1. Christianity and Christian Art before Constantine

2. Map of Italy

3. Naturalism / Idealism / Official Art
Gods / Belief System
Location of Temples
The Rome of Augustus, 1st century B.C.E – early 1st century C.E.

4. Jesus of Nazareth, 12 Disciples, Anno Domini 7 Sacraments: Batptism
Confirmation
Holy Communion
Eucharist
Anointing the Sick
Matrimony
Holy Order
Bible, Old / New Testament, four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) and their Gospels, Gospel Cycles, Acts of the Apostles, Epistles, Revelation, Golden Legend and other popular texts

5. Catacombs of Priscilla, 3rd century C.E., Rome

6. The earliest surviving images of Mary and Jesus (?)
Isa. 7:14, Numbers 24:17: “A star shall
come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall
rise out of Israel.”
Daniel 3: “Deliver, O Lord, the soul of thy
servant as thou didst deliver Noah in the
flood … Isaac from the sacrificing hand of
his father … Daniel from the lion’s den …
the three children from the fiery furnace …
Wall painting, Catacombs of Priscilla, 3rd century, Rome

7. Apollo as Helios, late 2nd century, Roman floor mosaic, El Djem, Tunisia
Christ / Helios, Mausoleum of the Julii, mosaic, mid-3rd century, Rome

8. Christ / Helios, Mausoleum of the Julii, mosaic, mid-3rd century, Rome

9. Dura Europus, ca. 231 C.E., Syria

10. Dura Europus, ca. 231 C.E., destroyed 256 C.E., Syria

11. Dura Europus, ca. 231 C.E., Syria Christian House

12. The earliest surviving images of Christ
St. Paul to the Corinthians: “For just as in
Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made to
live.”
“Christ and St. Peter Walking on Water,” “The Good Shepherd,” Christian House, Room of the Baptistery, wall painting, Dura Europus, ca. 231 C.E., Syria

13. Dura Europus, ca. 231 C.E., Syria Synagogue

14. Torah (scroll containing the Pentateuch, the first five of the twenty-four books of the Old Testament,
thought to be given by God to Moses on Mt. Sainai and at the Tabernacle, but dated B.C.E.)
Dura Europus, ca. 231 C.E., Syria Synagogue

15. Hieratic scale
Samuel Anointing David, Dura Europus, ca. 231 C.E., Syria Synagogue

16. Emperor Diocletian, 284-305 C.E.
Tetrarchs

17. 312 - Battle of the Milvian Bridge, defeats Maxentius, attributes victory to Christianity
324 - Defeats co-emperor of the east, Licinius, founds Constantinople
325 - Council of Nicaea, settles disputes over Christianity, Pax Romana
337 - Constantine dies, baptized on deathbed
Francisco Herrera the Elder, The Vision of Constantine, early 17th century, Seville

18. 313 - Edict of Milan, ends persecution of Christians
When I, Constantine Augustus, as well as I Licinius Augustus fortunately met near Mediolanurn [Milan], and were considering everything that pertained to the public welfare and security, we thought —, among other things which we saw would be for the good of many, those regulations pertaining to the reverence of the Divinity ought certainly to be made first, so that we might grant to the Christians and others full authority to observe that religion which each preferred; whence any Divinity whatsoever in the seat of the heavens may be propitious and kindly disposed to us and all who are placed under our rule. … When you see that this has been granted to them by us, your Worship will know that we have also conceded to other religions the right of open and free observance of their worship for the sake of the peace of our times, that each one may have the free opportunity to worship as he pleases; this regulation is made we that we may not seem to detract from any dignity or any religion.

19. Emperor Augustus, 1st century B.C.E – early 1st century C.E.
Constantine, , Rome

20. Constantine, medal, 315-330, Rome
Constantine, , Rome

21. Basilica of Maxentius, begun 308 C.E., Forum Romanum, Rome
The Rome of Augustus, 1st century B.C.E – early 1st century C.E.

22. Basilica of Maxentius, begun 308 C.E., Forum Romanum, Rome

23. Basilica of Maxentius, begun 308 C.E., Forum Romanum, Rome

24. The Arch of Constantine, 312-315, Forum Romanum, Rome

25. Arch of Titus, 81 C.E., Forum Romanun, Rome
The Arch of Constantine, , Forum Romanum, Rome

26. spolia
The Arch of Constantine, , Forum Romanum, Rome

27. Abstract, Expressionistic, Geometrical vs. Realistic, Naturalistic
The Arch of Constantine, , Forum Romanum, Rome

28. Abstract, Expressionistic, Geometrical vs. Realistic, Naturalistic
Abstract, Expressionistic, Geometrical vs. Realistic, Naturalistic Hierarchy
Constantine dispensing Largesse, The Arch of Constantine, , Forum Romanum, Rome

29. Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, ca. 359, Rome, Vatican
Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, ca. 359, Rome, Vatican Salvation / Christian Triumph

30. Exodus 20:3-6:
“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

31. Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, ca. 359, Rome, Vatican

32. Christ Giving the Law
Adam and Eve
Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, ca. 359, Rome, Vatican

33. Chi Rho – “XP” from the Greek “XPIΣTOΣ” = Christ, Christogram symbolic of crucifixion and Christ
Passion Sarcophagus, Catacomb of Domitilla, second half of the 4th century, Rome

34. 324 - Defeats co-emperor of the east, Licinius, founds Constantinople
325 - Council of Nicaea, settles disputes over Christianity, Pax Romana
337 - Constantine dies, baptized on deathbed
Francisco Herrera the Elder, The Vision of Constantine, early 17th century, Seville

35. Proclaims Christianity official religion of
Roman Empire
Missorium (silver plate) of Theodosius, 388, 29” diameter, Found in Estremadura, Spain

36. In the late 4th century in the West, seat of church moves to Milan, then Ravenna
410 – Visigothic chieftain Alaric conquers Rome