art history

Santa Sabina. Rome, Italy. Late Antique Europe. c. 422–432 C.E. Brick and stone, wooden roof. EARLY CHRISTIAN CHARACTER CORINTHIAN COLUMNS FRAME THE ALTAR  CLERESTORY WINDOWS ADMIT SUNLIGHT, ILLUMINATES FRESCOES AND MOSAICS The wall of the nave is broken by clerestory windows that provide direct lighting in the nave.  The wall does not contain the traditional classical orders articulated by columns and entablatures. Now plain, the walls apparently originally were decorated with mosaics. Light would have been understood as a symbol of divinity. Light was a symbol for Christ. The emphasis in this architecture is on the spiritual effect and not the physical.

Time Period: 200-500 C.E.  Medieval Architecture is mostly religious Characterised by Christianity; faced harsher persecutions, forbidden religious  Many converts; Constantine blessed the religion; becoming a state religion Most Christian art survives in catacombs; Christians were society's underclass  Imitated Roman art, eventually surpassed them Intensely narrative religion/art When Christianity was recognised as an official religion in 380 C.E., Christ was no longer depicted as a humble shepherd; imperial imagery; purple and gold; staff.  Christian mosaics are made of gold/precious materials and faced with glass; heavenly effect New Testament:  The Annunciation  The Visitation The Nativity  Adoration of the Magi Calling of the Apostles Giving the Keys  Last supper Crucifixion  Lamentation  Architecture:  Hundreds of miles of catacombs  Roman practice of cremation repugnant; preferred burial...

Catacomb of Priscilla . Rome, Italy. Late Antique Europe. c. 200–400 C.E. Excavated tufa and fresco. THE GOOD SHEPHERD, CATACOMB OF SAINTS PETER AND MARCELLINUS, ROME, ITALY, EARLY FOURTH CENTURY  CONTAINS KEY EPISODES OF THE STORY OF JONAH  PAINTED CEILING OF A CUBICULUM  EMERGES FROM THE RIGHT FROM A WHALE; AT THE BOTTOM, SAFE ON LAND, JONAH CONTEMPLATES THE MIRACLE OF HIS SALVATION AND THE MERCY OF GOD ORANTS (PRAYING FIGURES); MAY BE GENERIC PORTRAITS OF THE OWNERS OF THE CUBICULUM  CHRIST AS GOOD SHEPHERD SHOWN EARLY CHRISTIANS BURIED LABRYNTH OF NARROW PASSAGEWAYS VILLA OF A WEALTHY ROMAN WOMAN NAMED PRISCILLA BODIES/TOMBS STACKED ON TOP OF EACH OTHER, SHELF LIKE SLOTS INSCRIBED CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS (EX. FISH AND CHRIST)  BOTH OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT  DECORATED WITH ROMAN PLASTER, IMITATES MARBLE PANELS  LAVISH BUT SMALL  RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS, ADORATION OF THE MAGI PLACES WHERE OIL LAMPS WOULD'VE BEEN PLACED  CH...