Art of ByzantiumReadingStokstad, 233-259

Range395-1425 CEByzantine

Terms/Conceptspendentive, squinch, luminosity, Nika Revolt, Justinian, patronage, martyr, martyrdom, apse, caesaropapism, diptych.

Monument ListSt. Michael the Archangel, Ivory Panel, Constantinople, 6th Century CEAnthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus, Church of Hagia Sophia, (Interior), 532-537. Justinian as defender of the faith, (Barbarini Ivory), mid-sixth century CE.Emperor Justinian and his Attendants, North wall of apse. Mosaic, c.546-548.

St. Michael the Archangel, Ivory Panel, Constantinople, 6th Century CE

Could be another angel or an

emperor receiving this orb.

Could be another angel or an

emperor receiving this orb.

Diptych = Di (Two) Ptukhe (Fold)

St. Michael the Archangel, Ivory Panel, Constantinople, 6th Century CE

Ara Pacis, Procession (Detail), Rome, 13 BCE.

St. Michael the Archangel, Ivory Panel, Constantinople, 6th Century CE

Nike Adjusting her Sandal, Temple to Athena Nike, Acropolis, Athens, 440 BCE.

Wing

Christianity after Theodosius

395 CETheodosius divides the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western regions.

*The successors of Theodosius I continued to strengthen Christianity as a powerful force in both the East and the West.

Byzantine Empire

Theodosius I (379-395)

The Fall of the Western Empire

395 CETheodosius divides the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western regions.

*By 476, all of Italy was under the control of the Ostrogoths.

Byzantine Empire

410

418

402

476

The Conquest of the West

Byzantine Empire

“An able Goth wants to be like a Roman; only a poor Roman would want to be like a Goth.” –Theodoric, King of the Visigoths

Constantinople

Originally consecrated by Constantine in 330.

Haled as “New Rome.”

The Tumultuous Rise of Justinian

Justinian (527-565)

In 532 CE, just five years after Justinian came into power, the Nika Revolt threatened the stability of his reign.

Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus, Church of Hagia Sophia, Constantinople (Istanbul), 532-537.

Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus, Church of Hagia Sophia, Constantinople (Istanbul), 532-537.

Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus, Church of Hagia Sophia, Constantinople (Istanbul), 532-537.

Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus. Church of Hagia Sophia. Constantinople (Istanbul). 532-537.

Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus. Interior of Hagia Sophia. Constantinople (Istanbul). 532-537.

Aerial view of the Pantheon, Rome, c.118-125 CE.

Interior of the Pantheon. Rome, c.118-125 CE.

Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus, Interior of Church of Hagia Sophia, Constantinople (Istanbul). 532-537.

Ribs

Pendentive

Pendentive

Pendentive

Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus, Interior of Church of Hagia Sophia, Constantinople (Istanbul), 532-537.

Pendentive

Pendentive

• Pendentive: A concave, triangular section of a hemisphere, four of which provide the transition from a square area to circular base of a covering dome

Pendentive

Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus, Interior of Hagia Sophia, Constantinople (Istanbul), 532-537.

Interior of the Pantheon. Rome, c.118-125 CE.

Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus. Plan of Hagia Sophia. Constantinople (Istanbul). 532-537. (Stokstad 7-18)

Apse. Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus. Interior of Hagia Sophia. Constantinople (Istanbul). 532-537. (alternate view of Stokstad 7-19)

Virgin and Child enthroned, Apse mosaic, Hagia Sophi, Constantinople (Istanbul), Dedicated 867.

Justinian and the Byzantine Empire

Justinian (527-565)

“We believe that the first and greatest blessing for all mankind is the confession of the Christian faith…to the end that it may be universally established…we have deemed it our sacred duty to admonish any offenders.”

Justinian as the Defender of the Faith(Barbarini Ivory), mid-sixth century CE.

Justinian as Victor

Justinian as defender of the faith, (Barbarini Ivory), mid-sixth century CE.

Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, Rome, 161-180 CE.

Equestrian Statue of Carolingian King (probably Charles the Bald), 9th century CE.

Justinian as defender of the faith, (Barbarini Ivory), mid-sixth century CE.

Justinian as the Defender of the Faith(Barbarini Ivory), mid-sixth century CE.

Conquered Heathens and Barbarians giving Tribute.

Justinian as the Defender of the Faith(Barbarini Ivory), mid-sixth century CE.

Military officer presenting a trophy to Justinian.

Justinian as the Defender of the Faith(Barbarini Ivory), mid-sixth century CE.

Christ Blessing Justinian

Justinian and the Byzantine Empire

Justinian (527-565)

By 554, Justinian had reclaimed lands previously held by the barbarian tribes.

San Vitale

Aerial view of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy, c.520-547

Aerial view of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy, c. 520-547

Aerial view of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy, c.520-547.

Plan of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy, c.520-547.

Central Domed

Area

Central Domed

Area

Narthex

Apse

Interior of San Vitale, as seen from apse. c.520-547. Ravenna, Italy.

Plan

Interior of San Vitale, as seen towards apse. Ravenna, Italy.c.520-547.

Apse of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy, c. 520-547.

Plan

Apse of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy, c. 520-547.

Plan

Christ with angels, Saint Vitalis, and Bishop Ecclesius, Apse of San Vitale, Mosaic Ravenna, Italy, c.546-548.

Bishop Ecclesius presenting San Vitale to Christ

Christ with angels, Saint Vitalis, and Bishop Ecclesius, Apse of San Vitale, Mosaic Ravenna, Italy, c.546-548.

Saint Vitalis presented with the crown of martyrdom

Paradise had four rivers, which are depicted beneath Christ.

Christ with angels, Saint Vitalis, and Bishop Ecclesius, Apse of San Vitale, Mosaic Ravenna, Italy, c.546-548.

Christ with angels, Saint Vitalis, and Bishop Ecclesius, Apse of San Vitale, Mosaic Ravenna, Italy, c.546-548.

Emperor Justinian and his Attendants. North wall of apse. c.546-548.

Empress Theodora and her Attendants. Mosaic. South Wall of Apse, c.546-548.

*The mosaics are located where the Eucharist would have been prepared and given.

Empress Theodora and her Attendants, South wall of apse, Mosaic, c. 546-548.

Emperor Justinian and his Attendants, North wall of apse. Mosaic, c.546-548.

Chi-Rho

Emperor Justinian and his Attendants, North wall of apse. Mosaic, c.546-548.

Critical Thinking Questions

1. How does Byzantine art have one foot in the Roman world and one foot in the Medieval world?

2. What role does luminosity play in the architecture and decoration of the Hagia Sophia?

3. How is both royal and church patronage shown in the mosaics of San Vitale in Ravenna?

4. What is a martyr? How are the important figures in the church?