Byzantine Art
Prompts
• Compare syncretic with eclectic
• Compare humanism with Christian
Spirituality
• What might be the philosophy of Byzantine
art and culture?
• What are the essential elements of
Christian art?
• How is Christian art a reaction / blending
of Roman art?
Midterm Short Essay Questions
1. Roman and Greek buildings are significantly different. Discuss
how Greek style and function in architecture is different than later
Roman architecture.
2. Compare a figure sculpture from ancient Egypt with an Archaic
Greek figure sculpture.
3. Compare the goals of ancient Egyptian architects with those of
Roman architects.
4. How were the canons of Egyptian and Greek figurative art
different?
5. Compare the Roman Patrician portrait with the colossal bust of
Constantine. Discuss ways in which the function and time period
of each work account for the differences in their appearances.
6. Place two Greek vase paintings in correct chronological order.
Write about why you chose that order.
Hagia Sophia
Old St. Peter’s Church
COMPARE THESE TWO PLANS.
Use the terms basilica, central plan, nave, transcept, narthex in your comparison.
Read pages 325 -329 then –
Compare these two works. After 20 minutes exchange
papers and evaluate.
VOCABULARY
tesserae, nimbus (halo), codex, folio, vellum, parchment,
illuminated manuscript, Byzantine, Iconoclasm, semidomes, apse, pulpit, choir (as a section of a church
plan), Apostles, Christogram, paten, chalice, Three Magi,
monastic, Theotokos, Pantokrater, Golgotha, diptych,
triptych, iconostasis, theocratic, pendentive, squinch,
exedra, mandorla, hieratic, icon, encaustic, repoussé
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
• What are the primary features of Byzantine art?
• How does Byzantine art overtake the dominant
Roman style?
• How do artists portray spiritual elements and a
lack of corporeality and the physical world?
Map of Byzantine Empire ca. 6th C. BE
Justinian as world
conqueror (Barberini Ivory)
mid-sixth century CE
ivory
13 1/2” x 10 1/2”
Louvre Museum, Paris, FR
• How does the iconography of
this image indicate that Justinian’s
strength comes from God?
• Describe the images of Earth
and Victory in this scene and tell
how they function symbolically.
• What evidence is there of
Roman aesthetic values in this
work? Where does it depart from
those?
St. Michael the Archangel,
right panel of a diptych
early-sixth century CE
ivory
17” x 5 1/2”
British Museum, London, England
• Who is Michael the Archangel?
• Tell how this image shows the
influence of classical art.
• Locate and describe any aspects of
this art that are not realistic/natural.
Hagia Sophia (view facing north)
Anthemius of Tralles & Isidorus of Miletus
532 - 537 CE; Constantinople, Turkey
• The minarets are Muslim additions to the church. In Justinian’s
time, they would not have been present.
• What are the dominant architectural forms of the building from
this distant view?
section (top) and plan
(bottom) of Hagia Sophia
• Looking at the plan, is it
possible to argue that the
Hagia Sophia is a hybrid
version of central plan and
basilica plan churches?
interior of
Hagia Sophia
• Define exedrae.
• Which system of
domical support
is used in the
Hagia Sophia?
• Discuss the effect
of the clerestory
windows at the
base of the dome.
plan of San Vitale
• Why
aerial view of San
Vitale
526 - 547 CE
Ravenna, IT
• What can you
surmise about the
interior of San Vitale
from this exterior
aerial view?
• What comparisons
can be made
between San Vitale
and its forerunner,
the Mausoleum of
Galla Placidia (425
CE)?
plan of San Vitale
• By examining this work,
why do you consider this a
“central planned” church?
choir and apse of San Vitale
with mosaic of Christ between
two angels, Saint Vitalis, and
Bishop Ecclesius
• What is the dominant space used
for the mosaic program in San
Vitale?
• Describe the mosaic program in
San Vitale.
• Describe how light and color are
used in the apse of San Vitale.
Justinian, Bishop
Maximianus,
and attendants mosaic
from the north wall of
the apse, San Vitale;
ca. 547 CE
Ravenna, IT
• Justinian and his wife, Theodora, never visited Ravenna,
though they both feature prominently in the mosaic program
of the church. What might explain this?
• Justinian’s rule was one of theocracy. How does this mosaic
support that view of Justinian?
• In what ways is this image hieratic?
Theodora and
attendants mosaic
from the south wall
of the apse, San Vitale
ca. 547 CE
Ravenna, IT
• What are the symbols of Christian authority in this portrayal of
Theodora?
• What are the symbols of imperial authority in this portrayal of
Theodora?
• What narrative is portrayed in the hem of Theodora’s outer
garment? What is its significance to the mosaic?
• In what ways is Justinian’s Theodora like Augustus’ Livia?
Saint Apollinaris and sheep
apse mosaic, Sant’ Apollinare
in Classe
ca. 533 - 549 CE
Ravenna, IT
• Define transfiguration. Who was present at that event?
• Describe the naturalism of the landscape that Saint Vitalis (the
dominant orant figure in the middle of his flock) inhabits.
• To the left and right of the large cross are two winged figures; who
are they?
• Above the cross is a small hand; whose hand is it, and what does it
represent?
Total view of Sant’Apollinare apse mosaic with Transfiguration
and Sant’Apollinare
• Compare and contrast the portrayal of Christ in the uppermost
register of this mosaic with other portrayals of him that you’ve studied
thus far.
• Who are the figures to the left and right of the image of Christ as a
man atop this photo?
Do Now:
Compare these two works based on
style and subject.
You may use a T chart.
5 minutes.
Transfiguration of Jesus apse mosaic from the Church of
the Virgin, Monastery of Saint Catherine
ca. 548 - 565 CE; Mount Sinai, EGYPT
•
•
•
•
Define mandorla.
Identify the figures portrayed in this mosaic.
What is the effect of the gold background in this mosaic?
In this mosaic we see an example of reverse perspective. What is
reverse perspective, how does it function, and what is its effect?
Ascension of Christ,
folio 13 verso of the
Rabbula Gospels
from Zagba, Syria
586 CE
13” x 10 1/2”
Bilblioteca Medicea
Laurenziana, Florence, IT
• What is the Ascension
and why is it important?
• What is the difference
between an illuminated
text and an illustrated
one. Which is this?
Virgin (Theotokos) and Child
Monastery of Saint Catherine
6th or early 7th c.
encaustic on wood
2’ 3” x 1’ 7 3/8”
Mount Sinai, EGYPT
• Describe how the style of
this image exemplifies
Byzantine compositional
ideas.
• Identify and describe any
traces of the GrecoRoman illusionism present
in this image.
Christ as Pantokrater
dome mosaic in the
Church of the
Dormition
ca. 1090 - 1100 CE
Daphni, GREECE
• Define the term
pantokrater.
Crucifixion mosaic
in the Church of the
Dormition
ca. 1090 - 1100 CE
Daphni, GREECE
• Whose skull lay at
Christ’s feet?
• What is the effect of
stylizing Christ’s
crucifixion? For
example, notice the
blood flowing from
his side wound, as
well as the general
wellness of Christ.
St. Mark’s Cathedral (exterior view of façade)
• What makes this church “Byzantine”?
St. Mark’s Cathedral
(interior looking east
towards altar)
begun in 1063 CE
Venice, ITALY
• What is a quincunx-plan?
Empress Irene,
detail of the Pala D’Oro
St. Mark’s, Venice, IT
ca. 1105 CE
gold cloisonné inlaid with
precious stones
7” x 4 1/2”
Lamentation over the Dead Christ; Saint Pantaleimon
1164 CE; wall painting
Nerezi, MACEDONIA
• What scene from Christ’s life is shown here?
• How is the portrayal of the Virgin different in this scene than in
her portrayal as Theotokos?
• Compare this 12th-century image with Giotto’s early 14thcentury rendering of the same scene?
• Name all the figures in the scene.
Virgin (Theotokos) and Child
[a.k.a The Vladimir Virgin]
late 11th to early 12th c.
tempera on wood
2’ 6 1/2” X 1’ 9”
Tretyakov Gallery,
Moscow, RUSSIA
Click here to read more about this
“iconic” icon.
• What explains the abused
quality of the image?
• Describe how the artist
renders the drapery in Jesus’
garments.
Christ as Savior of Souls
icon from the Church of
Saint Clement
early 14th c.
tempera, linen, and silver on
wood; 3’ 1/4” x 2’ 2 1/2”
Ohrid, MACEDONIA
• What is repoussé?
Key Concepts
• Byzantine art is the art of the eastern Holy Roman Empire after the fourth
century. It is characterized by its departure from a western, Roman style--a
classical style, and its mystical stylizations. The art is dominated by
mosaic and manuscript as well as domical, central-plan churches. Its
portrayals of the Christ, the Virgin, and Saints are iconic, meaning they are
flattened and universal (think the opposite of verism).
• Byzantine art has three phases to it: the early, Justiniac period, the period
known as “Iconoclasm,” and the Late-Byzantine. Justiniac art is
characterized by its conquering tone, seen in its content and scale;
Iconoclasm sees a period of artistic quiet when no icons (or images) are
made; and, finally, the Late-Byzantine period revives art with grander,
solemn, iconic imagery placed in completely illusionistic space.
• Byzantine art is known as hieratic (which means literally “of or concerning
priests”), a term that suggests content that is religious.
• Byzantine art is generally thought of as ending around the Renaissance,
though its style still influences eastern architecture, especially as Muslim
mosques.