Christian Art: Unleashed

Christian art was practically entirely about religious expression and manifestation with most of what was produced controlled tightly by church theology. This control is one reason why most works are uniform and anonymous and not varied by personal expression.  Byzantine achievement in Mosaic decorations brought art to a surprising level of monumentality. Mosaic is like small pieces, normally cubic, of stone or glass of different colours, which are used to create a picture or pattern. Mosaics were applied to the domes, and other available surfaces of Byzantine churches in an established of hierarchical order. They were all handmade. The art of mosaic flourish in the empire making it stand out.   The majority of Byzantine mosaics were destroyed but some survived. Buildings like Hagia Sophia were embellished with mosaics during the Emperor Justinian. If the purpose of classical art was the glorification of man, the purpose of Byzantine art was the glorification of God, and of His Son, Jesus. Another Byzantine work of art was the religious Icons. Icon creates admiration in worship and provides as an existential link to God. It was used as an object or veneration in Eastern Orthodox Church. Characterized by vivid colours and often gold coloured backgrounds, everything shown in it would be symbolic. There were many arguments within the Eastern Orthodox Church because some thought of using icons was appropriate and some did not.   Those who did not believe were called Iconoclasts. Byzantine art did grow from the art of Ancient Greece but with some significant differences. Since the main purpose of Byzantine art was the glorification of God and his son, Jesus, the classical artistic tradition of depicting nude figures was banned. Replacing the classical preoccupation with the human body, the focus became the elevation of the figures of the Father, Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary and the saints. Thus we get the most important form of Byzantine art, the icon.

Byzantine art has somehow managed to stay strong within Christian communities and churches to the very modern day which we live in. Why have these depictions managed to last so long within our cultures? You could purchase a Christmas card in 2012 and if it is a religious one, it will likely have some form of Byzantine design. I know that many churches were built hundreds of years ago, which explains why churches have such designs, but even in our modern day, the Byzantine period of art seems to influence quite strongly. Is this because Christians stick with these depictions as traditional? Could this form of art soon die out and be replaced with a modern version? In my personal point of view, Christian art is very important in me in terms of being creative. I can tell that I am obsessed with any religious art. I must admit that I am not that influenced by Christian art then but not until Lady Gaga emerged and relived religious art. She had been making songs that we’re inspired by the bible, making videos that are inspired by Christianity, making my curiosity burst out about religion. This is a legitimate fact that Byzantine art styles are used even today. Christian art is highly important among religious people. It is the representation of their beliefs. As of today, Byzantine art is widely used all over the world. Probably, this kind of art will never vanish.