Byzantine Art Characteristics
combined christian and imperial imagery monumental
architecture luxury materials: glass mosaics, ivory
slender figures, pointy toes, almond eyes stiff frontal
pose
Name
Date
Period
Location
Medium
Justinian as World Conqueror
mid 6th century CE
Byzantine
Constantinople, Turkey
ivory
Demonstrative
Christian imperial ivory
Innovative
Christ as the source of power-- any power Justinian has comes
from God above
Continuity
imperial propaganda -- Augustus of Primaporta
equestrian portrait-- Marcus Aurelius figure of
bounty-- Pax Romana foreign subjects carrying tribute--
Persians and Medes
Artist
Name
Date
Period
Location
Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus
Hagia Sophia
532-537 CE
Byzantine
Constantinople, Turkey
Demonstrative
monumental architecture Christian and imperial
elements
Innovative
combined basilica and central plan pendentives
Continuity
interior of mosaic-- Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Name
Date
Period
Location
Medium
Justinian, Bishop Maximianus, and Attendants, San Vitale
547 BCE
Byzantine
Ravenna, Italy
mosaic
Name
Date
Period
Location
Medium
Theodora and Attendants, San Vitale
547 CE
Byzantine, Ravenna
mosaic
Demonstrative
tall figures with almond eyes and pointy toes
mosaic Christian and imperial elements
Continuity
symbolic presence -- Constantine portrait religious
and imperial power -- Justinian as world conqueror Gender
power differentiation-- Menkaure
Name
Date
Period
Location
Medium
Virgin (Theotokos) and Child between Saints Theodore and George Icon
6th/early 7th century CE
Byzantine
Mount Sinai, Egypt
encaustic on wood
Demonstrative
Byzantine depiction of human
Continuity
slight illusion of death