Byzantium: From Antiquity to the Renaissance
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With images culled from eleven hundred years of history, this comprehensive survey explores the Byzantine empire’s vast range of artistic splendors that indelibly informed the art of modern Europe. Renowned scholar Thomas Mathews emphasizes that the Byzantines’ interest in humanism and painting the human figure became the essential bridge between classical and renaissance Europe. Starting with a brief history of Byzantium as a basis for understanding Byzantine theology and art, he places the empire’s artistic development within a broad cultural and historical context. Featuring more than one hundred color plates of mosaics, metalwork, architecture, frescoes and religious artifacts, as well as maps, diagrams, and a timeline, this definitive work provides a complete yet succinct introduction to the full range of Byzantine art and iconography.Library JournalByzantium provided the foundation for art and philosophy throughout the Middle Ages. Mathews (art history, New York Univ.), the author of several books on early Christian and Byzantine art, adds his insights into this influential culture in this survey for lay readers. Attempting to place Byzantine art in the context of its setting, Mathews approaches his subject thematically, with chapters including a bit of Byzantine history and architecture and different applications of art in Byzantine society. There is an interesting chapter on everyday, secular decorative art encompassing depictions of country life and fashion in the palace. Though this is an overview--wonderfully illustrated by color photos, maps, and diagrams, with a nice timeline at the end--the academic text is not easy reading. Recommended for larger public and most academic libraries.--Karen Ellis, Baldwin Boettcher Lib., Humble, TX
Map: The Byzantine Empire10Map: Early Byzantine and Medieval Constantinople19Introduction71The Imperial City of Constantinople17Constantine's City17The Classical Heritage of the City24Justinian's City29The Period of Crisis32Medieval Constantinople33The Decline of Constantinople402Icons43Pagan Origins43Sixth-century Icons47Icons in Church52Iconoclasm and the Theology of Icons55The Restoration of Icons57Icons in Public65The Mother of God703The Secular Domestic World73The Palaces of Constantinople73The Fashions of Palace Life79Country Life874A Temple of Transformation97Early Byzantine Churches99Medieval Byzantine Church Design106The Medieval Decorative System111Christ in the Dome117The Selected Narrative118The Sanctuary127The Narthex1335A Cosmopolitan Art137Art and Diplomacy137Italy143Palaiologan Art151The Renaissance157Timeline164Bibliography166Picture Credits170Index172
