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Comparative Arts

Comparative Arts. Byzantium – Chapter 10 November 2010. Byzantium becomes Constantinople. The city of Byzantium was a relatively unimportant harbor city before the arrival of Constantine, the first Christian ruler of the Roman Empire

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Comparative Arts

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  1. Comparative Arts Byzantium – Chapter 10 November 2010

  2. Byzantium becomes Constantinople • The city of Byzantium was a relatively unimportant harbor city before the arrival of Constantine, the first Christian ruler of the Roman Empire • Emperor Constantine shifted his capital from Rome to Byzantium in 325 CE, which he renamed Constantinople • Why was the capital relocated? • 330 CE, Roman Empire in severe economic and political decline, Rome was disease-ridden • The city was so weakened that it was sacked several times (first for 800 years) • Strategic military location and central, surrounded by water

  3. Constantine’s capital • Constantine’s empire focused on the eastern Mediterranean (modern-day Turkey, Israel, Lebanon, and Syria) but its influence extended as far west as Spain, across north Africa, large parts of Italy and all of Greece • Constantinople had two roles: capital of the empire and center of the Christian church. How did these two roles affect the city itself? • As the capital of the empire, it was a city every bit as opulent as Rome: magnificent forums, elaborate baths • Great basilicas were built to signify the city’s role as the center of Christian culture in the early Middle Ages • During the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe’s largest and wealthiest city • Constantinople lasted as the capital until 1453 when the Ottoman Turks conquered the city

  4. Byzantine art: a new standard of beauty • A new standard of beauty replaced the physical ideal of Classical art with the representation of spiritual power

  5. San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy

  6. San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy, 526-47 CE -typically plain, unadorned exterior

  7. Ravenna Constantinople

  8. Two types of centrally planned buildings in early Christianity: Santa Costanza: Circular plan San Vitale: octagonal plan

  9. San Vitale: -complex interior space -advantage of a central dome – creates a large covered space Disadvantage: visitor’s eye attracted up into the dome rather than toward the altar -Light enters on three levels -polished marble surfaces, glittering mosaics -why is there such a contrast between the interior and exterior?

  10. Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome – visitor’s eye drawn towards the altar

  11. San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy – How can we characterize the depictions of people?

  12. Empress Theodora • -typically Byzantine features: • Larges eyes • Small mouth • Long nose • Slender and weightless body • Drapery of dress gives no idea of the body underneath • Appears frozen • Lack of concern for realism

  13. Capitals designed to appear lace-like – masks the solidity and strength of the material

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