The period of Medieval Art has many sub categories, one of which is Byzantine art, which originally spawned from Greek and Roman styles. During the medieval times artworks such as paintings and sculptures in the round were no longer being created, so the arts of the time were often mosaics (on the interior walls of churches), manuscripts in richly decorated bibles and architecture. Mosaics, specifically, changed over this period. Transforming from the classical style of the Greeks and Romans, with the realistic and naturalistic forms, developing its own methods, becoming denatured and adding an abundance of symbolism to the pieces. Two such examples are the Justinian and Theodora mosaics at San Vitale. This paper will describe not only the resemblances, but also the differences in the two mosaics from in the same time period.
Emperor Justinian and Attendants.
Mosaic on north wall of the apse
Tesserae
c. 547.
8 ' 8" by 12 '
Church of San Vitale.
In this large piece, it is easy to discern …show more content…
Not only is repetition used for the columns on the sides of the mosaics containing pearls and emeralds and sapphires, as well as those same gems ordered around the Mosaic there is also a abundance of threes. When looking at the Justinian Mosaic it can be separated into three quadrants. On the left side there are soldiers and court officials, in the middle there is Justinian and on the right side, the representatives of the church are shown. In Theodora 's mosaic her mosaic can be seperated into quadrants of three is as well. The dark and doorway with the knotted curtain on the left, the small recess behind the main figure of the Empress as the middle, and to the far-right an open entryway with a stripes curtain pulled up. Finaly, when paired with the mosaic in the apse of San Vitale it is clear that the emperor and Empress are likened to that of Christ by wearing the same purple robes (as well as having
Emperor Justinian and Attendants.
Mosaic on north wall of the apse
Tesserae
c. 547.
8 ' 8" by 12 '
Church of San Vitale.
In this large piece, it is easy to discern …show more content…
Not only is repetition used for the columns on the sides of the mosaics containing pearls and emeralds and sapphires, as well as those same gems ordered around the Mosaic there is also a abundance of threes. When looking at the Justinian Mosaic it can be separated into three quadrants. On the left side there are soldiers and court officials, in the middle there is Justinian and on the right side, the representatives of the church are shown. In Theodora 's mosaic her mosaic can be seperated into quadrants of three is as well. The dark and doorway with the knotted curtain on the left, the small recess behind the main figure of the Empress as the middle, and to the far-right an open entryway with a stripes curtain pulled up. Finaly, when paired with the mosaic in the apse of San Vitale it is clear that the emperor and Empress are likened to that of Christ by wearing the same purple robes (as well as having