Early Medieval Art: From Christianity to Islam
I. Early Christian Art (4th Century AD)
With the decline of the Roman Empire, Christianity emerged as a driving force in the West, bridging classical and Christian cultures to create a new artistic foundation. Early Christian art can be divided into two stages, separated by the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, which granted freedom of religious worship.
Before the Edict of Milan:
Persecution led Christians to gather in repurposed houses (domus ecclesiae). The oldest known example is Dura Europos in Syria (3rd century). In Rome, these houses were called titulus.
Martyria were small, centrally-planned buildings commemorating martyrs or events in Christ’s life.
Rejecting cremation, Christians established catacombs for burial, primarily from the late 2nd/early 3rd centuries until the late 5th/early 6th centuries. Key features of catacombs include:
- Ambulatory: Tall, narrow galleries.
- Loculi: Rectangular cavities for bodies.
- Cubicle: Burial areas in cross galleries.
- Arcosolium: Semicircular niche in cubicles.
Rome’s catacombs (San Calixto, San Sebastian, St. Domitilla, St. Priscilla) are the most significant, with others in Naples, Sicily, and North Africa. Above ground, cella memoriae served as small chapels for worship.
Early Christian imagery within the catacombs expressed beliefs through symbolic motifs and scenes from the Old and New Testaments. These included the chrismon (XP), Chi-Rho (☧), fish (ichthys), peacock, anchor, dove, and adapted pagan images like Orpheus (representing Christ descending into Limbo) and Aristeo (the Good Shepherd).
After the Edict of Milan:
The basilica became the principal architectural form. A typical basilica featured an atrium, narthex, nave, aisles, triumphal arch, transept, and apse. Notable examples include St. Peter’s, Santa Maria Maggiore, and Santa Ines in Rome.
Other significant buildings included baptisteries (Lateran, Orthodox) and mausoleums (Santa Constanza, Gala Placidia).
Santa Costanza & Lateran Baptistery
Sculpture focused on reliefs, such as the Good Shepherd and Christ the Doctor, often found on sarcophagi (e.g., Junius Bassus).
Catacomb paintings were simple, with plain colors and profiles. After the Edict of Milan, styles became more refined, with Christian iconography replacing earlier symbolism. Mosaics gained prominence, decorating floors, walls, and apses, notably in the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and Santa Constanza.
II. Byzantine Art (5th-15th Centuries)
The Byzantine Empire, surviving the Western Roman Empire’s fall, flourished for nearly a thousand years. Its art, influential in the West, blended Greek and Eastern elements.
Justinian Period (6th Century):
The Hagia Sophia in Constantinople exemplifies this era, with its blend of basilica and centralized plans, a vast dome, and intricate mosaics.
Iconoclastic Period and Second Golden Age (8th-12th Centuries):
Following the iconoclastic period, a new church model emerged, featuring a portico and Greek cross plan with domes. Examples include the Nea Church of Constantinople, Daphni Monastery, and St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice.
Third Golden Age (13th-15th Centuries):
This period saw continued development, with brick becoming a prominent material. Examples include the Church of the Holy Apostles in Thessaloniki.
Byzantine art also included ivory carvings (e.g., the Chair of Maximian) and icons (e.g., Our Lady of Vladimir).
III. Visigothic Art (5th-8th Centuries)
Following the Western Roman Empire’s collapse, Visigothic art emerged in the Iberian Peninsula, blending Hispano-Roman traditions with early Christian and Eastern influences.
Visigothic architecture featured reused stone blocks, horseshoe arches, vaulted roofs, and Corinthian columns. Churches followed basilica or cruciform plans. Examples include San Juan de Baños and San Pedro de la Nave.
The Visigoths also excelled in goldwork, as seen in the treasures of Guarrazar and Torredonjimeno.
IV. Muslim Art (7th Century Onwards)
Emerging in the 7th century, Muslim art absorbed influences from conquered territories, developing a unique style. Initially lacking an architectural tradition, it integrated Hellenic, Eastern, and Christian elements.