Early Christian and Byzantine Art

Early Christian art began after Christ's death and lasted until 313, why?

• They vanished from Europe and migrated to America.
• The Barbarian empire accepted them and they were able to worship with the barbarians.
• It took on a different form Christianity prompted artists to glorify the spiritual rather than human aspect of their work
• Roman art and prompted artists to glorify the human rather than spiritual aspect of their work

Early Christian art began when the Roman Empire was in a period of _________

• Progress
• Decline
• Highest power

Christian art became less realistic than Roman or Greek art, and more stylized (nonrealistic but still recognizable). The focus was more on the religious and spiritual aspects of subject matter rather than representing things realistically.

• True
• False

Christianity did not permit creation of representational imagery of the divine, however early Christian artists found a way around the Old Testaments prohibition of religious images

• False - They destroyed all art forms
• True - creating only sculptures prohibiting paintings and mosaics
• True - Creating mosaics - Prohibiting sculptures (which could be viewed from all sides)
• False - they loved all imagery and arts

Instead of prohibiting all religious imagery and art, they prohibited only the most idolatrous art form; sculptures that could be viewed from all sides. Why?

• Because sculptures had been worshipped as idols in the past
• Because sculpture that looked like a realistic three-dimensional saint or God were never prohibited
• Because they appreciated paintings more than sculptures
• Because they worshiped only the Roman's Gods.

The artists of this time came from a variety of backgrounds and previous religious beliefs so the art of this time

• Was organized by a specific set of symbols and images that represented it
• Was diverse with no set way of being yet because it was so new

The style of early Christian art was new because there was no background. Jewish, Roman and greek culture didn't influence the Early Christian art.

• True
• False

Painting, relief sculptures, mosaic, wood were used in this new style of Art.

• True
• False

Modern day Christian art has symbols of the cross and images of Jesus

• Early Christian art also had mostly images of the cross and of Jesus
• Early Christian art does not have images of the cross or of Jesus, but also as symbols, and religious historical references

First examples of Christian arts comes from the:

• Catacombs frescoes
• Sculpture
• Acrylic and oil paintings
• Naive style of art