Early Christian Period Art

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Early Christian Period Art
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Period of Persecution33A.D.- 313 A.D.

• During the late Roman Empire Roman Rulers
  (Caesars) were considered gods.
• Worshiping anyone but the Caesar was outlawed.
• Christians were forced to worship in private
  underground in the same places that were used as
  tombs.

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Period of Recognition313A.D.- 527A.D.

• In 313 A.D. the Roman Emperor Constantine is
  reported to have received a vision from God.
• Constantine would then declare Christianity the
  accepted religion of the Roman Empire.
• Christians were able to worship in public.

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Byzantine Art

• As the Roman Empire expanded it became difficult
  to manage and split into East and West.
• The Eastern Empire would become known as the
  Byzantine Empire. The styles of its art reflected
  an Asian influence.

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The Haggia Sophia

• Justinian- The Christian Emperor of the Byzantine
  Empire built the magnificent Haggia Sophia in
  his capital.

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The Carolingian Empire

• After 527 the Roman Empire collapsed overtaken by
  German barbarians
• By the late 700s stability was retuned by the
  strong leadership of Charlemagne.
• Art began to thrive under government sponsorship.

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Ottonian Period

• After the death of Charlemagne the European
  empire was in chaos until the rise of Otto I of
  Bavaria around 900 A.D.
• Art generally suffered except in Ottos empire.
  He attempted to recreate Roman styles in his
  Holy Roman Empire.

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Romanesque1000 - 1200

• Art forms imitated Roman artistic style thrived
  in Europe.
• This style would later be referred to as
  Romanesque.

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Gothic Art1200-1300s

• Gothic Art is originally named for the Goths
  (Germans) who destroyed the Roman Empire.
• Many critics saw the forms and subjects as
  barbaric even though Gothic art was produced much
  later.