Late Roman Art and Architecture and Constantine and Early Christian Architecture

The reigns of Diocletian and Constantine marked the last great age of Roman architecture. These Emperors used art and architecture to reach subjects across the empire who may have felt a dwindling connection to Rome The Role of the Emperor

Basilica of Constantine  Constantine built the Basilica of Constantine, the last great Imperial building in Rome.  Begun in AD 306 by Maxentius and finished by Constantine after 315.  Remember, Constantine brought Christianity to the empire, making the mark of a basilica appropriate

Basilica of Constantine

Significant points of the Basilica  The central nave rose to a height of 100 feet.  Contained a 30 foot statue of the emperor himself.

The Palace of Diocletian  Located on the Adriatic coast  Constructed on the plan of a Military camp  Decorated with Eastern Motifs  Design far from the classical style

Changing times…  Not only was architecture changing, but classical styles of sculpture were slowly disappearing as well.  Realistic portraits were abandoned and artists no longer tried to express a depth or sense of reality.  Foreshadows art of the Middle Ages

 Christianity becomes widespread and its art and ideals are vastly different  Abandonment might be linked to Eastern religious cults.

Early Christian Architecture  Religious architecture becomes the most important form of building throughout the Christian world.  Remains true for more than 12 centuries

Early Christian Architecture  Constantine associated with two of the most famous churches today: –Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican rests on the remains of a basilica dedicated in 326AD. –The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem was built in 345AD.

Building Types  Modified Basilican plan (St. Peter’s) was based on Roman assembly hall. Known also as the “long” plan  The central plan: based on Greco-Roman tholos (circular, polygonal)  The mixed plan: combined elements of basilican and central forms

Building materials  Concrete, stone and brick  Timber used for ceilings, roofs, and doors  Plaster and stucco facings “dressed” the wall surfaces  Round arches used to frame doorways and windows  Domes and vaults used to enclose and roof aisles and apses  Building stone quarried from Pagan Roman buildings

Old Saint Peter’s Basilica

Basic Basilica Floor plan Apse Transept Nave Narthex Atrium Gate

Vocabulary  Faithful entered into a courtyard called the atrium  They would then walk through vestibule or narthex.  The long central rectangular area was the nave  The nave was intersected by a transcept.  The roof of the transcept was pitched; high on the walls were the clerestory or windows.  The apse was covered with a dome or half-dome

St. Peter’s Basilica

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre  Located in Jerusalem  Also employs the basilica style  Behind the basilica is a domed structure believed to be the location where the body of Christ had been buried for three days.  Domed structure was an adaptation of existing pagan structures in Empire (think Pantheon)

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Samples in the area:  St. Paul’s Catholic Church (basilica)  GP Methodist Church (central)  St. Joan of Arc (central)  St. Clare (mixed)