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Although there are far more religious images depicted in Byzantine art, they are not exactly graven images. Similarly to last week’s Christian and Jewish art, the religious images are always drawn with/in some relation with God. They are not necessarily worshiped before God, but rather along with him. The Virgin Mary is a prime example of this practice. Virgin and Child With Saints And Angels Icon displays the Virgin and two saints in a holy, reverent fashion. This could be interpreted as a graven image, but the Virgin Mary, Saint George, and Saint Theodore all became revered because of their service/relation to God, and thus they are not being regarded as figures of worship above God. Virgin of Vladimir also portrays the Virgin Mary as a figure of worship, but the artwork was still not viewed as a graven image because “the imagery draws people closer to their faith.’ This sentiment can be applied to most religious art of the time, which explains the spike in artwork featuring religious figures such as David and the Virgin Mary during this time period.
Re: Lacey
I absolutely loved your recreation of the bull! Your version is accurate – very impressive! You have a lot of talent with painting.Re: Raven
I loved your piece! I also chose to recreate Venus of Willendorf, so it was really cool to see a different interpretation. You did a fantastic job of combining the two figures (both artistically and in your reasoning behind the choice). Very nice!The Oratory of Galla Placidia is one example of the integration of cultures and times in religious art. Saint Lawrence is shown wearing traditional Roman clothes in order to show his citizenship and to reference the time period in which Christians were persecuted for their faith. The churches and synagogues also had similar styles to the Romans, and thus also to the many cultures that influenced the Romans. The use of columns and sophisticated catacombs all hearken back to earlier cultures. This continues to take place nowadays, with the influence of earlier Christian and Jewish art remaining prevalent today.
Re: Kaitlyn
The many buildings featured in this section definitely bear a strong resemblance to past cultures and civilizations. There are also images of Roman clothing on some of the older saints.Re: Kaitlyn
I made very similar points. I definitely agree that even though there are many religious depictions of saints, they don’t seem to have been made with the intention of worship. They merely accompany the image of God.Much of the work in Christian and Jewish art includes churches or synagogues, meaning that the places themselves don’t necessarily depict “false idols,’ but are instead dedicated to them in service of God. There are many instances where depictions of saints and other beings could be perceived as “false idols.’ For example, the Oratory of Galla Placidia is dedicated to St. Lawrence, and he is depicted on the church walls. Most of the Jewish and Christian churches instead used biblical scenes to decorate the buildings. The Beit Alpha Synagogue portrays Abraham preparing to sacrifice Isaac, and the Baptistery of Dura-Europas uses symbols of Adam and Eve’s fall from grace to reference the religion’s teachings. Although some of these could be viewed as false idolization, the images are nearly all in reference to God, and thus do not seem to have been made for the purpose of worshiping another.
Re:csayreswoody
Very true! I hadn’t thought about the fact that stadiums are built in imitation of the Romans. Yet another example of their influence in modern society!I crafted the Venus of Willendorf out of cookie dough for the final project. The figurine is one of the oldest pieces of art, dating back to paleolithic times. Although its exact purpose is not known with any certainty, many believe it to have been a fertility statue. Its unique shape and place in society earn it much recognition. For these reasons and more, I chose the figurine to recreate. The art piece and my adaptation are further explained in my essay and presentation.
Paper: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14sdhNQj6Zg-1z6sjNdUedFkeVss0lxDi8ZEpXvv45ms/edit?usp=sharing
Presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1vNVs07J2QG0cuL1OwWrDffQ74DMdz3pHTi1PeW6ukDk/edit?usp=sharingRe: Miranda
Great post! I appreciated how you brought Roman art into the wider scope of everything else we’ve learned this semester. They did play a huge role in the world of art, but much of the meaning has changed from what they likely originally intended. The many uses of propaganda in their art showcase just how powerful art can be.Art has a very powerful propagandistic effect. Anything from posters to sculptures to paintings can be used to instill certain ideas into people’s subconscious. One example of this in Roman culture was the sculpture of Augustus of Primaporta. The “strong, yet fair’ image of him helped citizens to trust him and by believing in the image of him, they began to believe in the actual man himself. Portraying Augustus as diplomatic, yet also militaristically skilled, helped to transition the civilization from the republic to the empire. Another example is Arch of Titus, built to commemorate a victory. Such architectural wonders serve to make the citizens feel proud of their officials and cause enemies to be intimidated by the grandeur of the city.
Roman art, architecture, and culture are still alive and well in modern society. Their architectural style can be seen in many of today’s government buildings. The network of roads built to transport troops and supplies across Europe are now used as the basis for many of the European highways. Since Roman culture was such a melting pot, using art and traditions from a variety of former and surrounding civilizations, it is not a surprise that their influence is so strong in modern society. Their ways encompassed more than just the duration of the rule, but rather adopted a long stretch of history (and physical land), propelling their customs and their art into modern culture. Many of their structures and art still exist today, such as the roaring Pantheon and various statues of Roman emperors. This speaks to the ability and talent of the civilization.
Re: Kaitlyn
So true! It really was a fascinating change in the perception of women. I also found the sarcophagus where the husband and wife were embracing to be rather noteworthy. The fact that they could be shown so intimately together was a bit of a shock. It makes me wonder why this culture was do different from its predecessors and neighbors in this respect.Unlike Roman and Greek cultures, men and women often dined and socialized together in the Etruscan Period. This is most clearly displayed by the Cerveteri Sarcophagus, which depicts a man and a woman reclining together, as was common at banquets of the time. Another prime example of women’s elevated place in society is evident in the Sarcophagus of Latin Tetnies and Thanchvil Tarnai, where a husband and wife are depicted embracing each other under the cover of a sheet. The fact that both were present on the sarcophagus and depicted as equals (as shown by their equivalent size and placement in the sculpture) is significant in the Etruscan culture’s view of women.
