1. Byzantine Art Dates and Places: 4th century to 1453 CE
Eastern Christian Roman Empire
Eastern Mediterranean, capital Constantinople
People:
Emperor head of church
Period of iconoclasm
San Vitale, 526–547. Fig

2. Byzantine Art Themes: Icons of Christ, Virgin Mary, and Saints Forms:
Static, timeless
Gold backgrounds
Conventionalized figures
Centrally planned churches, domes
Theodora and attendants, mosaic, San Vitale, ca. 547.
Fig

3. Byzantine Art
ANTHEMIUS OF TRALLES and ISIDORUS OF MILETUS, Hagia Sophia, 532–537. Fig

4. Byzantine Art
ANTHEMIUS OF TRALLES and ISIDORUS OF MILETUS, interior, Hagia Sophia, 532–537. Fig

5. Byzantine Art Example: Central plan with nave
Dome over crossing, influence of Pantheon
Pendentives and semidomes support
Mystical light
Plain exterior, lavish interior
Separation of sexes
ANTHEMIUS OF TRALLES and ISIDORUS OF MILETUS, Hagia Sophia, 532–537. Fig

6. Byzantine Art
Justinian, Bishop Maximianus, and attendants mosaic, San Vitale, ca Fig

7. Byzantine Art Example: Byzantine church on Italian peninsula
Centrally-planned church
Mosaics of emperor and empress
Christ and Justinian, imperial iconography
Stylized, timeless, weightless, frontal figures
Justinian, Bishop Maximianus, and attendants mosaic, San Vitale, ca Fig

8. Byzantine Art
Virgin (Theotokos) and Child between Saints Theodore and George, icon, sixth or early seventh century. Fig

9. Byzantine Art Example: Byzantine Icon Encaustic and gold on wood
Active art: transmit prayers, work miracles
Conventionalized figures, timeless, static
Iconoclasts destroy icons in 8th century
Virgin (Theotokos) and Child between Saints Theodore and George, icon, sixth or early seventh century. Fig

10. Byzantine Art
Christ as Pantokrator, mosaic, Church of the Dormition, ca. 1090–1100. Fig

11. Byzantine Art Example: Christ as Judge Mosaic in dome
Connect viewer to Heaven through Christ
Stylized forms, patterns of drapery, timeless gold background
Christ as Pantokrator, mosaic, Church of the Dormition, ca. 1090–1100. Fig

12. Byzantine Art
Interior, Saint Mark’s, begun Fig. 4-1.

13. Byzantine Art Example: Byzantine church in Venice
Central plan, cruciform (Greek cross)
Dome on pendentives over crossing
Mosaic program
Stories from life of Christ
Non-illusionistic
Interior, Saint Mark’s, begun Fig. 4-1.

14. Byzantine Art
David composing the Psalms, ca. 950–970. Fig

15. Byzantine Art Example: Classical revival Illusionistic style
Classical-looking figures
David looks like Orpheus
David composing the Psalms, ca. 950–970. Fig