Byzantine Art Essay

early(a) deli genuinelymanian imposture was highly do workd by apparitional, political, and ethnical changes. In contrast to the classical, idealistic portrayal of man, Early Christian blindistic creation took a much more stylized approach to the registerion of man, with a neglected attention to human anatomy. The subject matter of much of the art turned from worldly to religious Christianity to be more specific. Constantine was the last emperor of the papistical imperium to hold undivided power. Under his rule, Constantine created the enactment of Milan, granting religious tolerance to all religions. This was of particular importance to Christians, who had been previously persecuted due to their spiritual beliefs. Because of the Edict of Milan, many Christian buildings were erected in add-on to the many secular buildings that were trans do worked into Christian buildings. These buildings housed countless numbers of priceless religious artworks. iodine such example is t he Transfiguration of Christ mosaic located in reverence Catherines Monastery in Sinai, Egypt.When Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire to Byzantium, which he renamed Constantinople (modern day Istanbul), the Empire separated. Upon the division of the Roman Empire, Justinian, The Last Roman Emperor, held power over the Eastern Roman Empire from 527 to 565. Justinian was both a political and religious leader. Under his reign, many Christian buildings were constructed. Justinian often associated himself with deliveryman Christ in the problematical artworks that these Christian buildings housed as a form of propaganda. The Orthodox Church now recognizes Justinian as a saint. gnarly is a term used to describe eastern Mediterranean art from 330 to 1453, when the Turks conquered Constantinople (Strickland, 1992, p. 24). Mosaics were genius of the nigh common forms of art during this period. They were intended to publicize the Christian doctrine by their religious subj ect matter (Strickland, 1992, p. 25). Byzantine mosaics argon dispassionate of small, colorful glass or st star squares and rectangles, cal lead tesserae, embedded in steady cement or plaster. These tesserae were arranged in a manner through which they formed images. Typically, Byzantine mosaics are located on the walls and ceilings within a church apse and dome (Strickland, 1992, p. 25). The artists of these mosaics left the tesserae with jagged sur appears to create the sparkling, lighten up effect that distinguishes these mosaicsfrom those of other periods and places (Strickland, 1992, p. 25).The exteriors of Byzantine Christian structures were very plain in contrast to the elaborately decorated interiors. The awe-inspiring mosaics and icons brought the focus of the buildings to the interiors. Perhaps this was a method to spread the word of God by attracting people to make inside the buildings.Byzantine Emperor, Justinian, reproducible the construction of he Monastery of the Transfiguration, more commonly known as Saint Catherines Monastery because the relics of Saint Catherine of Alexandria are say to withstand been inexplicably transported there, at the foot of Mount Moses (Wikipedia, 2006). The monastery houses the Chapel of the Burning chaparral, which was ordered built by Constantines mother, Helena (Wikipedia, 2006). The Chapel of the Burning Bush is located at the site where Moses purportedly saw the burning scrub (Wikipedia, 2006). Saint Catherines Monastery is now one of the oldest active monasteries in existence.The monastery survived Islamic dominance over the region due to a document that Mohammed supposedly signed himself, granting his protection over the monastery (Wikipedia, 2006). Saint Catherines Monastery allegedly gave Mohammed political asylum from his enemies (Wikipedia, 2006). In addition, a Fatimid mosque was built within the fortifications of Saint Catherines Monastery, thus creating further protection of the monastery fro m Islamic invasion (Wikipedia, 2006). With come forward the protection of Mohammed and the mosque, Saint Catherines Monastery would have been destroyed, and all of the irreplaceable artworks within its walls would have been lost.Byzantine mosaics contain many characteristics that distinguish them from the rest. The typical gold background of a Byzantine mosaic creates a sense of weightlessness within the figures, as if they are floating. Byzantine artists depicted sacred figures with halos, separating them from the other figures. With nude images having been forbidden, one can hardly make fall out the anatomy of the fully apparel figures. Though it is evident that symmetry was greatly appreciated, it is also evident that the mosaics lose perspective.The figures depicted in the mosaics are flat and frontal facing with analogue details. They are often slim with almond shaped faces and large eyes. The images depict little to no movement, creating a sense of stillness. These highly s tylized Byzantine mosaics show disregard for Greco-Roman ideals.On an expedition set out by the University of Michigan in search of sites to excavate in the surface East, the staff spent five days at Saint Catherines Monastery (Forsyth, 1997). They discovered that the mosaics within the monastery had undergone little restoration since the time of Justinian (Forsyth, 1997). As a result, most of the works were in bad condition and on the sceptre of collapsing (Forsyth, 1997). Mosaic restorers came in to save the mosaics, which could have been lost forever (Forsyth, 1997). afterward they secured the mosaics, the restorers cleaned them (Forsyth, 1997). The mosaics now appear in their original state (Forsyth, 1997). One of the most known mosaics restored was the Transfiguration of Christ (Forsyth, 1997).The Transfiguration of Christ is located in the main church, Katholikon, in the apse over the high altar. The subject of this mosaic was an appropriate selection to portray in Saint Ca therines Monastery because of its emplacement at the foot of Mount Moses (Watson, 1999). In Christianity, the story claims that Jesus led three of his apostles, Peter, John, and James, to pray atop a mountain. It was here that Jesus transfigured, with his face shining like the sun and wearing bright white clothing. On both sides of Christ, Moses and Elijah appeared. Overhead, a brilliant cloud appeared, and Gods example emerged from the cloud proclaiming, This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him. It was then that Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah about his approaching death.The artist of this mosaic is unknown because artists went unrecognized until much later. This mosaic is in the form of a triumphal arch, bordered by medallions occupying the busts of the twelve apostles, fifteen prophets, Longinus the Abbot, John the Deacon, two angels, and a Greek hybridizing in the top, condense (Watson, 1999). Jesus Christ is depicted in the center of the mosaic with shocking hair and b eard. He was set in an oval mandorla with a cross and a bright yellow circle depicting his illumination tooshie his head.Rays of light are shown coming from Christs body. In addition to the mandorla depicting Christs holiness, this was done to make Christ the vehemence of the mosaic as well as to distinguish him from the other figures. Elijah is shown on one side of Christ, while Moses is shown on the other. Beneath Christ, Peter, John, and James are portrayed with awe (Watson, 1999).The Transfiguration of Christ contains all the elements of Byzantine mosaics. It has a bright gold background. The figures are dematerialized and one cannot tell which figures were intended to be floating and which are not. One can hardly make out the figures beneath the clothing and the only skin shown is on the figures faces, hands, and feet. All the figures were placed symmetrically around Christ, making him the focus of the mosaic. The halo and mandorla around Christ show his holiness. Only sligh t movement is shown through the figures poses. The figures are very flat, despite the attempts of the artist to show shadow and overlapping. All of the figures are handsome with almond shaped heads and large eyes. One can hardly weigh perspective when observing this mosaic.In conclusion, religion, politics, and culture had a significant influence on The Transfiguration of Christ, and all Early Christian art for that matter. With the Edict of Milan legalizing Christianity, the focus of art turned from secular to religious, changing the course of art forever. The Edict of Milan made it possible for Christians to practice their spiritual beliefs openly, leading to Early Christian art. Early Christian art can be ascribe with the spread of Christianity. One might curiosity if Christianity would be as gravid as it is today had it not been for these artworks, or would it have died off a long time ago. Without Early Christian art, one might wonder when or how todays modern day art woul d have evolved.