Research Paper On Byzantine Art

1061 Words3 Pages

Byzantine art thrived from the sixth to the fifteenth century. Art in the Byzantine world was mostly concerned with religious terminologies. The Byzantine Empire believed that Christianity unified them. During this era, the artists wanted to interpret church spirituality into artistic terms. That’s why they depict what cannot be seen. Meaning they like to artistically create the realm of Heaven because no one has seen it for themselves. They want to give others the idea of what paradise will look like. Byzantine art begun with mosaics decorating the walls and domes of churches. Usually the mosaics gave the worshipper access to that spiritual world. But the main purpose of Byzantine art, was to worship the Christian religion as well as express …show more content…

He is dressed in a Roman robe that is a brilliant gold with a purple cloth draped around his left shoulder. There are also two stripes of ocean blue lines in front of the robe. The use of gold and purple give an elegant and rich aspect to the mosaic. Purple symbolizes royalty while gold symbolizes purity. Christ’s robe is mainly gold showing that he is spiritually pure. Gold also was a precious metal that was highly desired because of its great value. Which relates to Christ because he is precious and so are his promises. God’s love is more valuable and precious than any gold in the world. As you gaze the mosaic, the amount of blue is used as much as the gold. The blue symbolizes a heavenly realm that helps shade the mosaic in giving it that three-dimensional feel. That three-dimensional feel makes the gazer feel like they are walking into that heavenly realm where Christ is. The whiteness of the sheep is symbolic because it represents the righteousness of its purity and light. Christ said, “…though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1. 18) Meaning that Christ will cleanse you from your sins so that you are as white as wool or snow. Furthermore, The Shepherd is sitting in the center between two boulders on three lightly yellow colored stones. He is holding a tall golden staff in the form of a cross. That staff made a

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