Early Christian Iconographic Analysis

On the lower half is an organization of geometric forms. However, the most important mosaic is the representation of Emperor Justinian and Emprise Theodora. Justinian is presented holding a bowl of Eucharistic bread as Theodora carries a chalice or vessel of Eucharistic wine. Due to the orientation of these figures and the ones that surrounds them, it could be suggested that they represent bringing Eucharistic elements into the church. Perhaps even as an offering to christ which is reinforced by the three magi bearing gifts on Theodora's rob.

The nimbus or halo is a circle of light round the head or, more rarely, the whole body. It is the object of the nimbus, forcibly and at a glance, to express the distinctive character of the person decorated with it. It is placed like a crown on the head, the head being the noblest portion of the human being, and the loftiest and most conspicuous part of the person. In Christian art its use was at first restricted to God and Christ, but from the 5th century. it was extended to the BVM, angels, and saints, and later to other important persons. In modern Roman Catholic practice, a nimbus is allowed only for persons canonized or beatified or whose cult has been otherwise approved (The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church). The etymology

Christian art and iconography began, about two hundred years after the birth of Christ. Western Christian art and religious iconography was based on the classical art styles and imagery by the Ancient Romans. Medieval art iconography began to relate more to text of the Bible. Religious Christian art was created in the form of illuminated manuscripts, mosaics, and fresco paintings adorned churches. The colors of art were generally muted except those used in manuscripts and stained glass windows. Figures varied in sizes in relation their importance. Unlike artists in the Byzantine period who avoided making sculptures at all costs, Romanesque artists made sculptures which were often large, made of stone, and

Shortly after Rome made the transition from pagan practices to embracing Christianity as their formal faith, Christ's depiction in art went through various restorations. Some of the most widely popular illustrations were that of Christ sacrificed on the cross to his ultimate ascension into the Kingdom of Heaven after overcoming death. Since the image portrays Christ in luxurious attire resembling the Roman toga, the viewer can perceive that the mosaic was meant to present Christ in an imperialistic fashion. This is perhaps directed in part to the Byzantine emperors preferring to worship Christ in a way traditional and symbolic of their historical and early customs rather than how he really looked.

1. The Christ as the Good Shepherd mosaic located on the entrance wall of the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna, Italy was made circa 425 AD. A mausoleum is a monumental tomb, usually meant for entombing the dead above ground. The mosaic is displayed in a lunette-a semi-circular wall of a vaulted room. Even though the image of Christ as the Good Shepherd was a common one in catacombs in previous centuries, the way that Christ was shown in art had changed since Christianity had been adopted as Rome's official religion and the image of Christ in the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia was no different. Previously Christ had been shown as a simple carpenter, but in the Christ as the Good Shepherd mosaic he is shown in a fine Roman wear. At the time, Greeks thought that they could create order within their environments and thus create statues that were "perfect." This is what they believed they were doing with the way Christ was shown in the mosaic at the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia; creating a more worldly, powerful image of Christ. Christ is shown with a large golden nimbus (halo), a royal purple mangle over a golden tunic and holding a tall cross. Also depicted in the mosaic at the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is a set of three sheep on each side of Christ, with him touching one on the nose.

Let’s define what is an icon and give a brief history of icons. An icon is sacred art, usually a fresco or mosaic of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, martyred Saints or scenes from the bible that are given special veneration. This type of sacred art first appeared in the catacombs were the first Christians would gather to worship during periods of persecution. The scenes depicted were of Christ’s family, gospel stories or stories from the Hebrew scriptures. As Christianity began to grow, and after the Edict of Milan the Emperor Constantine decreed that Christians were no longer to be persecuted. In response to this new decree, by the fourth century icons became a way of teaching the Gospel and a way to

The Christ figure is a recurring symbol in American literature. Throughout Ken Kesey’s novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, various interactions and events portray McMurphy as a Christ figure. There are frequent visual and concrete references to Christ throughout the novel. Also, the reader discovers that the other patients view McMurphy as an inspiration and someone they wish to emulate. This cooperation enables him to oppose Nurse Ratched and do what he thinks is best for the patients.

Christ figures in literature can be used for a number of reasons, such as the author wanting to make a specific point, about the characters sacrifice, their redemption, their hope, and their miracles. The author may also want to use the Christ figure ironically to make the character and their sacrifice look smaller, while making the great sacrifice by Jesus Christ much bigger.

The style and iconography of the sarcophagus reflects the transformed status of Christianity. Before the time of Constantine, the picture of Christ was never used directly by important members of the Roman Emperor. In this sarcophagus, Christ represented directly and delivered from Roman Imperial Art perspective. Peter

The three treatises by Damascus, are aimed “against those who rejected the use of icons.” Damascus argues that “the theological fact of the incarnation of Christ provides a solid formation for the use of icons in devotion.” Damascus explains many different physical items, such as icons, in worship and adoration. An example of one of the physical items he used as icons is, “Was not the triply blessed wood of the cross matter.”

There are many icons, however, that have more of a following than others. One of the most popular icons to date is “St. George and the Dragon”. There are countless variations of the legend that have been circulated through armies, cities, and cultures. The icon had an extremely wide influence in terms of patronage, though usually considered a fairy tale, or a child’s bedtime story. The legend of St. George goes as follows: ‘St. George was a knight and born in Cappadocia. At some point in his life he went to the city of Silene in the providence of Libya. Close to this city there was a lake where a dragon lived. This dragon was poisoning the people of the country with its breath. To appease the dragon, the townspeople would give him two sheep. Eventually they began to run out of sheep to give. They then started feeding the young people of the city to the dragon - this included the rich and the poor. Eventually the King’s daughter was the child to be sacrificed. It was this day that St. George appeared. He found the daughter weeping and asked her what was wrong, she told him about the dragon. Soon the dragon appeared, and St. George on his white horse, took out his sword, made a cross, and charged at the dragon. St. George wounded the dragon and had it led back into the city, from here he stated that if the people of Silene were baptized that he would kill the dragon - so it was done.(Abstracted from The Golden Legend by

The Jewish community started Christianity, but Christianity later spread and convert from all over the Greco-Roman world were attracted by this religion during the progress of the first century CE. Ideas, traditions, ways of worship and traditions were brought along by the new convert of Christianity and it was adopted by their faith. This is through art because Christians who were once pagans of the Roman Empire stick to their artistic heritage when they became followers of Jesus Christ. Roman artistic forms and motifs and also Roman architecture were being used by this new convert to express their new faith. In further explanation, we’ll see how Roman art influenced the developing art of early Christians.

During the Middle Ages, symbolism was a big part of the current day art because of the major focus on the church and theology. Jesus and Mary were big symbols during that time, which is evident in the numerous paintings of them from the Middle Ages (Class Notes). During the Middle Ages, Jesus, Mary, Angels, the devil and the cross were huge symbols. In the painting Duccio, Jesus

In 313 AD the Emperor Constantine formally recognized the Christian religion. Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, this event affected the way people thought and lived their lives. Had a great impact on how rulers viewed their power and used their powers. Such influence was portrayed in Christian art as we know today.

One notices that all of these symbols are from times nearing the end (or at the end) of Jesus' life. (Think of a point to do with this).