Byzantine Art began as a reflection of the differences between the development of the Catholic religion in the West and the Byzantine Empire of the East. The art was created primarily for the Eastern Orthodox Church and reflected a number of characteristics, such as figures depicted front facing, one-dimensional, flat with no shadows, and long, narrow and solemn faces. There were also no sculptures which were seen as a form of idolatry. They had a disdain for vanity, and sought to represent a spiritual nature. The Iconclastic Controversy (715 AD-852 AD) was a religious dispute where iconoclasts believed artists should not create pictures of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, or the saints. The iconodules disagreed with this belief. The Macedonian Art (843-1025) period lifted the ban on icons. The Sack of Constantinople in 1204 was when Christian Crusaders deliberately destroyed monuments, statues, paintings, and manuscripts - the accumulation of a thousand years of Byzantine Art. Finally, The Paleologus dynasty was a time with increased interaction between Byzantine and Italian artists. The influence of Italian art resulted in Italian-style frescoes replacing the traditional mosaic-work.
Posted on: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 11:38:29 +0000
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