10: Early Christian

Christianity was established during the time of the Roman Empire. It was initially closely tied to Judaism, but veered from that due to the acceptance of Gentiles by the apostle Paul. Jesus was viewed by most Romans as a criminal and Christians became easy targets for emperors as well as other Romans. Early Christians had to hide their faith from those who would persecute them. It isn't until Constantine rises to power that we see the once vilified religion become the official state religion for Rome. From the earliest meeting places where Jesus is depicted as the good shepherd, to the more elaborate churches based on Roman bath houses (central plan), and Roman basilicas (large Roman public buildings) we see early Christians borrowing from known Roman building forms. The basilica plan eventually begins to dominate the early churches since the shape is the best logical fit for the church functions. Paintings and mosaics of Jesus, the apostles, and Mary become important symbols of the faith and the style continues in the eastern regions even after the Byzantine Empire loses power and influence.

Early Christian art, also called Paleo-Christian art or primitive Christian art, was architecture, painting, and sculpture from the beginnings of Christianity until about the early 6th century; particularly the art of Italy and the western Mediterranean.

Christian architecture was made to correspond to Roman civic and imperial forms. The Basilica, a large rectangular Roman meeting hall, became, in both the east and west, the general model for churches, with a nave and aisles, and sometimes galleries and clerestories.

Early Christian.pptx

https://smarthistory.org/a-new-picto...-medieval-art/

https://smarthistory.org/a-beginners...ope-1-1000-c-e

 

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