Question

Identify and describe key characteristics and defining events of art from Early Christianity, mainly focus on the use of the "image" and how its role was important during this period of Early Christianity.

Answer 1

INTRODUCTION;   Early period of Christianity defined sometime between 260 and 525. recognized Christian art only survives from the 2nd century onwards. art that was classified as Byzantine. or of some other regional type were after 550. it is still complex to know when distinctly Christian art began prior to 100.

early Christian used the resembled pagan culture as artistic media such as fresco, mosaics sculptures, etc.

KEY FEATURES OF EARLY CHRISTIAN ART ;

1. Early Christian art and architecture adapted ROMAN ARTISTIC MOTIFS such as Peacock, Vitis viniferavines and the Good shepherd. and gave new meanings to what had been pagan symbols . they developed their own ICONOGRAPHY such as fish were not from pagan iconography.

2. Early Christian art is generally divided into two periods i.e before and after either the EDICT OF MILAN of 313, bringing the so-called TRIUMPH OF THE CHRCH under CONSTANINE , or the FIRSTCOUNCILOF NICEA in 325. and this period called the Pre constanian or Ante - Nicene period defined by art historians as being in the 5th to 7th centuries which around 313-325

3.AGAINST THE RELIGIOUS IMAGERY; a general assumption that early Christian was generally anionic depicts practically and theoretically until about 200. because they believe first, that humans could have direct vision of god, second that they could not and third that although human could see god they wee best advised no to look and were forbidden to represent what they had seen.

it was challenged by PAUL CORBY FINNEY who concludes that overall Israel aversion to sacred images influenced early Christian considerably less than the Greek philosophical of invisible deity apophatically defined

4. PERIOD 230-256 IN DURA EUROPOS CHURCH ; This period is in the best condition of surviving very early churches, there are Fresco of biblical scenes including a figure of Jesus, as well as christ as the GOOD SHEPHERD.

OVERVIEW; early Christian sarcophagi were much more expensive option made of marble and often heavily decorated with scenes in very high relief, worked with drills. free- standing statues that are unmistakably Christian are very rare , never very large .etc the depiction of Jesus was well-developed by the end of the pre constanian period .