Late Antique and Byzantine
Art
1. Depicting the Emperor in
Late Antiquity
Lecture Resources
In the first lecture we will investigate how Roman Emperors
and the Imperial family were depicted in Late Antiquity (3rd7th centuries AD).
Examine the images in the following slides and consider
the following questions:
• What are the messages that the artist wishes to convey
about the Emperor in each of these works?
• Can you identify any references to religion and earlier
Roman Emperors in these works?
• What can these works tell us about what was expected
of an ideal Roman Emperor in late Antiquity?
“The Four Tetrarchs” at St
Mark’s, Venice. c. 300 AD
The Arch of Constantine,
Rome. Dedicated 315
AD.
“To the Emperor Caesar Flavius
Constantinus, the greatest, pious,
and blessed Augustus: because
he, inspired by the Divinity, and by
the greatness of his mind, with his
army and just force of arms has
delivered the state from the tyrant
and all of his followers at the same
time, the Senate and People of
Rome have dedicated this arch,
decorated with triumphs.” –
The Barberini Ivory,
6th Century
Constantinople.
Now on display at the
Louvre, Paris.
Suggested Reading for the
course
• Cormack, R. Byzantine art 2000 (Oxford
University Press)
• Eastmond, A. The Glory of Byzantium and
early Christendom 2013 (Phaidon press Ltd)
• Mango, C. The Art of the Byzantine Empire
312-1453: Sources and documents 1986
(University of Toronto Press)
• Rodley, L. Byzantine Art and Architecture
1994 (Cambridge University Press)
• Talbot-Rice, D. The Art of Byzantium 1959
(Thames and Hudson)