Byzantine Art

TIMELINE:

*ALL DATES CE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
Byzantine art BROKEN UP INTO 3 MAIN "GOLDEN AGES"

Early: 527-726 During Justinian's rule (527-565) to the beginning of Iconoclasm
Middle:   843-1204 Relinquishment of the Iconoclasm to the Western Crusader's' occupation of Constantinople
Late:     1261- 1453 The recapture of Constantinople to the fall of the city to the Ottoman Turks in 1453

313 -   Edict of Milan: Granted by Constantine the Great in the West and Licinius Augustus in the East
- Ordered restitution of property to persecuted Christians and granted religious freedom
324 - Constantine I founded Constantinople
391 - Theodosius prohibits pagan worship
410 - Official sack of Rome
- Division of Roman Empire into West vs. East is permanent

- West = modern western European nations --> - East = Byzantium but called themselves "Roman" and spoke Greek, not Latin and known as western Roman Catholics and known as Orthodox Christians
6th c - Justinian proclaimed Christianity as only lawful religion

726–787 and 815–843 : 2 periods of ICONOCLASM
1453 - Byzantium falls to Ottoman Turks

Key Ideas:

Rome in the Eastern Empire, capital named Constantinople. Remained the epicenter until 1453 when the Ottoman Turks took over.
Complicated history for Hagia Sophia, or Church of the "Holy Wisdom"
First time we see a dome that sits on 4 arches or "pendentives"
Mosaics are intended to publicize and codify Christianity
Figures are represented and formal, frontal, flat, and floating. Usually tall, slim with slim faces and long noses. Very little movement is depicted.
Emperor Justinian is a major patron for the arts including Hagia Sophia
Icons served as tools for the faithful to access the spiritual world—they served as spiritual gateways.
Similarly, mosaics sought to evoke the heavenly realm. At the same time, there are real-world political messages affirming the power of the rulers in these mosaics. In this sense, art of the Byzantine Empire continued some of the traditions of Roman art.