To speak of “Byzantine Art” is a bit problematic, since the Byzantine empire and its art spanned more than a millennium and penetrated geographic regions far from its capital in Constantinople. Thus, Byzantine art includes work created from the fourth century to the fifteenth century and encompassing parts of the Italian peninsula, the eastern edge of the Slavic world, the Middle East, and North Africa. So what is Byzantine art, and what do we mean when we use this term?
It’s helpful to know that Byzantine art is generally divided up into three distinct periods:
Early Byzantine (c. 330–750)
Middle Byzantine (c. 850–1204)
Late Byzantine (c. 1261–1453)
It’s helpful to know that Byzantine art is generally divided up into three distinct periods:
Early Byzantine (c. 330–750)
Middle Byzantine (c. 850–1204)
Late Byzantine (c. 1261–1453)
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Middle Byzantine (c. 850–1204)
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Late Byzantine (c. 1261–1453)
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Artworks 1. Hagia Sophia 2. San Vitale - Justinian and Attendants - Theodora and Attendants 3. Vienna Genesis 4. Virgin (Theotokos) and Child b/w Saints Theodore and George |
VOCABULARY cathedral chalice codex continuous narrative Eucharist Genesis Icon Iconostasis mosaic paten pendentive squinch Theotokos |