Column of Saint Michael's
Hildesheim, Germany
ca. 1015-1022
Reliefs depicting additional episodes from Jesus's life decorate the bronze column that Bernward also commissioned for Saint Michael's
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Church of Saint Michael
Church of Saint Michael
Hildesheim, Germany
1001-1031
The features transformed the tunnel-like horizontality of Early Christian basilicas
Rebuilt after a bombing during WWII
Has a double-transept plan, 6 towers, and a westwork
Interior of the Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne
Interior of the Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne
Aachen, Germany
792-805
First vaulted medieval structure north of the Alps
Historians bleive he chose one of Ravenna's churches as the model for the new structure
Utrecht Psalter
Utrecht Psalter
A product of the scriptorium of the abbey of Saint Peter at Hautvilliers
ca. 820-835
Psalm 44
Saint Matthew
Saint Matthew
of the Ebbo Gospels
Hautvillers, France
ca. 816-835
The painter merged classical illusionism with the northern European linear tradition
May be the interpretation of an author portrait very similar to the one that the Coronation Gospels master used as a model
Portrait of Charlemagne
Equestrian portrait of Charlemagne or Charles the Bald
From Metz, France
Ninth Century
Bronze, originally gilt
Depicts a crowned emperor holding a globe, which is the symbol of world dominion
The emperor is portrayed as overly large to have all the attention on him
High Cross of Muiredach
High Cross of Muiredach
Monasterboice, Ireland
923
Sandstone
Marks Muiredach's grave
Depicting the crucifixion and Last Judgement, themes suited to a Christian burial
One of the largest and finest early medieval high crosses
Inscription on the bottom of the west face of the shaft asks a prayer for the man named Muiredach
Cross-Inscribed carpet page
Cross-Inscribed carpet page
Lindisfarne Gospels
From Northumbria, England
ca. 698-721
Tempera on vellum
Exemplifies the way Hiberno-Saxon illuminators married Christian imagery and the animal-interlace style of the early medieval warlords
Man (Symbol of Saint Matthew)
Man (Symbol of Saint Matthew)
Possibly from Iona, Scotland
ca. 660-680
Ink and tempera on parchment
Verso of the Book of Durrow
The cloak of Saint Matthew's man resembles a cloisonné brooch filled with abstract ornamentation
Animal Head Post
Animal Head Post
ca. 815-820
Preserved art of the Viking sea-rovers
Decoration of their great ships
From ship burial near the sea at Oseberg, Norway
Carved ornamentation attest to the importance of those laid to rest beneath the mound
Courtyard arcade of the Great Mosque
Detail of mosaics in the courtyard arcade of the Great Mosque
Damascus, Syria
706-715
Probably the work of Byzantine artists include buildings and landscapes common in the Late Antique Art
Pyzis of al-Mughira
Pyxis of al-Mughira from Medina al-Zahra
Near Cordoba, Spain
Ivory
968
Belonged to al-Mughira, the younger son of Abd al-Rahman III
The inscription carved at the base of the lid is a prayer for the prince's well-being
anonymous ivory carver
decorated with animals and hunters
Prayer hall of the Mezquita
Prayer hall of the Mezquita
(Great Mosque)
Codoba, Spain
8 to 10th century
36 piers and 514 columns support a unique series of double-tierd horseshoe-shaped arches
carried a timber roof
Mausoleum of the Samanids
Mausoleum of the Samanids
Bukhara, Uzbekistan
early 10th century
Moumental toms were almost unknown in the early Islamic period
One of the oldest
Domed brick
Mihrab
Mihrab
from the Madrasa Imami
Isfahan, Iran
ca. 1354
Glazed mosaic tilework
Every piece had to be cut to fit its specific place in the design
verses of the Kkoran appeared in the mosaics of the Dome of the Rock
Tughra of Suleyman the Magnificent
Tughra of Suleyman the Magnificent
ca. 1555-1560
Suleyman the Magnificent was one the greatest Ottoman sultans
designs of the most famous Ottoman architect Sinan
Muqarnas dome
Muqarnas dome
Hall of the Abencerrajes (a leading Spanish family)
Palace of the Lions
Granada, Spain
Dome rests on an octagonal drum supported by squinches and pierced by 4 pair of windows
5,000 muqarnas cover the ceiling which capture and reflect sunlight
Monday, November 23, 2015
Dome of the Rock
Dome of the Rock
Jerusalem
Marks the triumph of Islam in Jerusalem on the site sacred to Muslims, Christians, and Jews
Shrine takes the form of an octagon with a towering dome
687-692
Marked the coming of the new religion to the city that had been sacred to both Jews and Christians
Site acquired addition significance as the reputed location of Adam's grave and the spot where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac
The rock that give the building its name is also later came to be identified with the place where Muhammad began his miraculous journey to Heaven and then in the same night returned to his home in Mecca
Christ as Pantokrator
Christ as Pantokrator
Dome mosaic in the Church of the Dormition
Daphnic, Greece
ca. 1090-1100
A gigantic icon hovering dramatically in space, connecting the awestruck worshiper below with Heaven through Christ
Pantokrator- "Ruler of all" in Greek, usually applied to Christ in his role as last judge of humankind
Throne of Maximianus
Throne of Maximianus
ca 546-556
The man responsible for San Vitale's completion
Ivory
The mosaicist stressed the bishop's importance by labelling his figure with the only identifying inscription in the composition
Christ as savior of souls
Christ as savior of souls
Icon from Saint Clement
Early 14th century
Tempera, linen and silver on wood
This icon typifies Byzantine stylistic complexity
Holding a bejeweled Bible in his left hand while he blesses the faithful with his right hand
Archangel Michael
Archangel Michael
Early 6th century
Ivory
One of the largest extant Byzantine ivory panels
Inscription opens with the words "Receive these gifts"
Dedication is perhaps a reference to the cross-surmounted orb of power that the archangel once offered to a Byzantine emperor depicted on the missing diptych leaf
Rabbula Gospels
Crucifixion and Resurrection
Rabbula Gospels
586
Boasts full page paintings of the life of Jesus, especially scenes of passion
Theodora Mosaic
Theodora and attendants mosaic
Ravenna, Italy
ca 547
exhibit the same stylistic traits as those in the Justinian mosaic
Her rank was not equal to her consort's
Theodora at San Vitale was significant; she had enormous influence in the Byzantine state
Annunciation
Annunciation
Reverse of two-sided icon from the Church of the Virgin Peribleptos
Early 14th century
Tempera and linen on wood
the Angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she is to be the Mother of God
Late Byzantine icons often have paintings on tow sides because they were carried in processions
Sant' Apollinare in Classe
Saint Apollinaris amid sheep
Ravenna, Italy
ca. 533-549
Early Christian in type, a basilica with a nave and flanking aisles
Mosaics of the framing arch and the figures between the windows are of later date
Archangel
Archangel Michael icon
Venice, Italy
ca. 1100
Brought back as "booty" from the sack of Constantinople
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Virgin and Child
Virgin and Child
6th or 7th Century
Encuastic on wood
Enthroned Theotokos
Saints Theodore and George
Painter rendered the saints' bodies in the new Byzantine manner
Hosios Loukas
Hosios Loukas
Holds 2 churches- katholikon (main church) dates to early 11th century, Theotokos (other church) dates to second half of the 10th century
katholikon- exemplifies church design during second golden age of Byzantine art and architecture, light stones framed by dark red bricks (clisonne technique) make up the walls
Distomo, Greece
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia
Constantinople, Turkey
Most important project of Justinian
Church of Holy Wisdom
Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus (mathematician and physicist) designed and built the church for Justinian between 532 and 537
Justinian intended for this new church to rival all other churches and to surpass in scale and magnificence the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Christ as Sol
Christ as Sol
Late third century
Christ in the guise of Sol Invictus
The invincible sun drives his chariot across the heavens
Woman sacrificing at altar
Woman sacrificing at altar
Ivory plaque
Carried on classical artistic style
Produced in Rome around 400
Miracle of Loaves and Fishes
Miracle of Loaves and Fishes
Mosaic from top register of the nave wall
Above clerestory windows
Ca 504
Ravenna, Italy
With his extended arms he directs his disciples to distribute to crowd the supply of bread and fish he has produced
Santa Sabina
Interior of Santa Sabina
Rome, Italy
422-432
Looking northeast
Timber-roofed
Illuminated by clerestory windows
Corinthian columns
Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus
Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus
Rome, Italy
Marble
Junius Bassus was baptized into Christianity just before his death in 359
Christian Community House
Restored cutaway view of the Christian Community House
Looking southwest
Dura-Europos, Syria
240-256 ca
1) former courtyard of private house
2) meeting hall
3) baptistery
Could accommodate only about 70 people
Christ Seated
Christ Seated
350-375 ca
Early Christian sculpture
Traditional value of Greco-Roman world
Santa Costanza
Interior of Santa Coatanza
Looking southwest
Rome, Italy
337-351 ca
Later became a church
It's central plan became preferred form for Byzantine churches
Menander
Seated portrait of Greek poet Menander
Detail of 4th style mural painting
House of Menander, Pompey
62-79 CE
Most famous portrait
"the first to write New Comedy"
Mummy portrait
Mummy portrait of priest Serapis
Hawara, Egypt
140-160 CE
Encaustic on wood
Curly hair and beard closely emulate the Antonine fashion in Rome
Markets of Trajan
Markets of Trajan
Rome, Italy
100-112 CE
Looking northeast
On the Quirinal Hill overlooking forum
Housed shops and administrative offices
Concrete made possible natural slope into multilevel complex
Livia
Portrait bust of Livia
Arsinoe, Egypt
Early first century
Marble
Derive from images of Greek goddesses
Never aged in her portraits
Arch of Constantine
Arch of Constantine
Rome, Italy
312-315 CE
Decoration of arch came from monuments of Trajan, Hadrian, and Marcus Aurelius
Arch was largest erected in Rome since end of Second Dynasty
Procession of the Imperial Family
Procession of the Imperial Family
Ara Pacis Agustae
Rome, Italy
Marble
Important dignitaries
Baths of Diocletian
Baths of Diocletian
Rome, Italy
Remodeled by Michelangelo Buonarroti
Gives idea of the lavish adornment of imperial Roman baths
298-306 ca
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