Christian, Byzantine, Romanesque, and Gothic Art History
Early Christian Art
Early Christians, hidden in the catacombs, held their meetings and prayers there.
Catacombs
Catacombs were subterranean excavations, caves, and glaciers where early Christians practiced prayers, celebrations, and buried their dead.
Origin: Originated in Palestine in the Hellenistic East.
Early Christian Symbols
- Good Shepherd
- Dove of peace and happiness
- Peacock
- Lamb
- Redemptive Christ
- The Ship (Church)
- Anchor
- Fish
Painting
Paintings were primarily of a religious nature and were found on the walls of the catacombs.
Colors: Lively colors stood out in decoration on roofs, domes, and walls.
Sculpture
Images usually represented the Good Shepherd and the Virgins.
Themes: Sarcophagi, Urns.
Materials: Wood and marble.
Architecture
Basilicas were built, consisting of:
- Atrium
- Rectangular room
Byzantine Art
Origin: A mixture of elements and the Greco-Roman spirit.
Architecture
- Grandiosity
- Introduces the dome on pendentives, capitals of pyramid form
- Greek basilica floor plan
- Mosaic decoration
Themes: Christian.
Materials: Marble, stone.
Major works: Church of Hagia Sophia.
Sculpture
Symbolist art and spiritualist.
- Most notable figures: Virgins, Saints, Good Shepherd (all dressed)
- Uses the classical orders (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian) and forgets Greek perfection
- Very decorative, uses the mosaic
Materials: Gold, ivory, precious stones.
Painting
Almost disappears, uses bright colors.
Romanesque Art
Country of origin: Spain. Arises with the fusion of Byzantine, Germanic, Oriental, and Roman currents.
Architecture
- Solid, robust, and religious construction
- Dark, grim, and mysterious
- Building elements: columns, arches, use of classical orders, barrel vault, and groin vault
- Uses a Greek cross with three to five naves
- Properties: Built castles, monasteries, and churches
Sculpture
- Comes to be contemplated in architecture
- Evolution from naturalistic to anti-naturalistic
- Figures hidden in clothing (dressed)
Themes: Religious, monstrous, fantastic, and liturgical.
Painting
- Inspired by Byzantine mosaics
- Colors
- Serves for decorative architecture
Gothic Art
Origin: France.
Characteristics
- Art in the service of the bourgeoisie
- Epoch of splendor and richness
- Balance
Architecture
Manifested itself in palaces and castles, but the maximum expression of this art was the cathedral.
- Extraordinary height of their naves and towers, as well as the vast extent of its area
- Extraordinarily perfect balance and harmony
- Used the pointed arch and the ribbed vault as essential building blocks
Sculpture
- Served in architecture
- Mainly used on the covers, altarpieces, capitals, and tombs
- Shows a remarkable realism and flexibility in the human figure
Painting
- Characterized by realism
- Loses some of its importance as the broad walls, suitable for frescoes, disappear and are replaced by polychrome stained-glass windows
- Predominantly red and blue, sometimes creating remarkable figures of artistic value
- Based generally on stained glass and is noted for its precision in the figure and in the drawing