World off art 8th edtion by henry m sayre chapter 17

WORLD OF ART
EIGHTH EDITION

CHAPTER

17

The Age of Faith

World of Art, Eighth Edition
Henry M. Sayre

Copyright © 2016, 2013, 2010
by Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates.
All rights reserved.


Learning Objectives
1 of 2

1. Describe the principal architectural
and decorative features of early
Christian and Byzantine places of
worship.
2. Explain the origins of the mosque and
describe its chief features.
3. Describe the chief characteristics of
the Carolingian, Romanesque, and
Gothic styles.

Learning Objectives
2 of 2

4. Describe how Indian art and
architecture reflect the Hindu religion,
and how the Buddhist faith is evident
in the arts of China and Japan.
5. Describe some of the characteristic
works of the Ife, Shona, and Zagwe
cultures.


Introduction
• The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem
marks the intersection of Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam.
 It marks the original site of the Temple
of Solomon.
 Its circular ambulatory is an early
example of Muslim architecture.
 The influence of these three religions
marked an age of faith.


The Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem.
Founded 3rd century BCE, enlarged ca. 150–50 BCE. Shrine height 50', diameter 105'.
© Ivan Vdovin/Alamy. [Fig. 17-1]


Early Christian and Byzantine Art

1 of 4

• With the conversion of Constantine to
Christianity, Christian places of worship
were designed to be as different from
Classical temples as possible.
 The basilica plan used for public
buildings provided a base.

• Santa Costanza was a mausoleum built
in a circular shape with a dome
supported with a barrel vault.


Santa Costanza, Rome.
ca. 354 CE.
© 2015 Photo Scala, Florence. [Fig. 17-2]


Early Christian and Byzantine Art
2 of 4

• Emperor Justinian assumed the throne
in 527 and commissioned the church of
Hagia Sophia.
 Its shape is a dome supported by four
curved pendentives.
 The interior features mosaics, tiles or
glass arranged in an image or pattern.
• Many of these were destroyed when

iconoclasts scourged Byzantine art.


Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, and plan.
532–37.
Photo: Ayhan Altun/Altunimages. [Fig. 17-3a]


Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus, Plan of Hagia Sophia, Istanbul.
532–37.
Photo: Ayhan Altun/Altunimages. [Fig. 17-3b]


Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus, Interior, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul.
532–37.
Photo: Ayhan Altun/Altunimages. [Fig. 17-4]


Early Christian and Byzantine Art
3 of 4

• Mosaics are made of small pieces of
stone called tesserae.
 They were a popular decorative element
for Roman villa floors, but the Romans
rarely used it on walls.
 Byzantine mosaics such as the Christ
pictured were created as symbolic,
mystical art and not for naturalism.

Christ, from Deësis mosaic.
13th century. Hagia Sophia, Istanbul.
Photo: Ayhan Altun/Altunimages. [Fig. 17-5]


Early Christian and Byzantine Art
4 of 4

• Justinian built a new church in Ravenna
called San Vitale.
 Though its exterior is octagonal, its
interior is circular, similar to churches in
Constantinople.
 Two elaborate mosaics depict Justinian
and the empress Theodora bearing gifts
for the Church.
• Naturalism is lost in their body-obscuring
robes and standardized faces.


Plan and exterior, San Vitale, Ravenna.
Dedicated 547.
[Fig. 17-6a]


San Vitale, Ravenna.
Dedicated 547.
Canali Photobank, Milan, Italy. [Fig. 17-6b]

Theodora and Her Attendants, San Vitale.
ca. 547. Mosaic, each 8' 8" × 12'.
CAMERAPHOTO Arte, Venice. [Fig. 17-7]


Justinian and His Attendants, San Vitale.
ca. 547. Mosaic, each 8' 8" × 12'.
CAMERAPHOTO Arte, Venice. [Fig. 17-8]


The Rise of Islam
1 of 5

• Islam began with Muhammad's writing
down "recitations" from God into the
Qur'an.
 Islam literally means "submission" or
"surrender," as in to all-powerful God.

• Muhammad was forced to flee Mecca to
al-Medina in a journey known as the
hijra.


The Rise of Islam
2 of 5

• In Medina, Muhammad built a house
surrounding a courtyard.

 It became known as a masjid, or
mosque.
 Covered porches featuring many columns
became known as the hypostyle space.
 The qibla indicates the direction of
Mecca and hosts the minbar and
mihrab.


The Rise of Islam
3 of 5

• In Damascus, a Byzantine church was
torn down for a mosque in 705.
• Calligraphy is a prominent feature in
Islamic culture.
 The mosaic mihrab from a teaching
college in Iran contains three different
inscriptions from the Qur'an.


Courtyard of the Great Mosque of Damascus.
705–16.
Photo: Christopher Rennie, Robert Harding World Imagery. [Fig. 17-9]


Tile mosaic mihrab, from the Madrasa Imami, Isfahan, Persia (Iran).
ca. 1354 (restored). Glazed and cut ceramic, 11' 3" × 7' 6". Metropolitan Museum of Art,
New York.
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 19.20. © 2015. Image copyright Metropolitan Museum of

The Rise of Islam
4 of 5

• The spread of Muslim impacted transSaharan Africa, where Islamic traders
began to change the dominant religion
of regions such as West Africa.
• Mansa Moussa became king of Mali and
built the Djing-areyber Mosque in
Timbuktu.
 He embarked on his own pilgrimage to
Mecca, spreading gold as he traveled.


Djingareyber Mosque, Timbuktu.
ca. 1312.
© Danita Delimont/Alamy. [Fig. 17-11]