Christian Art: History & Theology

1. The beginnings of Christian art: from catacombs to basilicas.

2. Iconoclastic Controversy.3. John of Damascus’ defense

of icons.4. Functions of the icons in the

Church.Apse mosaic. St Catherine's Monastery, Sinai. c. 565/6.

Cryptic art of the catacombs

6 Sinai Christ

Catacomb of Domitilla. Rome. 3rd c.

Christ’s appearance hinted at. Christ as…

Catacomb of Domitilla. Rome. 3rd c.

Christ teaching apostles

Catacomb of Domitilla. Rome. 3rd c.

This is Plotinus and his students

And this is…

Church of St Julia, Brescia. Ivory panel. ca. 360-70.

What is Jesus doing?

This is Jesus too (believe it or not)

Rome, Museo Nazionale Delle Terme, ca. 350.

Christ surrounded by apostles

Basilica of St Pudenziana, Rome, ca. 400.

Youthful Christ

Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna, 522-47.

Times change Christ is now surrounded by…

The Dominant Image in the Byzantine period

Christ Pantokrator. Hagia Sophia, Instanbul, ca. 1185

How did Jesus really look like?

Sinai icon compared to the negative of the image on the Shroud of Turin

Reasons for the outbreak of iconoclasm

Reaction to the loss of Eastern provinces to the Arabs

Reasons for the outbreak of iconoclasm

Reaction to the loss of Eastern provinces to the Arabs

Impact of Islam upon Emperor Leo III

Emperor’s attempt to break the power of the monastic institutions

Reasons for the outbreak of iconoclasm in the 8 th c.

• Emperor’s attempt to break the power of the monastic institutions

• Reaction to the loss of Eastern provinces to the Arabs

• Impact of Islam upon Emperor Leo III

Iconoclastic council in 754

Sum up the arguments of the iconoclasts against the use of icons.

Iconoclasts destroying icons. Chludov Psalter c. 850-75.

Questions continued…

1. According to the iconoclasts, what is the only admissible representation of the incarnation?

2. What practical recommendations did the council make?

The Cross, after 740. Apse mosaic. St Irene, Istanbul.

The Theotokos and Child (replacing a cross) 787-97 and 11th cent. Apse mosaic.

St Sophia, Thessaloniki.

Iconoclastic controversy timeline

• 726 Emperor Leo III (717-741) issues a ban on all religious imagery

• 754 Iconoclastic council summoned in Constantinople

• 787 Second Council of Nicea defends the use of icons

• 843 Iconoclastic period ends. Empress Theodora allows the restoration of icons.

John of Damascus (675-749)

• Brought up at the court of the caliph of Damascus

• Resigned his position and entered monastery of St. Sabbas c. 726

• Wrote On the Orthodox Faith

• Defended icons (seminar)

Defense of Icons by John of Damascus

1. State John’s arguments for the use of icons.

2. Which position, iconoclast or iconodule, do you find most convincing? Why?

Wall-painting from the Synagogue at Dura. General view, west wall.

Binding of Isaac. Floor mosaic. Synagogue of Beth Alpha, c. 518 C.E.

                                                                                                  

Functions of Icons in the Church 1: “The Bible for the illiterate”

Functions of Icons in the Church 2:Means of remembrance

Functions of Icons in the Church 3: Theology in Color

Functions of Icons in the Church 4: Windows into the Kingdom of Heaven

Functions of Icons in the Church:Summary

• “The Bible for the illiterate”• Means of remembrance • Theology in color• Windows into the kingdom of heaven• “Crutches of prayer” • Photograph-portrait-icon: similarities and

differences

Portrait Artist's Workshop. Painted Sarcophagus (detail). 1st century AD

Kerch, Bosporan Kingdom

Christ teaching apostles