ARHI 2300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 23: Byzantine Art, Biblical Magi, Apse
2 Mar 2017
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Document Summary
Earliest christian paintings were found in catacombs. Christ as good shepherd: centrally located in cross-like formation, youthful and beardless, adapted from pagan images of orpheus and apollo. Family tomb of roman emperor flavius honorius. Christ as good shepherd: centrally located, appearance is regal. Lambs in sets of three: symbolic of trinity. Emperor justinian great patron of the arts. Protected icons at monastery of st. catherine, mount sinai, egypt. Often placed in byzantine churches to reflect light. Venerated, believed to possess powers of healing. Floating figures in which line is emphasized rather than volume. Flat spaces with minimal sense of depth. Light an important element for churches and mosaics. Frequent use of gold, especially in the background. Empty background to signify no connection to a specific time or place. Figures flat and appear to be floating. Figures lined in a procession towards the actual altar of san vitale.
