Early Christian, Byzantine, and Early Medieval Architecture - AP Art History
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Depictions of Christ as the Pantocrator are most common in which period of art?
Depictions of Christ as the Pantocrator are most common in which period of art?
Throughout the history of Christian art, Jesus Christ has been depicted in a variety of roles. During the Byzantine era, depictions of Christ as the Pantocrator, or "ruler of the world," were common. Images of the Pantocrator appear at the top or center of Byzantine hierarchical compositions, and are often flanked by angels.
Throughout the history of Christian art, Jesus Christ has been depicted in a variety of roles. During the Byzantine era, depictions of Christ as the Pantocrator, or "ruler of the world," were common. Images of the Pantocrator appear at the top or center of Byzantine hierarchical compositions, and are often flanked by angels.
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The building was originally a __________.
The building was originally a __________.
The Hagia Sophia was originally built as an early Greek Orthodox church. It is difficult to consider the architecture as of a particular time period or style as it has been changed and influenced so many times. There are, however clear remnants of Greek Classical style as well as the early hints of what will become the Romanesque church style.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
The Hagia Sophia was originally built as an early Greek Orthodox church. It is difficult to consider the architecture as of a particular time period or style as it has been changed and influenced so many times. There are, however clear remnants of Greek Classical style as well as the early hints of what will become the Romanesque church style.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
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This building does NOT have a(n) __________.
This building does NOT have a(n) __________.
The church is a combination of central and Basilica plan. It has all of the standard additions of those styles, including the nave and apse, as almost every church of this type does. The narthex is identified as the porch-like addition opposite the apse. This church does not have an atrium, however, which would look like a long open plan that sits before the church door.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
The church is a combination of central and Basilica plan. It has all of the standard additions of those styles, including the nave and apse, as almost every church of this type does. The narthex is identified as the porch-like addition opposite the apse. This church does not have an atrium, however, which would look like a long open plan that sits before the church door.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
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The plan of this building is __________.
The plan of this building is __________.
The Hagia Sophia has all the standard additions of the Basilica-plan church, including the apse opposite the door, a nave in the center, and aisles on each side. It lacks the cross-like arms of later Basilica churches. It also has a domed top and a square-ish base, which are both central-plan additions. It is unique in this way among its contemporaries.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
The Hagia Sophia has all the standard additions of the Basilica-plan church, including the apse opposite the door, a nave in the center, and aisles on each side. It lacks the cross-like arms of later Basilica churches. It also has a domed top and a square-ish base, which are both central-plan additions. It is unique in this way among its contemporaries.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
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Construction of the building in its current form began in __________.
Construction of the building in its current form began in __________.
The current layout of the Hagia Sophia was begun by Justinian II in 532. It was ordered after his predecessors tried and failed to build a monumental building in that area. As Justinian was largely regarded as the first Byzantine emperor, the Hagia Sophia became a seminal work for Byzantine and later Eastern Orthodoxy churches.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
The current layout of the Hagia Sophia was begun by Justinian II in 532. It was ordered after his predecessors tried and failed to build a monumental building in that area. As Justinian was largely regarded as the first Byzantine emperor, the Hagia Sophia became a seminal work for Byzantine and later Eastern Orthodoxy churches.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
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The architect of the building was __________.
The architect of the building was __________.
Isidore of Miletus, along with his companion the mathematician Anthemius of Tralles, was commissioned by Justinian I to create the Hagia Sophia. Anthemius died shortly before construction could begin, so Isidore continued alone. He was considered the father of the current structure, minus the Islamic artistic additions.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
Isidore of Miletus, along with his companion the mathematician Anthemius of Tralles, was commissioned by Justinian I to create the Hagia Sophia. Anthemius died shortly before construction could begin, so Isidore continued alone. He was considered the father of the current structure, minus the Islamic artistic additions.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
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The tall, thin towers are called __________.
The tall, thin towers are called __________.
The towers are called minarets. They are an Islamic addition to the church, added when it became a mosque in the fifteenth century after the Turks sacked Constantinople. These towers are not universal, but are common in Islamic mosque architecture.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
The towers are called minarets. They are an Islamic addition to the church, added when it became a mosque in the fifteenth century after the Turks sacked Constantinople. These towers are not universal, but are common in Islamic mosque architecture.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
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The interior of the building is likely decorated with __________.
The interior of the building is likely decorated with __________.
The Hagia Sophia was built just after the birth of the Roman Christian tradition, and came well before the advent of Renaissance oil paintings in churches. It was also built in the Middle East, and was influenced by the artistic traditions of the area. It therefore likely has mosaics on the inside, which are the cornerstone of Byzantine church art.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
The Hagia Sophia was built just after the birth of the Roman Christian tradition, and came well before the advent of Renaissance oil paintings in churches. It was also built in the Middle East, and was influenced by the artistic traditions of the area. It therefore likely has mosaics on the inside, which are the cornerstone of Byzantine church art.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
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Why would the Islamic Turks cover the mosaics on the interior of this structure with plaster?
Why would the Islamic Turks cover the mosaics on the interior of this structure with plaster?
Islamic tradition bans the depiction of figures as inspiring idolatry; works depicting figures would be considered sacrilegious. When the church became a mosque, the mosaics were plastered over so that there were no faces in the new mosque, and there would only be Arabic script as decoration.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
Islamic tradition bans the depiction of figures as inspiring idolatry; works depicting figures would be considered sacrilegious. When the church became a mosque, the mosaics were plastered over so that there were no faces in the new mosque, and there would only be Arabic script as decoration.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
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In the long history of the building, what has consistently been a concern of architects?
In the long history of the building, what has consistently been a concern of architects?
All of these are problems that have concerned and maddened builders since the construction of the building began, and all the problems are related to one other. The dome is very heavy, and when it's sitting on the foundation, it pushes the buttressing outward. The dome is so heavy in part because the brick to mortar ratio is 1:1, making the dense and heavy mortar far more weighty than it should be.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
All of these are problems that have concerned and maddened builders since the construction of the building began, and all the problems are related to one other. The dome is very heavy, and when it's sitting on the foundation, it pushes the buttressing outward. The dome is so heavy in part because the brick to mortar ratio is 1:1, making the dense and heavy mortar far more weighty than it should be.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
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The structure reveals the influence of all but which of the following?
The structure reveals the influence of all but which of the following?
The Hagia Sophia has been a Greek Orthodoxy church, a Roman Catholic Cathedral, a Mosque, and a museum. In fifteen hundred years of history, the building has seen influence from all over Europe. The minarets are Islamic, the mosaics on the interior are Byzantine, and the plan is Basilica, based on the Roman civic structures. What is has not ever seen the influence of, however, is the Church of England, which came about after the Hagia Sophia had already become a mosque.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
The Hagia Sophia has been a Greek Orthodoxy church, a Roman Catholic Cathedral, a Mosque, and a museum. In fifteen hundred years of history, the building has seen influence from all over Europe. The minarets are Islamic, the mosaics on the interior are Byzantine, and the plan is Basilica, based on the Roman civic structures. What is has not ever seen the influence of, however, is the Church of England, which came about after the Hagia Sophia had already become a mosque.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
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The deep-carved stone decorating the pillars and other structural surfaces of the Hagia Sophia, combined with the close spacing of the windows at the base of the dome, suggest what about the building?
The deep-carved stone decorating the pillars and other structural surfaces of the Hagia Sophia, combined with the close spacing of the windows at the base of the dome, suggest what about the building?
The deep carving on the Hagia Sophia's pillars and in other decoration makes them appear hollow and too delicate to support the cathedral's weight. The close-set windows lining its golden dome's base create the illusion that the dome is floating. Together they suggest that the whole building is supported by some divine power rather than by its own structure.
The deep carving on the Hagia Sophia's pillars and in other decoration makes them appear hollow and too delicate to support the cathedral's weight. The close-set windows lining its golden dome's base create the illusion that the dome is floating. Together they suggest that the whole building is supported by some divine power rather than by its own structure.
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The material of the building is __________.
The material of the building is __________.
Ashlar stone is a popular building material in this part of the world. It was cut into huge slabs that were then rested atop one other. It was meant to make the interior and exterior of the space appear seamless and smooth. It is the answer to the Roman's concrete recipe.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
Ashlar stone is a popular building material in this part of the world. It was cut into huge slabs that were then rested atop one other. It was meant to make the interior and exterior of the space appear seamless and smooth. It is the answer to the Roman's concrete recipe.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
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What event most significantly affected the role of Christianity in the Western world, and radically altered the aesthetic of religious art?
What event most significantly affected the role of Christianity in the Western world, and radically altered the aesthetic of religious art?
The conversion of Constantine changed the Christian religion from an increasingly popular cult within the empire to the declared faith of the most powerful man on Earth. Positions of authority within the church became positions of authority within Roman government (In fact, the contemporary outfits for priests and bishops directly correlate to styles popular with Roman aristocracy), endowing Christians with the financial means to become patrons of the arts. Churches, which became monumental artistic commissions, began to appear all over Europe, as Christianity went from the religion of the marginalized to that of the aristocracy. All of these massive changes would have been impossible without the conversion of Constantine, who effectively turned Romanization into Christianization.
The conversion of Constantine changed the Christian religion from an increasingly popular cult within the empire to the declared faith of the most powerful man on Earth. Positions of authority within the church became positions of authority within Roman government (In fact, the contemporary outfits for priests and bishops directly correlate to styles popular with Roman aristocracy), endowing Christians with the financial means to become patrons of the arts. Churches, which became monumental artistic commissions, began to appear all over Europe, as Christianity went from the religion of the marginalized to that of the aristocracy. All of these massive changes would have been impossible without the conversion of Constantine, who effectively turned Romanization into Christianization.
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Which Holy Roman Emperor started a cultural revival within the Christian artistic tradition in the late eighth century, divorcing the Church's aesthetic of that deemed the "barbaric style" and inaugurating a movement culminating in the Christianization of central Europe?
Which Holy Roman Emperor started a cultural revival within the Christian artistic tradition in the late eighth century, divorcing the Church's aesthetic of that deemed the "barbaric style" and inaugurating a movement culminating in the Christianization of central Europe?
Charlemagne, who was crowned in 774, is responsible for this movement. Though his work was continued and evolved under Otto the Great, Charlemagne is ultimately the originator of the codification of the Christian style. This not only created an aesthetic framework for his empire, but also politically united a continent under a religious artistic philosophy. This question requires students to both know their history and to recognize the deep connection between political power and Christian art, setting the tone for the religiously-rooted power struggles that defined much of the Middle Ages.
Charlemagne, who was crowned in 774, is responsible for this movement. Though his work was continued and evolved under Otto the Great, Charlemagne is ultimately the originator of the codification of the Christian style. This not only created an aesthetic framework for his empire, but also politically united a continent under a religious artistic philosophy. This question requires students to both know their history and to recognize the deep connection between political power and Christian art, setting the tone for the religiously-rooted power struggles that defined much of the Middle Ages.
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In what part of the world is this building located?
In what part of the world is this building located?
This is the Hagia Sophia. It is located in Istanbul, on the Black Sea, in Turkey. There are hints of the location of the work in the style of the building. Consider the domed top, mixed with the towers on the corner. It is a unique blending of Greek and Islamic artistic influence.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
This is the Hagia Sophia. It is located in Istanbul, on the Black Sea, in Turkey. There are hints of the location of the work in the style of the building. Consider the domed top, mixed with the towers on the corner. It is a unique blending of Greek and Islamic artistic influence.
Image adapted from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/hledej.php?hleda=hagia+sophia+5.
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Fill in the blank.
The given image contains a medium for decoration commonly found in churches. This is an example of a(n) __________________ work.
Fill in the blank.
The given image contains a medium for decoration commonly found in churches. This is an example of a(n) __________________ work.
This is an example of stained glass. The test taker can identify this as the glass decorations are colored to produce depictions of Religious figures and designs.
An apse is a recess in a church where the altar often is; an oculus is not related to glass work, but related to church construction.
Tapestries and mosaics are of different mediums than glass: cloth and tile, respectively.
Image is in the public domain, accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chartres\_-\_cath%C3%A9drale\_-\_rosace\_nord.jpg
This is an example of stained glass. The test taker can identify this as the glass decorations are colored to produce depictions of Religious figures and designs.
An apse is a recess in a church where the altar often is; an oculus is not related to glass work, but related to church construction.
Tapestries and mosaics are of different mediums than glass: cloth and tile, respectively.
Image is in the public domain, accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chartres\_-\_cath%C3%A9drale\_-\_rosace\_nord.jpg
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The dome of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople, built in 537 CE, was the first dome to be built using fully-developed __________.
The dome of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople, built in 537 CE, was the first dome to be built using fully-developed __________.
Upon its completion, the Hagia Sophia was the largest cathedral in the world, and also contained the largest dome in the world. This dome was achieved through the use of fully-developed "pendentives," triangular elements of a sphere used as structural supports to allow a dome to be raised over a square room. The Hagia Sophia's architectural innovations were widely copied in Orthodox churches and Muslim mosques in successive centuries.
Upon its completion, the Hagia Sophia was the largest cathedral in the world, and also contained the largest dome in the world. This dome was achieved through the use of fully-developed "pendentives," triangular elements of a sphere used as structural supports to allow a dome to be raised over a square room. The Hagia Sophia's architectural innovations were widely copied in Orthodox churches and Muslim mosques in successive centuries.
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What is a tribune?
What is a tribune?
Tribunes are galleries above the inner aisle that open down into the nave. These housed overflow crowds in Medieval churches, such as San Clemente in Rome.
Tribunes are galleries above the inner aisle that open down into the nave. These housed overflow crowds in Medieval churches, such as San Clemente in Rome.
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What type of vaulting has has six sections?
What type of vaulting has has six sections?
In sexpartite rib vaulting, each vault is divided into six sections by three ribs.
In sexpartite rib vaulting, each vault is divided into six sections by three ribs.
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