NOTES: Chapter 8 Byzantine Art

April 10, 2018

David Battling Goliath "David Plate"

Made in Constantinople, 629 - 630 CE Silver

1. An excellent example of sequential art

2. How was it made? Created in a sheet of silver, the process was chased

3. It is seen in three parts that are divided by registers and

describes spatial and time zones through scale and proportion

4. Mixture of Judeo subject matter with Classical (Roman heroes) - this mixture was typical in the art that characterized the Byzantine Empire

5. Patrons and artists had no conflict with mixing of stories --- thus a Jewish subject, created for a Christian patron in a pagan style was absolutely okey-dokey

6. The object was stamped similar to sterling today -- showing the purity of silver

7. The object was displayed in the homes of their wealthy owner, who was also highly educated, having refined taste!

Byzantine Empire --- Constantinople located at the mouth of the Mediterranean and Black Seas - perfect location for water travel.

The term Byzantine refers to the art and architecture broadly of Constantinople - the ancient name of the city before Constantine, who later renamed the city after himself.

This area was known as Byzantium.

Byzantium rulers conceived themselves as successors directly from the rulers and emperors of ancient Rome.

Three Golden Ages of Byzantine art

i. Early Byzantine period - during the reign of Emperor Justinian I (r. 527-565). Begins in the 5th century CE and ends in 726 CE

Why?

During the onset of iconoclast controversy that leads to the destruction of religious images after 726 CE.

iconoclasm - iconoclast

Stemming from the Greek words eikon, meaning "image," and klastes, meaning "breaker," an iconoclast was someone who destroyed religious sculptures and paintings.

The Iconoclastic Controversy, was a dispute over the use of religious images (icons) in the Byzantine Empire in the 8th and 9th centuries.

ii. The Middle Byzantine Period begins 843 when Empress Theodora (c.810 - 867 CE) reinstates the veneration of icons (continues until 1204 when Christian crusaders from the West EU occupy Constantinople.

iii. The Late Byzantine Period - beings with restoration of Byzantine rule in 1261 and ends with the fall of the empire to the Ottoman Turks in 1453.

Russia then occupies and succeeds Constantinople as the "Third Rome" and the Center of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

THE GOLDEN AGE OF JUSTINIAN

5 - 6th centuries

Emperor Justinian I and his wife, Empress Theodora (d. 548) were ruling the area. Political power, wealth and culture were at their finger tips.

Note: interest in compositional balance, order, geometry - as seen in early churches designed by Constantine the Great. Symbolic of stability and their keen interest

in mathematical purity

Hagia Sophia in Constantinople -- Emperor Justinian and Emperors Theodora planned for its construction.

The name itself Hagia Sophia means "Holy Wisdom"

Nika Revolt in 532 in the old church sets it in fire - destroyed by Justinian's foes - killing 30,000 of his army.

Theodora is said to have shamed Justinian into not fleeing the city saying...

"Purple makes a fine shroud" -- symbolic reference to the imperial color -- and that she would rather die (blood) than flee and preserve her life.

The new Hagia Sophia was not built until 532 - 537, completed five years later. It is said to have been built by 'angels.'