Byzantine
The Byzantine art period had begun from the beginning of the third century to the first half of the 14th century (330 - 1450). The name Byzantine originated from the word Byzantium which was the Eastern Empire of Rome. This was due to the Roman Empire was divided into two Empires, the Western and Eastern Byzantium part of Rome. Along with the separation of Rome, the Catholic church was also separated which impacted the art of this particular time period. Before Rome was split into two Empires the capitol was Byzantium, which was later changed to Constantinople.
Features of Byzantine art
Whilst time had moved on, so had the Catholic church, although there was many things occurring during this time individuals still managed to practice art. The Byzantine art could be made from all sorts of material such as: mosaics, ivory, marble, ceramic, rare metals, textile, fresco, bu the most common was general painting. Byzantine art would only be two dimensional, there was not any three dimensional features, it was also mostly portraits of religious icons like saints, members of religious houses and sometimes Jesus. Artists also mainly used dark, dull colours when they created the art. The facial features of the artwork had been portrayed as stiff, their clothes, hair, facial expressions were rigid. Their facial expressions were very gloomy, blank and seemed as their face had been stretched, as their was no intention of making the artwork look real. During this time there was no sculptures, as the paintings/mosaics were seen as icons to Christian individuals.
History of Byzantine
After the separation of Rome's Empire , the capitol is changed from Byzantium to Constantinople due to Emperor Constantine discovery around 330 A.D. Not long after the Western Roman Empire fell by the sacking of Rome by the German, this occurred 475 A.D. 50 years later a new emperor named Justinian was announced, and under his reign he had overthrown part of Africa and Italy. No doubt that Byzantium was at its strongest at this point, but took a wrong turn when they surrendered to the Lombards 568 A.D. After that for 50 years they continued to fight over territory of Northern Africa and part of Asia. Between the years 726 - 1054 A.D Iconoclasm was banned then restored and the start of Schism had begun. The end of Byzantine Empire had been demolished in 1453 A.D, by the sacking of Constantinople by the Ottoman Empire.
The impact on the portrayal of Jesus
During this time period there were many fights between the different Empires over territory, although it may not seem as if had impacted they way Jesus was portrayed then think again. In the Catacombs Jesus was portrayed as a young man with no beard, but in the Byzantine time period Jesus was portrayed an older version of himself with a beard. The beard is a very specific feature in both art works from the catacombs and Byzantine Time period as it can determine the age of Jesus.
Features of Byzantine art
Whilst time had moved on, so had the Catholic church, although there was many things occurring during this time individuals still managed to practice art. The Byzantine art could be made from all sorts of material such as: mosaics, ivory, marble, ceramic, rare metals, textile, fresco, bu the most common was general painting. Byzantine art would only be two dimensional, there was not any three dimensional features, it was also mostly portraits of religious icons like saints, members of religious houses and sometimes Jesus. Artists also mainly used dark, dull colours when they created the art. The facial features of the artwork had been portrayed as stiff, their clothes, hair, facial expressions were rigid. Their facial expressions were very gloomy, blank and seemed as their face had been stretched, as their was no intention of making the artwork look real. During this time there was no sculptures, as the paintings/mosaics were seen as icons to Christian individuals.
History of Byzantine
After the separation of Rome's Empire , the capitol is changed from Byzantium to Constantinople due to Emperor Constantine discovery around 330 A.D. Not long after the Western Roman Empire fell by the sacking of Rome by the German, this occurred 475 A.D. 50 years later a new emperor named Justinian was announced, and under his reign he had overthrown part of Africa and Italy. No doubt that Byzantium was at its strongest at this point, but took a wrong turn when they surrendered to the Lombards 568 A.D. After that for 50 years they continued to fight over territory of Northern Africa and part of Asia. Between the years 726 - 1054 A.D Iconoclasm was banned then restored and the start of Schism had begun. The end of Byzantine Empire had been demolished in 1453 A.D, by the sacking of Constantinople by the Ottoman Empire.
The impact on the portrayal of Jesus
During this time period there were many fights between the different Empires over territory, although it may not seem as if had impacted they way Jesus was portrayed then think again. In the Catacombs Jesus was portrayed as a young man with no beard, but in the Byzantine time period Jesus was portrayed an older version of himself with a beard. The beard is a very specific feature in both art works from the catacombs and Byzantine Time period as it can determine the age of Jesus.
Icon of the Virgin Hodegetria
The icon of the Virgin Hodegetria is a image of the mother of God, Mary holding a child in her left arm. This image has a unique origin story, where two blind men from Constantinople had their sight restored at a popular monastery of Hodegetria. As the Mother of God had guided them and restored their sight for one particular reason, to guide him to safety. The icon of the Virgin Hodegetria was praised by army chiefs, and since the mans sight was restored. This caused a chain reaction as many other blind individuals came to the monastery to heal their blind eyes, the icon then became known as the Hodegetria meaning she show the way of God.
The icon of the Virgin Hodegetria is a image of the mother of God, Mary holding a child in her left arm. This image has a unique origin story, where two blind men from Constantinople had their sight restored at a popular monastery of Hodegetria. As the Mother of God had guided them and restored their sight for one particular reason, to guide him to safety. The icon of the Virgin Hodegetria was praised by army chiefs, and since the mans sight was restored. This caused a chain reaction as many other blind individuals came to the monastery to heal their blind eyes, the icon then became known as the Hodegetria meaning she show the way of God.