Week Four- Early Christian and Byzantine

Early Christian and Byzantine 

The earliest Christian worship places were in homes, house churches. These were known as tituli and there were 25 of these in Rome at the time of Constantine's conversion. They were eventually converted into Christian churches; they would have had a central courtyard and a gathering space to accommodate around 50 people. Inside there would have been a small tub used to pour water on their heads since there wasn't room for a pool to submerge them in. 

    Catacombs were a large part of Rome; these were a vast network of passageways and chambers designed as cemeteries for burial. The small openings in the wall for the body were called loculi. As well there were small rooms for mortuary called cubicula. These lower levels were dug connected by stairs and the total catacombs would have run 60-90 miles.  

    There are two important historical factors to remember when looking at Early Christian and Byzantine art, these are the decline of Rome and the rise of Christ. When looking at style there are many similarities between the Roman period and the early Christian period that followed. Most importantly there are two architectural forms that relate closely, the straightforward basilica and the luxuriant, centrally placed dome. The first art and architecture of the first Christian communities is considered the early Christian time period. The early Christian is considered Western Europe, or the west and the Byzantine is considered the east.  

    The basilica was important to the early Christian and Byzantine churches, its form was a column-free rectangle with an apse at one end. It really developed the idea of communal spaces, the rectangular space is for an audience and the apse for a speaker, statue, or altar. The early Christian church has a facade that expresses the building behind it, with a central nave, triangular roof, side aisles, and a central door opening onto the axis that progresses directly through the nave. In the book it shows a famous Spanish example of this period the Sant' Apollinare in Classe, Ravenna. It shows the interior, and I am fascinated with how much detail is poured into the design. 

    The Empress Theodora and Her Attendants mosaic is placed in the San Vitale and shows Christ receiving a model of the church. The book goes into depth of who the Empress Theodora is, she was a Justinian's wife an actress praised for her beauty and strong personality. This art is displayed and is an important aspect to the Byzantine Empire. Byzantium constituted to the longest political entity in Europe, culturally heired to Greece and Rome they followed the system of Rome. The Hagia Sophia has a dome lifted onto four columns and connected to them with the indigenous device of pendentives. There architectural idea was to merge the longitudinal basilica with the centrally placed church by implementing the two half domes. Under the emperor Justinian two architects were hired to create Hagia Sophia, they were both geometricians. It's a mix between classically rational and mysterious, the interior held decorative arts that were concentrated also with well-lighted central space. 

    Throughout this region there were many pieces of furniture that were significant to the times. One being The Throne of Maximian. It would have ivory inlay panels, there are also ten panels on the throne that showcase scenes from the life of Joseph. When he sat in the throne, his feet touched the floor, and his back should have been erected. His back wouldn't have touched the back of the chair, nowhere to rest your head. During this time there would have been many simple wooden pieces as well. Medieval furniture their purpose was to primarily provide a sturdy seat, even if the pleasing appearance was secondary. A three-legged stool is anthropomorphic. Its soft curves respond to the curves of the human figure.