Time Period: 330-1453 CE
The Byzantine or Eastern Roman Empire maintains Roman culture and buildings tradition before and after the fall of the city of Rome in 476 CE. Imperial patronage encourages the Christian religion and the buildings of new structure. Orthodox Byzantine churches are domed and centrally planned with distinctive iconographic mosaic.
Historical and Social.
Emperor Constantine moved the capital of Roman Empire to Constantinople, which is renamed Greek city Byzantium. Later Justinian creates that state when he makes Christianity the only legal religion in the 6th century, he maintains an autocratic rule the combines the position of bishop and caesar. Soon court and church become synonymous. In 1054 Eastern Church separates from the Western Church.
Byzantine history is history of rise and fall. In 6th century Justinian was trying to build the buildings that will reestablish the glory of Roman Empire. Crusades, beginning in 1095, revive trade and commerce, when they sack Constantinople in 1203-94, empire starts to decline. The city eventually falls to Ottoman Turks, ending the Empire in 1953.
In addition to maintaining Roman laws, government and culture the Byzantine Empire preserves ancient Greek culture. Empire supports the vigorous intellectual life in which classicism is a source of inspirational and renewal. Byzantine scholars help initiate study of Greek manuscripts in Italy, which contributes to the development of Renaissance.
Byzantine Empire continuous classical Roman and Early Christian traditions, blending them into a distinctive church architecture and decoration, that reflects an imperial, precisely Christ and saints at the head of theocratic society.
Design Characteristics:
Byzantine church architecture exhibits Roman scale with volumetric and spatial variety, but not their construction techniques. Plans are basilica types are centralized and often complex. Exteriors are simple and plain until 11th century, when they become more complex, colorful and decorated with ornaments. Interiors are richly decorated with paintings, marble panels and mosaics (linear, stylized figures). Byzantine churches have a little sculpture because of iconoclasm, which combines Christian symbols such as cross, with floral, geometric and animal forms. Decoration comes to resemble Islamic decorative art.
Architecture
1) Early Byzantine architecture continues Early Christian and Late Roman forms becoming distinctive by 6th century with the building of Hagia Sophia. Early churches follow the basilica plan but eventually most are centralized and square with domes.
2) By the Middle Byzantine period (9th-11th century) a lot of monastic churches were built. Which are smaller with more exterior ornamentation and patterned brickwork. Variations of Greek cross (cross with equal length arms) and central dome s are typical.
3) Taller, narrower forms, more domes, more exterior ornamentation characterize Late Byzantine Churches (beginning 12th century). Surface decoration of interiors moves to exteriors.
Architectural innovations: pendentive (triangular curving form that allows construction of circular dome over a square of rectangular space)
Combined centralized and basilica plans in churches and a skilful use of light as a mystical element.
Public Buildings
Types: churches are the most common building type.
Floor plans: churches plans are symmetrical, ordered and often complex. Centralized plans with circular and polygonal forms are most common.
Materials: brick. Vaults and domes are out of brick to eliminate centering. Iron-toe rods reinforce arches and vaults. Brick is usually covered with stucco, marble, stone or mosaics.
Facades: walls of earlier churches are smooth plain and unadorned. Later ones are articulated with architectural elements. As time passes facades grow more complex as in form following the interior shapes. Circular or polygonal forms, the repetition of windows, walls, and arches create rhythmic pattern in Middle and Late Byzantine structures.
Columns: usually unfluted, with inverted pyramidal impost block (which separates the capital from springing of arch). Both impost block and capital are covered with complex and pierced lacy undercut foliage or geometric shapes.
Windows: windows with round tops punctuate walls and domes, usually placed in the drums of dome so that dome appear to float.
Roofs: sloped and gabled rooflines are complicated. Domes over plan centers and crossings are universal, small chapels may also be domed or semi domed.
Interiors
Byzantine churches interior are opulent and formal. Surface decorations of rich colors and materials are typical. Paintings, mosaics and marble panels cover floors, walls and ceilings. Few secular interiors have survived? Writings and illustration indicate that homes of wealthy citizens followed late Roman forms and decoration.
Public and Private Buildings
Colors: gold, green, red, blue
Floors: have patterns of marble, stone, or mosaics often of geometric patterns.
Walls: are articulated with columns, pilasters, and cornices. Walls are richly colored and decorated.
Mosaics: Byzantine mosaic have more gold and reflective surfaces than Early Christian, as the symbol of Christ as the light of world. Placement of figural decorations is hierarchical.
Windows: are often numerous and made of glass or alabaster.
Doors: of iron, bronze or wood
Ceilings: center or crossing of churches have domes, surrounded by smaller or half-domes. Central dome supported by pendentives, which provided a transition from a circular dome base to squared plan.
Furnishings and Decorative Art
Little furniture of Byzantine era survives. Few pieces are draped with fabric, seating often has cushions.
Surface of storage pieces are decorated.
Materials: furniture is wood, metal and ivory using simple constructions.
Seatings: architectonic seatings are often captured in manuscripts.
Textiles: silk and velvet are common materials.
Decorative arts: rich in details, jewels, complex geometric carvings. Icons become important for public and private worship.
