What period is Byzantine mosaic?

Byzantine mosaics are mosaics produced from the 4th to 15th centuries in and under the influence of the Byzantine Empire. Mosaics were some of the most popular and historically significant art forms produced in the empire, and they are still studied extensively by art historians.

Why were mosaics popular in the Byzantine period?

Mosaics were one of the most popular forms of art in the Byzantine Empire. They were extensively used to depict religious subjects on the interior of churches within the Empire and remained a popular form of expression from 6th century to the end of the Empire in the 15th century.

What are the characteristics of Byzantine mosaics?

Mosaics. The majority of surviving wall and ceiling mosaics depict religious subjects and are to be found in many Byzantine churches. One of their characteristics is the use of gold tiles to create a shimmering background to the figures of Christ, the Virgin Mary and saints.

When was the Golden Age of Byzantine art?

6th century AD
The spread of Byzantine art was the result, in large measure, of its style, which had all the traits of universalism to which other cultures could easily adapt. This style began to develop in the 6th century AD during the first Golden Age under the reign of Emperor Justinian.

What is the most common color seen in the background of Byzantine mosaics?

Gold is common to mosaic backgrounds in all phases of Byzantine art. After the iconoclasm it is extensively used for the creation of a unified golden background, while known examples of such a background in early Byzantine art are few and far between.

How many layers of materials were under the tiles?

A tile floor consists of three individual layers: the subfloor, the underlayment, and the surface tile you walk on. There are various types of tile underlayment, but all serve to smooth out uneven spots in a subfloor and create an unbending layer that prevents the floor from flexing underfoot.

Why was the Byzantine era called the first Golden Age of Byzantine art?

The Golden Age of Byzantium. The period from about 641 to 1025 is considered to be the golden age of the Byzantine Empire. Advances in military strength, religious influence, and the arts made the Byzantines one of the most powerful forces in the world of the Middle Ages.

What does the gold in Byzantine art represent?

Gold, due to its natural properties symbolizes in Byzantine art and literature the eternal World of God, the Divine Light and the Revelation. Thus, gold illuminates the universe with the divine light and reveals at the same time the reason common to all things, namely God.

What are two examples of Byzantine art?

Macedonian art New churches were commissioned, and the standard architectural form (the “cross-in-square”) and decorative scheme of the Middle Byzantine church were standardised. Major surviving examples include Hosios Loukas in Boeotia, the Daphni Monastery near Athens and Nea Moni on Chios.

Who was the Byzantine emperor during the Komnenian era?

The Byzantine army of the Komnenian era or Komnenian army was the force established by Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos during the late 11th/early 12th century, and perfected by his successors John II Komnenos and Manuel I Komnenos during the 12th century.

What was the military like during the Komnenian era?

The Komnenian period, despite almost constant warfare, is notable for the lack of military treatise writing, which seems to have petered out during the 11th century. So, unlike in earlier periods, there are no detailed descriptions of Byzantine tactics and military equipment.

Why are mosaics important to the Byzantine church?

Decorations for the interior of churches, including icons and mosaics, were also made during this period. Icons, such as the Virgin (Theotokos) and Child between Saints Theodore and George (left), served as tools for the faithful to access the spiritual world—they served as spiritual gateways.

Which is the most famous mosaic in the Hagia Sophia?

One of the most famous of the surviving Byzantine mosaics of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople – the image of Christ Pantocrator on the walls of the upper southern gallery, Christ being flanked by the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist; circa 1261; 4.08 x 4.2 m.