Byzantine Art

or what happened before the start of class

STYLE ARTISTS and IMAGES VOCAB

formal, severe, abstract, otherworldly
balanced composition
figures:

floating, not standing on the ground
frontal of figures
centrally located
frequently portray Christ figure
elongated, unnatural

stylized
little representation of emotions
(Italo version is more expressive in abstraction)
curved body
limited range of gestures

lack of modeling or depth,
no perspective,
the picture is often flattened out
the purpose: to raise image above the level of the mundane
use of gold, especially on background and as highlights
decorative, detailed surface
OVERALL: heavenly, super-mundane realm

ARTISTS and IMAGES

Bonaventura Berlinghieri St. Francis Altarpiece Pescia, San Francesco 1235
Cimabue Madonna Enthroned Florence, Uffizi c. 1280-1290

Maniera Greca
Italo-Byzantine

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