History of Art | February 7th - Period 3

[autolycus-kot.livejournal.com]

"Alright kids, easy class today, just remember to take notes while you watch this."

Autolycus put on a video of a somewhat demented nun talking about Byzantine art.

Today's homework:

Either - Write one hundred words comparing and contrasting Greek and Byzantine art styles OR Find me an example of Byzantine art.

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Class Roster

[ooc: OCD threads coming are up]

Comments

After Class (7-Feb) - History of Art

[autolycus-kot.livejournal.com]

Auto's here, he's listening.

Re: After Class (7-Feb) - History of Art

[aka-vala.livejournal.com]

Vala dutifully hands in 100 handwavy words on Greek sculpture (http://community.livejournal.com/fandomhigh/584716.html?thread=28050956#t28050956)
.

Re: Homework (7-Feb) - History of Art

[leeadama.livejournal.com]

Byzantine art grew from the art of Ancient Greece, and at least before 1453 never lost sight of its classical heritage, but was distinguished from it in a number of ways. The most profound of these was that the humanist ethic of Ancient Greek art was enhanced by the Christian ethic. If the purpose of classical art was the glorification of man, the purpose of Byzantine art was the glorification of God, and particularly of his son, Jesus. But because Jesus was of course human, the Byzantine artistic tradition can be argued to have continued this rich humanist heritage.

In place of the nude, the figures of God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the saints and martyrs of Christian tradition were elevated, and became the dominant - indeed almost exclusive - focus of Byzantine art. One of the most important forms of Byzantine art was, and still is, the icon: an image of Christ, the Virgin (particularly the Virgin and Child), or a saint, used as an object of veneration in Orthodox churches and private homes.