chapter 3 : early christian, byzantine, history...

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COURSE NAME: HISTORY OF INTERIOR DESIGNPROPOSED BY: DR.MOHAMED ALNEJEMSEMESTER: FIRST 2015/2016

CHAPTER (3): -Early Christian, Byzantine, and Romanesque

Oman College of Management & Technology

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CHAPTER 3 :

Early Christian, Byzantine,

and Romanesque

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Early Christian

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• One, the decision of Apostle Paul to spread Christianity beyond theJewish communities of Palestine and into the Greco-Roman World.

• Emperor Constantine accepted Christianity and became its patron

Early Christian

Roman empire

• Christian art was necessarily and deliberately ambiguous

• using pagan imagery but had special meaning for Christians

• Earliest surviving Christian Art are in the walls of Christian tombsin the catacombs of Rome

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Early Christian Architecture

• Under imperial sponsorship, Early Christian architecture flourished throughout the empire on a monumental scale

• Two Building Types: (Longitudinal Hall or Basilica)

• Centralized Building or Baptistry, Martyrium or Mausoleum

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Characteristics of Christian Art:

• Early Christian artists show little interest in the beauty strength andgrace of the human body.

• Main intention is to illustrate the power and glory of Christ

• Christian art was meant to tell the story of Christ’s life here on earth.

SYMBOLISM: (Ichthys-Cross-Ephesus).

Peacock.

Frescoes.

Basilica.

Centralized Building.

Mausoleum.

Mosaics.

Church.

Christian House.

Underground.

Early Christian: will speak now about:

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SYMBOLISM in Christian art:

Ichthys:

Ichthys (ΙΧΘΥΣ) translates to ‘Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior’

I (iota) is the first letter of Iēsous, Greek for ‘Jesus’

Chi (ch) is the first letter of Christos, Greek for ‘Anointed’

Theta (th) is first letter of Theou, Greek for ‘God’s’

Ypsilon (y) is the first letter of yios, Greek for ‘Son’

Sigma (s) is the first letter of Soter, Greek for ‘Savior’7

Tau Cross -

This form of cross

(resembling the Greek

letter Tau) predates the

Latin cross.

Greek Cross –

All arms are of

equal length.

Latin Cross –

The most common

depiction of a Christian

cross in modern times.

St. Peter’s Cross -

Representing St.

Peter’s upside-down

crucifixion.

Symbol of the Cross:

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Ephesus:

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Peacock:

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Frescoes:

Churches then were normal houses converted as a place of worship

Frescoes portray simple Biblical scenes

Jonah Vomited from the Whale,Catacomb of Sts. Marcellinus and Peter,

3rd century Rome11

Moses striking the rock in the desertNoah Praying in the Ark

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Basilica:

• The basilica is an ancient Roman building type which early Christian churches were based

• It has a long central hall, separated from side isles by rows of columns

• Roofed porch or narthex -where people enter

• Atrium - square courtyard

Old Saint Peter’s

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Basilica Plan Churches

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Centralized Building :

• Baptisteries, mausoleums, and martyria or martyr shrines were builtin centralized form

• Circular or polygonal

• The object of veneration visible to the faithful from the cloister oraisle circling the site.

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Santa Costanza:

interior view of Santa Costanza 16

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Harvesting of Grapes,

mosaic in the

ambulatory vault,

Church of Santa

Costanza

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Mausoleum:

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, Italy, c. 425-26 AD.18

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lunette mosaic

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lunette mosaic

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Mosaics:

• Mosaic - decorationwith small pieces ofglass and stone set incement.

• Walls are richlydecorated withmosaics, placed onwalls where lights fromwindows and candlescaused them to flickerand glow mysteriously.

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Central Plan Churches

Church:

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Santa Sabina, Rome, c. 422-432 AD.

Interior of Santa Sabina, Rome

Church Santa Sabina

Doors24

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Christian House:

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Underground :

LOCULI

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Byzantine

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• Byzantine Empire was born out of the remains of the Roman Empire and continued to have the same elements of the Roman classical tradition, but in a Christian style

• Byzantine paintings specialized in mosaics, icons and manuscript illumination

• Byzantine art had two traditions – one reflecting the classical past and a more formal style of art reflecting Christian emphasis on spiritual hierarchy, rather than realism

Byzantine

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Byzantine Interior:

Art reflects BELIEFS:

• MAN, the measure of all things,

Man dominates his natural

surroundings, Externally

motivated architecture.

• GOD, the creator of all things,

God dominates both Man &

nature, Internally motivated

architecture.

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Byzantine Architecture:

• Interior motivated

• Central orientation

• Monumental scale

• Dome & Pendentive

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Characteristics of Byzantine Art:

• The most salient feature is the Byzantine ‘abstract’ or anti-naturalistic character

• Abandoned realistic attempt in favor for symbolism.

• Subject matter: Primarily religious and imperial

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Time Periods of Byzantine Art:

• Early Byzantine 500-726

• Iconoclastic Controversy 726-843

• Middle or High Byzantine 843-1204

• Late Byzantine 1204-1453, and beyond

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Byzantine Art will speak about:

Church

The Dome

Icon

Cathedral

Emperor Constantine:

Emperor Justinian:

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- Hagia Sophia:

The Church:

• Hagia Sophia’s mostimpressive feature is thehuge dome. The domerests on 4 huge piers,massive vertical pillarsthat support arches madeof cut stone.

• It is the finest example ofa centrally plannedByzantine church.

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• Use of piers and arches for the dome allows erection of thinner walls and more windows to light the interior of the church

• Four pedentivessupport the dome’s great weight, triangular portions at the corners of each arch.

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The Church of San Vitale

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The Church of San Vitale,

Ravenna, 530-547

The Lamb of God supported by Angels,

546-548, dome apse mosaic, Church of

San Vitale, Ravenna, 530-547

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Justinian and his Retinue, 546-548,

mosaic, north wall of the apse, Church of

San Vitale, Ravenna, 530-547

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Theodora and her retinue, 546-548,

mosaic, south wall of the apse,

Church of San Vitale, Ravenna,

530-547

The Dome

It was not always possible to have a cylindrical base to support adome. To support a dome on a square base arches could be built tobridge the corners and create an octagonal base. These were calledsquinches. An even more elaborate system of transferring the thrustof a dome to four points was to employ segments of vaults which arecalled pendentives.

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Icon

Our Lady of Vladimir

Egg Tempera on Wood Panel

12th century Byzantine faces, with later

restorations

45 x 27 in

Icon:

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Icon

Archangel Michael

silver gilt with enamel and gemstones

late 10th or early 11th century

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Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev,

1037 - 46

Cathedral:

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Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev, 1037 - 46St. Nicholas Cathedral, Chicago, Illinois

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Emperor Constantine:

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Emperor Justinian:

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Romanesque

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Romanesque 1050-1200Religion:

Christ is the judgePeople live in fear

The last judgment common subjectCrusadesPilgrimages

Economics

Feudalism-little economic freedomNew trade routes

Rural society-

Monasteries

Architecture

Churches solid and groundedDestination of pilgrimage route

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The Main Characteristics of the Romanesque art:

• followed Byzantine iconographic models depicting ‘Christ in Majesty’, ‘Last Judgement’, scenes from the Life of Christ

• large wooden crucifix - German innovation as well as free-standing status of the enthroned Madonna

• Stained glass and illuminated manuscripts

• For educational and religious purpose

• varying heights in terms of importance

• Expressionism

• The word Romanesque means “In the Roman manner.”

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Romanesque architecture:

• “Romanesque” is the first international style since the Roman Empire.

• Competition among cities for the largest churches, which continues inthe Gothic period via a “quest for height.”

• Masonry (stone) the preferred medium. Craft of concrete essentiallylost in this period.

• Rejection of wooden structures or structural elements.

• East end of church the focus for liturgical services. West end for theentrance to church.

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Romanesque limitations:

• Height

• Window size

• Refinement

• Otherworldly

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• CHURCH

• Cathedral

• Arches

• Sculpture

• Manuscripts

• The Bayeux Tapestry

• Romanesque metalwork:

• Stained Glass

• Vaults

• Facades

• Church towers:

• Portals

• Capitals

• Fortresses and Castles

• Monasteries and Abbeys

• Houses

• Furniture

Romanesque art : will speak about:

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CHURCH:

Church of Sant Vincenc, Cardona

1020s – 1030s59

Reliquary Statue of St. Foy from the Auvergne region, France Silver gilt over

wood core, with gems and rock crystal Late 9th century with later additions

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church of S. Michael

(Germany)61

Cathedral speyer

(Germany)Church s.miniato al monte

(italy)62

-Church of Saint Sernin

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Church s.foy. conques

(france)

Church la. madeleine

(france) 63

Church of Saint-Étienne

Caen, France

1067-1120

Church of Sant’Ambrogio

Milan, Italy

1080-1117 64

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Church of Saint-Pierre

Moissac, France

South Portal

ca. 1115-1130 65

Church of Saint-Savin-sur-

Gartempe

France

ca. 110066

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Cathedral:

- Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

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Plan of Cathedral of Saint

James, Santiago De

Compostela 68

Durham Cathedral Durham, England early

12th century

Durham Cathedral

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Cathedral of Saint-Lazare West Portal Last Judgment69

Arches :

• Arches - openings for doors and windows, vaults and arcades

• Arcades - row of arches supported on piers or columns

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71-Arch of Constantine:

Sculpture

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Manuscripts

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The Bayeux Tapestry

The Bayeux Tapestry

England or France

wool embroidery on linen

ca. 1066-1082

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Romanesque metalwork:

Detail of baptismal font by Renier de Huy77

Stained Glass

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Vaults:

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Facades

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Church towers:

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Portals

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Capitals

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Fortresses and Castles

Hedingham

Castle, Essex, England, c 1140.86

Monasteries and Abbeys

Monastery of S. Martin du Canigou,

France, 1007-26.

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Houses:

Farmhouse, Fmland, Middle Ages;

now preserved in the Norsk Folkmuseum. 87

Viollet-le-Duc,

engraving from The

Habitations of Man in

all Ages, 1875,

Furniture and Other Interior Furnishings:

The reliquary statue, Church of S.

Foy, Conques, France, 983-1013.88

Wnothesley manuscript, c. 1250,

(Royal Collection, Windsor Castle)