Christian Art History: Early, Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic Styles

Posted on Jun 7, 2025 in Arts and Humanities

Early Christian Art

Early Christian art developed from the 1st to the 6th century CE. In 313 CE, Emperor Constantine established the Edict of Milan, granting religious freedom to Christians, which significantly impacted artistic expression.

First Period (1st Century CE – 313 CE)

  • Christianity was illegal.
  • Painting and sculpture developed, primarily in catacomb tombs.
  • Sculptural reliefs were typically small.

Second Period (313 CE – c. 520-530 CE)

  • Christianity became legal due to the Edict of Milan.
  • Christians gathered in basilicas, which typically featured a courtyard, a narthex (vestibule), and the basilica proper.

Christian Iconography

Christian iconography emerged, using symbols to convey religious ideas: an anchor (support for the Church), a fish (Jesus), and a boat (the Church). The Chi-Rho (an X on a P) became a prominent Christian symbol.

Early Christian Painting

  • First Period: Fresco painting was common in catacomb tombs.
  • Second Period: Mosaics became prominent, decorating apses and walls above the arches dividing the naves in basilicas.

Early Christian Sculpture

Developed primarily in the second period, with two main types:

  • Reliefs: Adorned sarcophagi, often depicting scenes from the Bible and Gospels, incorporating Christian symbols.
  • Freestanding Sculpture: Included figures of Jesus, often representing aspects of the Gospels.

Byzantine Art

Byzantine art flourished from the 6th to the 16th century CE.

Architectural Contributions

Key elements include the arch, the dome as a roofing system, and the Greek cross plan. The pendentive (inverted, semi-curved triangles supporting a dome) was a significant innovation. Arches were supported by columns with elaborate capitals, often decorated with floral or geometric motifs.

Byzantine Painting and Sculpture

Characterized by icons painted on wood with gold backgrounds. Lacking linear perspective, art emphasized verticality and symmetry, often featuring inscrutable faces (lacking individual expression).

Common Subjects

  • Christ Pantocrator (Ruler of All)
  • The Virgin Mary as Theotokos (Mother of God)
  • Figures of saints and apostles

Romanesque Art

Romanesque art flourished across Europe from the 11th to the 13th century CE.

Key Characteristics

  • Monastic art: Centered around monasteries.
  • Aristocratic art: Patronized by nobility.
  • Religious art: Focused on Christian themes.
  • Didactic art: Intended for teaching.
  • International art: Widespread across Western Europe.

The monastery building, with its integrated church, is its most representative structure.

Romanesque Architecture

Characterized by its monumental and durable nature, often large and rural. Monasteries could house 450-500 people, providing various services. It spread across Europe via pilgrimage routes.

Key Architectural Elements

  • Thick walls reinforced with buttresses.
  • The round arch.
  • Barrel vaults and groin vaults.
  • Domes.
  • Pillars (rather than slender columns).
  • These buildings emphasized mass over opening.
  • Windows were often small and narrow.

Romanesque Facade

Characterized by five key elements:

  1. Tympanum: Space delimited between the lintel and the archivolts.
  2. Lintel: Horizontal architectural element that spans a space between two supports.
  3. Archivolts: Series of arches framing the tympanum.
  4. Mullion: A central column which supports the lintel.
  5. Jambs: Vertical elements framing the doorway, supporting the arch or archivolts placed on them.

Gothic Art

Gothic art flourished in Europe between the 12th and 16th centuries CE. The Seville Cathedral in Spain is considered one of its last great works.

Key Characteristics

  • Didactic art.
  • Urban art: Patronized by guilds.
  • Spiritual art: Aimed at elevating the human spirit towards God.
  • Emphasis on lightness and openness.

The cathedral is its most representative building type.

Gothic Architecture

Characterized by its height, lightness, spiritual quality, urban setting, and didactic purpose.

Key Architectural Elements

  • Relatively thin walls with large openings.
  • The pointed arch (Gothic arch).
  • Pillars with attached columns.
  • Rib vaults and complex vaulting systems.
  • Rose windows: Large circular windows placed on the facades.
  • Flying buttresses: External supports diverting central weight to other columns.
  • Buttresses.