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November 30th - A History of Art -Byzantine Art
Byzantine art is the term commonly used to describe the artistic products of the Byzantine Empire from about the 5th century until the Fall of Constantinople in 1453. During the classical period, artists tried very hard to make their pictures look as realistic as possible. Byzantine art was more abstract and anti-natural. To me it looks 'flat.' Having said that, the colors are beautiful and the art detailed.
Here are some examples:
The most famous of the surviving Byzantine mosaics of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople - the image of Christ Pantocrator on the walls of the upper southern gallery. Christ is flanked by the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist. The mosaics were made in the 12th century.
Miniatures of the 6th-century Rabula Gospel display the more abstract and symbolic nature of Byzantine art.
Frescoes in Nerezi near Skopje (1164), with their unique blend of high tragedy, gentle humanity, and homespun realism, anticipate the approach of Giotto and other proto-Renaissance Italian artists.
Byzantine art saw the fusion of pagan and Eastern iconography with early Christian images to create a highly influential artistic language of spiritual religiosity. Byzantine art was concerned with symmetry and ornamentation rather than an imitation of life, reflecting the superior dimensions of an ideal universe.
Here is a lesson plan on Discovery Education geared toward 9-12th graders.
Here you can find some more examples of Byzantine art and some information as well.
And this class is part of an AP Art History course.
If you have younger ones, you could simply enjoy looking at the images and maybe they could try their hand (and you could try yours) at making your own Byzantine Art!
Have fun and remember to check out my Art History category for other art history posts!
