) (Camille 1996, 105) All of these changes allowed the artist more freedom of interpretation. During the Gothic era, architecture was also influenced by freedom of interpretation. The change of art between the two eras is most evident in the architecture of the churches. These elaborate churches were built to signify the divinity of Jesus. Jesus was glorified through relief sculptures made in His honor, which were found on the walls and ceilings of these structures. (Newton and Neil 1966, 89-93)
The Betrayal of Judas, 1230, Naumburg Cathedral is an example of a stereotypical piece of artwork done in the Gothic era. During this time, sculptures were very popular. As seen in the remains of the sculpture mentioned above, vibrant colors were used in order to make the sculptures stand out. Sculptures were also shifted towards naturalism; the faces and body parts were more realistic than they were during the Byzantine Empire. Not only were they more naturalistic, the sculptures were also very raw and emotional. The artists had a goal of trying to get the viewer to emphasize with the sculpture. The sculptures were not limited by anything but the artists’ imagination. (Camille 1996, 105)
After analyzing both the Byzantine and Gothic eras, it is clear that Jesus was played a significant role in the art created during the two different time periods. Each had its own ideas about how Jesus should be displayed. Although they had very different ideas and styles, the goal was the same; to make a work of art that honored Jesus.
Part 3: Annotated Bibliography
Camille, Michael. Gothic Art Glorious Visions. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Incorporated, 1996.
This book describes all aspects of the Gothic era in relations to art. It has anything and everything that you could possibly want to know about the artwork. There is a specific section in the book that describes visions of God, and how and why the views are shifting. It describes the artwork and the characteristics that make it stand out, specifically, the artwork that is focused on Jesus. The characteristics of the relief sculptures found on churches are discussed and it allows the reader to understand the significance of naturalism and why the Goths placed so much emphasis on this style when creating works of art displaying Jesus. I will explain the naturalism in the paper and why it is a signature characteristic of the Gothic era.
Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6Th Edition. “Byzantine art and architecture.” November 2011. 1-2. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=3904969&site=ehost-live (accessed April 19, 2012)
The article describes the Byzantine Empire’s fascination with Mosaics. It does a great job explaining why mosaics were so popular. It also explains exactly what a mosaic is and goes through the different time periods when they were used and why they were used at that specific time. The article also explains where the mosaics were found. It talks about churches being the main place mosaics were displayed. This fact is great supporting evidence for my paper.
Finaldi, Gabriele, Neil MacGregor, Susanna Avery-Quash, Xavier Bray, Erika Langmuir, Alexander Sturgis. The Image of Christ. London: The National Gallery, 2000.
This book does a great job describing why it is hard for artists to create an image of Jesus. It explains that God is such a mysterious being that it is hard to create a specific image of Him. God is seen in three forms; God, Jesus and Holy Spirit. Artists have a hard time figuring out how to tackle this idea and come up with a work of art that does Him justice. I will use this idea to emphasize that everyone has his or her own interpretation of God and Christianity so therefore everyone is going to have a different idea of how to artistically display this.
Gary, Dorothy Hales, and Robert Payne. The Splendors of Byzantium. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1956.
This book begins by explaining the Byzantine Empire in detail. Not only does it talk about the history, it explains how the history is related to the art that was created during this era. Something in particular that stood out to me was the statement in this book about mosaics. It explains how the artists during the Byzantine Empire believed that the Mosaics were the closest art form to God, and are considered heavenly in their eyes. This idea about the mosaics is significant because mosaics were by far the preferred art form from this time. It is important to understand why that is.
History World. “History of the Byzantine Empire.”
http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid (Accessed April 18, 2012).
I thought it would be important to give a brief history of the Byzantine Empire and help the reader understand the context of what was happening during this time period before I jumped right into the artwork. This article does a great job describing the history of this Empire. It explains how Constantine coming to power is the beginning of the Christianity rise in Rome. He was determined to make a Christian capital and make a safe environment for Christians to express their faith. This information is a great way to begin my introduction of the Byzantine Empire because it shows the reader what is happening in the religious world at this time.
Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner’s Art Through the Ages. 14th Ed. Boston, MA: Wadsworth, 2013.
This textbook is from an art history class I took in a previous semester at Bridgewater. It is the inspiration for my paper. The information I learned over the course of the semester can be summed up nicely in my paper. I took information about art from previous eras and used that basic knowledge to understand the Byzantine and Gothic era more clearly. This book is full of information about the style of art from each time period and will be a great foundation for my paper as a whole. Each style of art is described in more detail and gives a better understanding of the artwork.
Mathews, Thomas F. Byzantium From Antiquity to the Renaissance. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1998.
This book has a whole section on the Byzantine Empire and the new vision they have of Jesus. The section I focused on in this particular book was the section on why icons and symbols played such a large role in the Byzantine Christian artwork. The symbolism played a huge role in the work because it was how the Byzantines got their point across. They didn’t make works of art that were naturalistic looking, they used symbols and icons to get the point across. I will use this in my paper to explain the reasoning symbols and icons were used.
Middle Ages History. “Middle Ages Art.” http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/middleages-history.htm (accessed April 19, 2012)
This website does a great job summing up a lot of the material that is found in the textbook I used from my art history class. While it is a more simple and easily understood website, the information is very similar to that found in the textbook. It compares and contrasts the artwork found in the Byzantine and Gothic time period. Each time era has a list of characteristics, which were standard from each time period. I will use this as a basis for my explanation of the characteristics of the artwork found in each era. The basic concepts are discussed in this article, which helped me organize my thoughts and find more specific information in other books.
Milburn, Robert. Early Christian Art and Architecture. Berkeley CA: University of California Press, 1988.
Before the Byzantine Empire, Christians were not allowed to publically practice their faith. With this being said, this doesn’t mean that they didn’t. Christians found ways around not having Churches to go to. They created what are now referred to as the Catacombs. These series of underground tunnels were used as burial sites for the dead in the hopes they would return to Heaven. They were also places of worship. This idea is relevant to my paper because it emphasizes how big of a turning point Constantine’s mission was for Roman Christians. Finally the Christians were allowed to express themselves freely. It is no wonder Christian art took off so quickly.
Newton, Eric. and William Neil. 2000 Years of Christianity. New York: Harpers & Row, 1966.
I will use this source to emphasize why Christian artwork came about after the coming of Jesus. Why was the artwork so important all of the sudden? Based off the Old Testament alone, God had been an invisible; there was no way of creating an image of his divinity so artists didn’t try. All of the sudden, once Jesus came to earth there was a way to create art that showed the image of God as Jesus. Because of this artwork began to take off. (pg 25)
The Byzantine Empire provides the earliest forms of artwork besides the artwork mentioned in “Early Christian Art” The artwork before this is irrelevant because it was so primitive and insignificant. However, it does emphasize the importance of Jesus before it was technically legal to worship him publically. Emperor Constantine was created a groundbreaking experience for Christians in allowing them to worship publically. Artwork began to flourish after this, around 313 AD. (pg 36-38)
The Gothic era is also described well in the book. It talks about how gothic sculptures were used as a main form of art. This art was used because they believed it was the best way to display Jesus. (88)
Stockstad, Marilyn. Medieval Art. New York: Harper & Row Publishers, 1986.
The beginning of the chapter, The Origins of the Gothic Style, explains in full detail how the Gothic era came about and what was happening in the world around them at the time. This book explains how the Goths were seen as “Barbarians” meaning they were from a wide variety of areas, and were a little more free spirited than what was considered acceptable. However, this does not mean that there is a lack of faith. The Goths still had a large sense of pride in their faith and the belief of Jesus. They simply chose a different, more daring way of expressing their ideas of what Christian artwork should look like.
van der Meer, F. Early Christian Art. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1959.
This book talks about the time period not mentioned much in my paper, the earliest Christians, and their art. Previously in Rome, Christianity was not allowed to be publically displayed, because of this the art had to be hidden as well. Although art had to be created in secrecy because it wasn’t allowed to be publically displayed, this did not stop the artists. They still created paintings, which displayed their God. Art from this time period was created for the most part underground in secret places of worship called Catacombs. These were elaborate tunnels used for worship and burial grounds for the dead. The artwork was created to make the underground tunnels more special.