Byzantine art

Byzantine art

1. BYZANTINE
ART
IES CAMILO JOSÉ CELA
TEACHER: ROCÍO BAUTISTA

2. BYZANTINE ART  evolution of the Roman art
+ influences of oriental art.
Most important forms of art:
Churches
Mosaics
Icons

3. ARCHITECTURE

4. General characteristics of Byzantine churches:
Use of the Greek-cross plan.
Greek Cross VS Latin Cross

5. Use of semicircular arches.
Semicircular archVS Other type of archs

6. Use of large domes over pendentivesresting on pillars.
Dome
Pendentive
Pillar/pier

7. Use of semi-domesand buttressesto download the heavy
weight of the central dome.

8. Built with poor materials like bricks, sometimes covered
with marble.

9. Decorated with rich mosaics.

10. Examples:
HagiaSophia in Constantinople

11. Hagia Sophia in Constantinople

12. St. Mark’s in Venice (Italy)

13. MOSAICS

14. MOSAIC= picture made using many
small colouredpieces of ceramic,
stone or glass (tessellas).
Used to decoratethe walls and
domes of thechurches (≠roman
mosaics).
Golden backgrounds to create a
glittering and luxurious effect that
reflected the power and wealth of
the Byzantine Empire.
Represented religious or imperial
themes.

15. Empress Theodora and
her attendants (in the
church of San Vitale in
Ravenna, Italy).
Emperor Justinian and
his attendants (in the
church of San Vitale in
Ravenna, Italy).

16. Christ Pantocrator ("All-powerful").
This depiction can be found in many
byzantine churches: Hagia Sophia,
Cefalu Cathedral (Sicily),…

20. PAINTING
(ICONS)

21. ICON= religious image (Christ, Virgin
Mary, saints) painted on a wooden board.
Characteristicsof the painted figures:
Flatand one-dimensional.
Stylized figures(not proportional nor
realistic).
Rigidand unnatural expressions.
Golden backgroundsto symbolize the
divine nature of these characters
(illuminated by God's light).

22. ENGLISH SPANISH DEFINITION
Greek-cross
plan
Plantade cruz
griega
Church in which the arms (nave and the transept) are of
equal length.
Nave Nave The main body of a church, where most seats are located.
Transept Transepto
Transverse section of a church, which lies across its main
body.
Semicircular
arch
Arco de medio
punto
An arch that is exactly half a circle.
Dome Cúpula A hemispherical roof
Pendentives Pechinas
A spherical triangle which acts as a transition between a
circular dome and a square base on which the dome is set.
Pillar / Pier Pilar
A vertical support for a structure. Generally it’s square or
rectangular.
ButtressesContrafuertes
A stone or brick structure that supports the weight of
something above it.
Marble Mármol A type of hard stone that’s usually white
Mosaic Mosaico
Image made by putting together tessellas(small pieces of
colored ceramic, stone orglass).

23. Activities
a)Which are the most renowned examples of Byzantine Churches?
Where are they located?
b)What were mosaics made with? How did Byzantine mosaics
differed from Roman mosaics?
c)What are byzantine icons? Indicate 3 characteristics of them.
d)Copy and complete the commentary of St. Mark’s church:
“St. Mark’s church in Venice has a G_____-c____ plan.
The crossing (area where the n____ and the t_______
intersect) is covered with a large d____ over
p__________. There are several s_____________ arches.
The walls and the dome are covered with bright
m_______ made with t_________ (small colouredpieces
of c_________, s______ or glass). G________ backgrounds
have been use to create a luxurious effect.”