Byzantine Art Slides #4-9

1. Byzantine ArtSlides #4-9

2. Special Feature Today’s lesson features an audio component for each monument.

3. Byzantine Characteristics: • Mosaics and icons became the main form of decoration. • Frequent use of gold in decoration. • Icons have almond-shaped faces and eyes. • Floor plans take the form of a Greek Cross and most often has a central Dome. • Use of pendentives • The altar faces East, towards the holy land.

4. Byzantine Period: • After Constantine’s death in 337, the Empire split into East and West. • The Eastern Empire (aka. The Byzantine Empire) was centred around Constantinople but also had a centre of power in Italy: Ravenna. • Roman and Eastern traditions combined to create this unique style. • Byzantine Empire, and artistic traditions, lasted for over 1000 years until the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453. • Elements still remain in orthodox traditons (e.g. Greek, Ukranian, Russian)

5. Terminology on terminology handout • Icon– a religious image usually a saint or Christ image. • Minaret – a tall, slender tower attached to a mosque from which the crier calls people to prayer. • Pendentive - A triangular piece of vaulting coming from the corner of a rectangular area to support a round or polygonal dome. Usually four are needed to support a round dome on a square base. • Onion Shaped Dome - Bulbous, domelike roof ending in a sharp point, characteristically used in Russian Orthodox church architecture to cover cupolas or towers.

6. Pendentive – A triangular piece of vaulting springing from the corner of a rectangular area to support a round or polygonal dome. Usually four are needed to support a round dome on a square base. Byzantine Architecture • How did they place a dome on a square room?

8. Remix: Istanbul not Constantinople They Might Be Giants 1990 Original: Lyrics by: Jimmy Kennedy Music by: Nat Simon The Four Lads Swing Style 1953 Turkey’s announcement that Constantinople would henceforth only be known by the name Istanbul created a stir. This swing song written in Turkey’s defense took the edge off Western pique and served to soften Western outrage over the Muslimization of the city's name.[2] One of the better-known versions of "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" is the cover by the alternative rock alternative rock band They Might Be Giants They Might Be Giants (TMBG), who released it on their album Flood in1990. It was released as the second single from that album in the same year. TMBG's version is at a faster tempo than the original. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBTxjYeRPB8 original https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wcze7EGorOk

9. Q. What architectural features do you see inspired from the past? What new architectural features do you see?

10. 5. Anthemius of Tralles & Isodorus of Miletos. Hagia Sophia. (c. 532-537 AD) Istanbul, Turkey.

11. If mosaics were the main form of decoration during the Byzantine period, why are there no mosaics inside The Hagia Sofia?

14. 4. Anthemius of Tralles & Isidorus of Miletos. Hagia Sofia (c.532-537) Istanbul, Turkey. • History: • Means church of the “Holy Wisdom.” • Constructed under the orders of Emperor Justinian • Began as an orthodox church and served as Cathedral of Constantinople ?? AD • Served as a mosque from 1453 - 1934 • (conquered by the Ottoman Turks, under Sultan Mehmed II) • Secularized (made non religious) by the Republic of Turkey and has served as a museum since 1935 Forms of decoration: -mosaics -when converted to a mosque the decorations changed Architectural Features: -dome -columns -minaret (added later when the Church was turned into a Mosque) -arches New Architectural Feature: -pendentive

15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIYb9bBA9mY Venice is Sinking Spirit of the West 1993 The song is about Mann's honeymoon in Venice with his wife, Jill Daum. Infatuated with the city, Mann expresses his desire never to leave by alluding to the sinking of the city and asserting that he'll go down with it: "And if Venice is sinking/Then I'm going under". The song also references Marino Marini's sculpture "Angelo della Città":

16. The private chapel of the Doge (ruler of Venice), now the city’s church. Built over the remains of St. Mark the Evangelist.

17. Just for Fun…view of Venice from the tower.

19. Inside St. Mark’s

21. 5. St. Mark’s Cathedral. (1063) Venice, Italy. • History: • Originally the private chapel of the Doge (ruler of Venice), now the city’s church • Built over the remains of St. Mark the Evangelist, supposedly stolen by merchants from Alexandria (North Africa) • The horses were stolen from the Hippodrome of Constantinople during the 4th Crusade (1204) • Forms of decoration: • -mosaics 8,000 square meters of mosaics • Architectural Features: • -domes • -Greek floor plan • -arches

22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvDMlk3kSYg Rasputin Boney M Euro disco 1978 "Rasputin" is a 1978 euro disco hit single by the Germany-based pop and euro disco group Boney M., the second from their album Nightflight to Venus. The song is a semi-biographical song about Grigori Rasputin, a friend and advisor of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and his family during the early 20th century. The song variously sensationalizes Rasputin as a playboy, mystical healer, and political demiurge. The tune of the song is based on the Turkish song Kâtibim.

25. 6. Cathedral of St. Basil. (1554-1566) Moscow. History -found in the Red Square in Moscow -architect Postnik Yakovlev -Russian Orthodox -Commissioned by: Ivan the Terrible Legend has it Ivan the Terrible had the architect blinded so he would never build something more beautiful Forms of decoration: -eight domed chapel – ninth is the central one -frescos and murals painted inside the dome Borrowed Architectural Features: -arches -columns New Architectural Feature: -onion shaped dome

26. Numbers: Onion domes often appear in groups of three, representing the Holy Trinity, or five, representing Jesus Christ and the Four Evangelists. Domes standing alone represent Jesus. • Colors: Green, blue, and gold domes are sometimes held to represent the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus, respectively. • The inner surface of the onion domes are often vividly painted with frescoes and murals. • It has been posited that onion domes first appeared during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. It seems logical that elongated, or onion, domes were part of the same proto-Gothic trend aimed at achieving pyramidal, vertical emphasis

27. Figure it out questions: 1. What are Justinian and Theodora holding? Justinian holds bread (the Eucharist) and Theodora holds the cup of the communion (the wine). 2. What does it mean? It means Justinian is God’s representative on Earth. He is in a position of power and that he is a supporter of the Church. 3. How does the artist show that Justinian is the most important figure? The artist places Justinian in the center, with a halo and at the front of everyone else.

28. 7. Emperor Justinian and Attendants & Empress Theodora and Attendants(c.547) Mosaic in San Vitale. Ravenna Italy. Purpose: - To show his power and that he is a supporter of the Church - Justinian is God’s representative on Earth. - Halo over his head. Justinian is placed in front (overlapping feet). - Theodora the wife of Justinian, was the most powerful women in the Empire’s history. - She fought to give women more rights (in a way she was the first feminist). Medium: mosaics (Remember during this time their choice of medium to decorate was mosaics)

29. Look at the mosaics up close: https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/asset-viewer/mosaic-of-ecclesia-romana/awH5pcIiXAzTXQ?projectId=art-project

30. 8. Icon of Christ Pantokrator, the Wisdom of God, Thessaloniki, late 14th century, egg tempera and gold on wood, Thessaloniki, Museum of Byzantine Culture Purpose: Images of Christ Pantokrator (Almighty or All-Ruler) dominate the most important areas of Orthodox churches, appearing in the dome Medium: -wood surface -egg tempera (egg yolk and natural pigments from the earth) -gold leaf (thin sheets of real gold)

31. 9. Icon of the enthroned Virgin and Child with saints and angels, 6th century Describe how the artist arranged the composition. Why is it arranged the way it is? How does the artist create visual movement? Where is the artist visually directing you? Where is there evidence of early perspective? How would you describe the style? Zoom In: https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/asset-viewer/the-angel-with-golden-hair/WwGXFbBcbfJquA?projectId=art-project

32. 9. Icon of the enthroned Virgin and Child with saints and angels, 6th century Symbolism: As the eye moves upward we pass through zones: the saints, standing on ground and therefore closest to us, and then upward, until we reach the holiest zone, that of the hand of God. Medium: -wood surface -encaustic means wax -hot wax is mixed with pigment Zoom In: https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/asset-viewer/the-angel-with-golden-hair/WwGXFbBcbfJquA?projectId=art-project

33. Small icons have a specific purpose.

34. Some icons are triptychs. A triptych is a 3 part painting. Here it is three panels attached together.

35. Some icons have multiple vignettes and narrate a story.