Early Christian Art

Early Christian Art

 Late 2nd – early 3rd century

 Rome, Italy

 Edict of Toleration, 311 and the Edict of Milan, 313

 Early Christian Art

 Naturalistic

 Use of pagan motifs

 No separation between “art” and “craft”

 Imagery was not illustrative

 Painting – frescoes, mosaics; sculpture - reliefs

Early Christian Art

Christ as Helios
Mosaic,
Mausoleum M (of
the Julii), beneath
St. Peter’s Basilica
3rd century
Early Christian Art

Sarcphagus of Junius Bassus, relief, c.359

 Coptic Art

 Egyptian Christian art

 Greek = aigyptos, Arabic = qibt, English = copt

 External influences - Hellenic, Persian, Syrian and

Byzantine
 Internal influences - ancient Egyptian, monastic (Melkite
and Coptic monks)
 Weaving, paintings, sculpture, manuscripts
 Coptic Art

 Produced by highly talented craftsmen

 Difference from pagan Egypt – less emphasis on animal

and plant ornamentation; less naturalistic human form
 Human figures – frontal position, faces serene, outlined
almond-shaped eyes, brightly colored
Coptic Art

Young Christ: 5th century. Linen. L 45.5 cm, W 67 cm

Coptic Art

Hercules and the Neaman

lion
400-700 AD
Coptic Art
Coptic Art
Coptic Art
Coptic Art
Coptic Art