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With Byzantine proceeding the Roman Empire, Christianity is now a fully fledged religion with it's icons and stories permeating art during this era. Although, Iconoclasts are apprehensive of idolatry the Church uses mostly 2-dimensional artworks to prevent iconoclasm and to delineate the sacred realm. Art during this time was didactive and meant to enforce religious, political, and social rules.
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Commissioned by Emperor Justinian, the Hagia Sophia denotes the power of divine rule during this era. The dome-oriented cathedral has been destroyed and rebuilt throughout the centuries; the building we see today is made up of multiple cultures and histories. -
Surrounded by religious and military officials, Emperor Justinian corroborates his political and religious power through the use of medieval hieratic scale and sacred symbolism. -
Following the end of Iconoclasm, the Byzantian Emperor exalts the icon of the virgin and child gloriously. Surrounded by light of the church and gold leaf, it is clear church emphasizes the power of images to move one spiritually and emotionally. -
In Romanesque art we witness the continuation of art functioning as a biblical storytelling device to the masses. The domination of Christianity is highlighted by the Pilgrimage where individuals would travel to sacred sights in search of atonement. Architecture during this period is reminiscent of the Roman Empire being austere and grounded.
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Depictions of Jesus Christ have evolved to reflect and influence the social-religious schema. Gothic art continues to function as a mode of Biblical story telling, this time emphasizing emotion through the humanization of Christ. Similarly, Architecture has evolved to embody the sacred realm of God with a focus on light and verticality.
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In one of the pilgrimage sites, we find the story that is The Last Judgement. As a tympanum viewers are greeted with moral reminders of devotion and atonement to prevent damnation into hell. -
Illuminated manuscripts became increasingly popular as portable art was able to convey stories and values of Christianity. Here we find the chaos of hell, one may find themselves in here if they do not atone for their sins. These narratives mean to evoke a spiritual transformations of society at the time. -
In this Theotokos, Christ is represented as a homunculus, a baby of adult proportions, implying his perfection and wisdom. This idea is emphasized by his mother framing him in her throne-like posture. -
The panel depicting his Crucifixion is ornamented with the passion of Christ. His face evokes a deep sorrow meant to move the viewers, reinforcing the humanity of seeing him as a man rather than a triumphant God. -
Opposing the former Architecture of the Romanesque period, patrons found themselves carving out spaces to be closer to God. As a result, Cathedrals evolved to be vertically and light-oriented, featuring pointed arches and large rosette windows to demarcate a new era for sacred spaces. -
The Rottegen Pieta from Germany posits a grotesque image of Jesus Christ. The shift from depicting Christ as godly versus a man who suffered is explicit in his sorrowful facial expression, these depictions evoke more emotional responses rather than spiritual.