The the First art Byzantine knows its apogee under the reign of Justinien (527-565), whereas a temporary reconquest of Italy takes place. It is characterized by a mixture of Roman tradition, Eastern tradition and Christianity.

Mosaic and painting

The topics approached by the art of this period are of an astonishing conservatism. Thus, the grounds of the Large palace of Constantinople were covered with mosaics going back from the reign to Justinien or Théodose II representing traditional scenes. This classicism will never cease being exploited in the Byzantine art, which thus does not break with the Roman art. However, even if the topics approached are the same ones as in Antiquity, the execution of the Byzantine mosaics is resolutely medieval. Indeed, each scene is insulated and the characters are detached from a neutral bottom, representation characteristic of the Moyen-âge (this new manner of approaching the figurative representation is found already to a lesser extent in the Roman Villa of Casale to Piazza Armerina which dates from the 4th century).

Structure

Town planning

Constantinople, created under Constantin at the 4th century, had been designed like a pagan city, and not Christian woman. She organized herself around a central axis, the Mésé, with in her heart a hippodrome, on the model Roman, and of the buildings of being able, public and religious.

Religious architecture

Several features define the religious architecture in this period: squat buildings, whose magnificence was noticed only inside. The plans used combined Plan centered and Plan basilical, of which the architects paléochrétiens were useful themselves. The decoration presents a taste for the flat tints, and the schematization of the forms, the disappearance of the bodies under full clothing. The mosaic at gold bottom, out of invaluable materials, is often employed, as with Ravenne, in the basilica San Vitale or in the Saint-Apollinaire basilica the Last nine.

The reign of Justinien was particularly fertile in architecture. It is in particular him which made build in Constantinople the church Holy-Sophie ( Haghia Sophia ), dedicated with wisdom ( sophos in Greek).

Stone sculpture

Relief

The sculptors follow a principle of simplification of the forms, in particular intended to return the more readable Iconographie. The characters are represented in hierarchical Taille, not as individuals but as holders of a load, as prove it the stereotyped faces, to the large inexpressive eyes, and insistence on the attributes to be able. The low-relief which is reproduced on the base of the obelisk of the hippodrome of Constantinople, cut under Théodose, is a perfect example of this style. On a face, one sees the emperor, on a platform, which attends the circus games provided with the Mappa, a linen which was used to give the beginning of the plays. This topic is also present in several ivories.

The sculpture in the round

Forsaken in the religious field, the Ronde-bosse is used more only in the art of the portrait. In general, the style is a little heavy: contrast between volumes, rather hard transition from the plans, marked ocular sphere of a cup to indicate the iris, fleshy eyelids, folds on the wings of the nose and in the neck, etc the portrait of the empress ARIANE, preserved at Louvre, or that of Arcadius, today with Istanbul, testify some.

Objets d'art

Ivories

The ivory is a matter very much used, imported by the Perse as the procession present proves it on the Ivoire Barberini of Louvre. The most frequent objects are the Diptyque S, of which the consular Diptyque is the category most represented: these objects, offered by the Consul S to the people who supported their election, were used as shelves to write. The two plates were dug and filled with Cire to the back, were carved on their face, and were connected between them by hinges. On the carved face, one generally finds the consul who made gift of the object, either in bust, or attending the plays, for example. It is not represented according to its features, since one knows several faces for the same character, but according to stereotypes insisting on the symbols of the load (scarf, mappa, sceptre with head of the emperor).

The Ivory Barberini, preserved at Louvre, is one of the only examples of preserved imperial diptych, and a true masterpiece of the Byzantine Art.

Goldsmithery

Very many parts of Orfèvrerie preserved, including one great part is resulting from the workshops of Constantinople, testify to the diversity and the richness of this art as well in the profane field as religious. The Missorium de Théodose illustrates the control which the goldsmiths of the late Antiquité could reach. They use many techniques, like pushed back, engraving and chiselling, and show a great taste for the ornament. In Louvre always is a silver plate partially gilded and pushed back representative holy Syméon the stylite in top of its column.

Painting on wood in religious matter

This technique appears under Justinien. Painting is realized with the polish, i.e. the pigments are mixed with wax. As for the sculpture, the forms and draped diagrammatic, are inspired by the models of traditional antiquity. The Virgin and the Christ of the Monastère Holy-Catherine of the Sinai constitute rare examples of these particularly fragile works.

Eastern production centres

Before the conquest of the Egypt and Holy Land by the Arab , Antioche and Alexandria were the production centres of most important works of art, before even Constantinople. Works which were produced there were very ended and very appreciated, as well of the Arabs, the Byzantines as Western nations. Thus it is thought that a work as the ivory pyxide exposed to Ehemalige Staaliche Museen of Berlin dating from the 5th century was produced in Antioche. This masterpiece can only be produced in a rather advanced arts center. The same applies to the Gospel of Rabula produced in Syria in 586. This Eastern art will know an abrupt decline with the Arab conquest. It will essaimera nevertheless in other cultural hearths and will come to enrich the Art copte, the Art sassanide and the Arts of Islam.

Random links:

Spodumene | Juan of Cueva | National or regional Jamboree | Lotus 16 | Big Bang (financial markets)