by Effie Moore Salem

Created on: June 24, 2008   Last Updated: December 01, 2010

Byzantine art is mainly religious art; it began  as decorations for Eastern Orthodox Churches. Emperor Constantine, newly converted to Christianity because of a miracle he witnessed, moved the capital of the Roman Empire to Byzantium - Constantinople - in 323. This was the beginning of this particular kind of art known as Byzantine. It was after this conversion that the First Christians were free for a time from persecution.

In 400 the Western part of the Roman Empire was invaded and taken over by Northern Germanic tribes; the Eastern sector remained together and producing its special kind of art for almost a thousand years; the Turks took over in 1453. They renamed the capitol Istanbul and it remains so today. By then of course, Byzantine art was definitely distinguishable from the kind of art being produced in the Western world.

There are several differences, although basically both groups produced their particular kinds of art to honor Christ. Yet there were problems over where the Church should be located, in Rome or in Byzantium. The actual proliferation of the Byzantine art started in the fifth and sixth centuries. Until the ninth century representations of figures were prohibited. This was thought to be idolatry; this has always been a Jewish religious belief.

Sculpture, while a great art form in the western religious art traditions has never been adapted to any degree in Byzantium art. When figures were allowed in art they were never developed as it was in  the  western world but depicted more their beliefs. The most important person depicted would be the largest figure in the picture; those of lesser importance would be painted lower, yet on the same flat plane. In their art, as opposed to the style of western art, the background did not show shadowing and highlights; instead blazing coloration was used to distinguish importance of the person. Thus the figure of Christ would always be the largest person.

It was with these kinds of mannerisms that Byzantine art made its mark and in the areas where it spread throughout the Middle East, Georgia, Bulgaria, and Armenia. A great part of their religious art is Icons which they explain have special significance in their religious practice.

What does this kind of art tell us about their culture? It tells us that they have kept the classic traditional art of the very early Christians and have incorporated it into their worship services. It was nothing in particular they set out to do to and it was simply to show how they could spite the Western Church, mainly that of Rome - before or after the great schism; Byzantine art grew out of their culture. They took what they believed about the Christian Church and set out making it their own.

If one wants to learn the difference between the East and West where religion concerned, they would do well to begin their studies from Ad 33 to the present time. The art on both sides tell not so much who is right and who is wrong, but show which influences are more important to them. (The two groups while not totally agreeing with each other do recognize the validity of the worship service.

Arts of the Byzantine style include woven arts such as can be seen in their tapestries, their rugs, and the styles of their architecture, in their work with gold and their fascination with pebbles and marble chips they use for mosaics. All in all it is a rich history of religious significance that shows their respect for details and their dedication to perfection. In in Istanbul visit St. Sophia Church and be dazzled by their rich showcase of art they dedicate to their creator.

Source:
http://historylink101.com/lessons/art
http://metmuseum.org/explore/byzantine

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