THE WORLD OF BYZANTINE CULTURE Byzantium, the heiress of antiquity, also experienced the influence of the culture of the peoples of the East, having managed to creatively rework them artistic traditions. From Egypt she inherited art paintings fabrics, wood and bone carvings, from Asia Minor - a type of domed basilica, learned court ceremonial from the Persians. Nevertheless, Byzantium was destined to leave its own mark in the history of world art. Byzantine masters achieved a synthesis of mosaic and fresco paintings. Iconography was born here, subordinate to the canons followed by the painters Western Europe and Ancient Rus'. Significant successes were in literature, book miniatures, music and arts and crafts.

ACHIEVEMENTS OF BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE Byzantine temples are called Basilica in Greek. "royal house" Unlike other temples, Byzantine ones allowed the presence of a person, they became centers of worship. All temples are oriented to the east, because there, according to Christians, was Jerusalem - the center of the earth. Later, it becomes more and more important new type The temple is cross-domed, having the shape of a cross with a dome in the center.

Hagia Sophia The highest achievement of Byzantine architecture is the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, which connected the basilica with the domed ceiling. The temple was erected by two architects - Anfimy and Isidore. The architects brilliantly coped with this task. The temple, located in the center of the city, on the highest hill, is far visible from the Bosphorus. According to eyewitnesses, “he rises to the height as if to the sky and, like a ship on high waves seas

SHIMMERING LIGHT OF MOSAICS The mosaics of Byzantium gained worldwide fame. Using ancient manufacturing technology, the craftsmen found a special technology. Pieces of matte or transparent smalt, or stone cubes, were fixed in the base at various angles. It caused the rays of the sun or the light of a candle to flare, reflect and sparkle with gold, purple and blue.

HISTORY IN THE LIGHT Pictures on the walls told about the main events Christian history. Numerous images of Christ, prophets and angels, scenes from Holy Scripture and the glorification of the power of the emperor became favorite themes and plots Byzantine mosaics. Their golden background also had a special meaning. Firstly, it is a symbol of wealth and luxury, and secondly, one of the most bright colors, he created the effect of sacred radiance around the depicted figures.

THE ART OF ICON PAINTING Icon painting was the largest artistic phenomenon in the Eastern Christian world. Byzantine culture not only became the beginning of some national cultures(for example, Old Russian), but also influenced the iconography of other Orthodox countries: Serbia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Rus', Georgia, Syria, Palestine, Egypt. Also under the influence of Byzantium was the culture of Italy, especially Venice.
MUSICAL CULTURE Only church music. secular music survived only in the form of a "recitation" of the palace ceremonial and a few melodies. They sang a cappella. Three methods of vocals: solemn reading of gospel texts with singing, singing of psalms and hymns, hallelujah singing. The oldest document of singing dates back to the 4th century. With the increase in the splendor of church services in the XIIIXIV centuries. music art flourishes.

END Materials were taken from: 1) 2) 3) 4) © 2016

On the banks of the Bosphorus by the Roman emperor Constantine in 324-330. was erectedConstantinople - new rome”, the capital of the future Byzantine state. The city seemed fabulously beautiful to newcomers from the West, East and North.

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The term "Middle Ages" appeared in the Renaissance. They denoted the period from the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century. until the fifteenth century. The era of the Renaissance, which revived ancient traditions, the Middle Ages seemed gloomy, ignorant, far from beautiful examples. ancient culture. That is why the humanist writers of the XV-XVI centuries. called the Middle Ages dark night"," the era of mental stagnation. But was it really so? How and why did the artistic ideal of Antiquity change?

Indeed, in the Middle Ages, he was destined to undergo profound changes, undergo a complex evolution. main reason This was the spread of Christianity, which largely determined the general character and main directions in the development of art. The ideas about the picture of the world, the understanding of man and the definition of his place in the Universe have become different. Now, in works of art, the spiritual essence of man, his severe appearance, so alien and incomprehensible to the humanists of the Renaissance, were emphasized to a greater extent.

Medieval culture, created by the peoples of Western Europe and the East over ten centuries, is unique and unrepeatable. She made a significant contribution to the history of the world artistic culture and took a place of honor in it. Today she appears before us as milestone artistic development mankind, which laid the foundation of modern civilization.

World of Byzantine culture.

On the banks of the Bosphorus by the Roman emperor Constantine in 324-330. Constantinople was erected - the "new Rome", the capital of the future Byzantine state. The city seemed fabulously beautiful to newcomers from the West, East and North.

Byzantine Empire became a powerful state, the empire of the "Romans", as the inhabitants called themselves, who considered themselves the heirs of the Romans. On the one hand, it was a continuation of the richest ancient culture, and on the other, it was the beginning of medieval culture. Byzantium, the heiress of antiquity, also experienced the influence of the culture of the peoples of the East, having managed to creatively rework their artistic traditions. From Egypt, she inherited artistic paintings of fabrics, wood and bone carvings, from Asia Minor - a type of domed basilica, from the Persians she learned court ceremonial, from Palestine she brought the holy relics of the Christian faith. Nevertheless, Byzantium was destined to leave its own mark in the history of world art. Its culture has a completely independent meaning.

A cross-domed church was brought to life here, ideally meeting the requirements of Christian worship. Byzantine masters achieved a synthesis of mosaic and fresco paintings. Iconography was born here, subject to strictly justified laws (canons), which were followed by the painters of Western Europe and Ancient Rus'. Significant successes were in literature, book miniatures, music and arts and crafts.

achievements of Byzantine architecture.

Byzantine architecture developed gradually, it organically combined elements of ancient and oriental architecture. The main architectural structure was the temple, the so-called basilica (Greek “royal house”), the purpose of which differed significantly from the architectural buildings known to us. If the Egyptian temple was intended for priests to conduct solemn ceremonies and did not allow a person to enter the sanctuary, and the Greek and Roman temples served as the seat of a deity, then the Byzantine temples became the center where believers gathered for worship, that is, they were designed for a person to stay in them.

The basilica is notable for its simplicity of plan: it is an elongated building, longitudinally divided inside by rows of columns into parts, the so-called naves , the number of which reaches 3 or 5. All the temples are oriented to the east, since there, according to the Christians, was Jerusalem - the center of the earth.

Later, a new type of temple is becoming increasingly important -cross-domed, which has the shape of a cross with a dome in the center.

The highest achievement of Byzantine architecture - Hagia Sophia V Constantinople, connecting the basilica with the domed ceiling. The temple of the "wisdom of God" was erected relatively quickly by two architects - Anfimy and Isidore. They were required to express the "incomprehensibility and ineffability" of the Christian perception of the universe, to embody the idea of ​​the power of the Byzantine Empire. The architects brilliantly coped with this task. From now on, imperial ceremonies and solemn services began to be held here. The temple, located in the center of the city, on the highest hill, is far visible from the Bosphorus. According to eyewitnesses, “it rises as if to the sky and, like a ship on the high waves of the sea, stands out among other buildings.”

In plan, the temple is a rectangle, in the center of which four massive pillars represent a huge square. The central dome of Sofia is the most remarkable achievement of Byzantine architects, which embodies the idea of ​​the cosmic likeness of the world. From below, the dome seems to be floating in the air, since the thin parts of the wall between the windows are not visible. The optical effect gave rise to the legend that the dome was suspended from the sky on a golden chain. Two lower domes adjoin the central dome. From the outside, the temple does not seem too big, its appearance calmIts interior is another matter. Everyone is amazed by the green and pinkish marble cladding of the walls and the golden mosaic of the vaults. It seems that the main space of the temple has no boundaries, dissolves in the light rays that penetrate through the forty windows carved at the base of the dome. The columns are united by wavy arcades, which creates the impression of rhythmic movement. One of his contemporaries wrote: “... nothing stops the eye in the cathedral, but everything attracts to itself, constantly changing so that it is difficult for the viewer to say what he liked best.” and rigor.

Shimmering light of Byzantine mosaics.

The mosaics of Byzantium gained worldwide fame. Using the ancient technology of making mosaics, Byzantine masters found their own, original ways their creations. Pieces of matte or transparent smalt, and sometimes stone cubes various shapes and the values ​​were fixed in the binding base at different slopes. It caused the rays of the sun or the light of a lit candle to flare, reflect and sparkle with gold, purple and blue. The masters of Byzantium used all the richness of the colorful palette. They were well aware of the various shades and intensities of colors: from pale and delicate, muted and dull, to bright and saturated.

The images on the walls told about the main events of Christian history, they transferred the thoughts of believers to a special world. Numerous images of Christ, prophets and angels, scenes from the Holy Scriptures and the glorification of the power of the emperor became favorite themes and plots of Byzantine mosaics .. their golden background also had a special meaning. Firstly, it was perceived as a symbol of wealth and luxury, and secondly, as one of the brightest colors, it created the effect of sacred radiance around the depicted figures.

If the light background of the antique mosaics made it possible to convey space, created the illusion of reality, then the golden background of the Byzantine mosaics transformed this in a fantastic way. real space. The fact is that the golden background in combination with a concave or spherical surface caused a peculiar effect of presence, gave the audience a sense of belonging to the depicted.

The uneven shimmering surfaces of the mosaics were included in the play of chiaroscuro, filling the interior with even greater mystery. Deep saturated tones evoked in the viewer the feeling of a miracle happening before his eyes. Like a colored carpet, repeating the masonry, the mosaic covered the walls, vaults and ceilings of temples. She merged with richly carved and marble wall cladding.

On the first of them, the emperor is depicted in the center. Justinian offering to a gift to the church a heavy golden cup. His head is crowned with a diadem and nymphs - a symbol of holiness. He wears rich colored garments adorned with gold. To the right of Justinian are two courtiers and bodyguards, whose figures are covered by a ceremonial shield with the monogram of Christ. Behind the left shoulder of the emperor is an elderly man in the clothes of a senator, as well as Bishop Maximian with a cross in his hand and two deacons, one of whom holds the Gospel, and the other a censer. The mirror symmetry of the right and left sides of the composition creates a sense of balance and peace. It seems that the figures do not step, but, as it were, hover above the ground.

The mosaic on the opposite side depictsEmpress Theodora. She enters the temple, carrying a chalice with gold coins in her hands. Luxurious necklaces around the neck and on the shoulders. On the head is a crown with long pearl pendants, around the head is a large halo. To the left of Theodora are court ladies in jeweled tunics. On the right is a deacon and a eunuch opening the veil of the temple. The artist places the characters on a golden background. Everything in this scene is filled with solemnity and grandeur.

Both mosaic paintings inspire the viewer with the idea of ​​the inviolability of power Byzantine emperor. How not to submit to this sovereign power, surrounded by such luxury, wealth and beauty! After many centuries, the poet A.A. Blok visited Ravenna. inspired by the mosaics, he wrote these verses:

Everything that is momentary, everything that is perishable,

You buried for centuries.

You sleep like a baby, Ravenna,

Sleepy eternity in the hands.

Slaves through Roman gates

They no longer import mosaics.

And the gilding burns

In the walls of cool basalques

Remarkable and mosaicsChurch of the Assumption in Nicaea(VII century, destroyed in 1922) the angels depicted here amaze with the refined nobility of their appearance, their gaze, as if hypnotizing. In some ways, they resemble the ancient ideal of beauty. Dressed in luxurious attire of court bodyguards, they stand against the dark gold background of the altar vault. Like guards, they stand in pairs at the throne with banners in their hands. Their calm poses are natural, and subtle combinations of colors, smooth transitions, complex foreshortenings of hands, through the palms of which light shines through, make these figures especially vital and attractive.

Let's look at the image of one of the most famous angels - Dunamis , which is a perfect example of spirituality and nobility. The face of an angel fascinates with wealth inner peace depth of feelings and emotions. Unfortunately, we do not know the name of the artist who created this masterpiece, as well as other names of Byzantine masters.

The mosaics of Ravenna, a city in northern Italy, in the 6th century BC, are best preserved. The center of the Byzantine province. Gained particular famemosaic murals of the Church of San Vitale. Ceilings of light pouring from the dome and the arched openings of the galleries make the mosaics light up with an unearthly brilliance. On both sides of the windows are mosaics depicting Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora with their retinue.

The purpose of the lesson:

Through the analysis of the diversity of Byzantine culture, to reveal its artistic features and role in the culture of the Middle Ages.

Tasks:

Educational:

1. To uncover historical conditions development of Byzantine culture.
2. Analyze major monuments Byzantine art.
3. Outline the origins and role of Byzantine culture in the development of medieval culture.

Developing:

1. Learn to analyze monuments of art.
2. Be able to evaluate the contribution of Byzantine masters to the development of medieval culture.
3. To develop interest in the knowledge of Slavic culture.
4. Develop a love of art, horizons, logical and imaginative thinking.

Educational:

1. Raise interest and respect for cultural monuments.
2. Contribute independent study history of world culture.
3. To educate students' patriotic feelings, the ability to defend their views on various art history problems.
4. Enrich spiritual world students.

Equipment:

• board;
• computer;
• projector;
• screen;
• geographic map.

Lesson type: familiarity with new material.

Form: presentation lesson.

Genre: panorama lesson.

Preliminary preparation: creation of multimedia presentation “Middle Ages. Byzantine culture”, organization of problem-search groups and preparation of individual tasks.

The theme of the lesson, its place in the whole program.

"The World of Byzantine Culture" - the first lesson in the "Middle Ages" section for the 10th grade of the Moscow Art Theater under the program of Danilova G.I.

Lesson plan.

I. Organizational moment.

II. Preparing for the perception of a new topic. Introduction by the teacher.

III. Presentation of a new topic. /Work in blocks based on the presentation/.

1. Byzantine architecture.
2. Mosaic art.
3. Iconography skill.
4. Music of Byzantium.

IV. Fixing the topic. /Design the table. Conclusions/.

V. Summing up. Reflection.

VI. Final word teachers.

VII. Homework assignment.

During the classes

Epigraph.

in Borovitskaya.

We start talking about medieval culture. It is impossible to understand its development and features of aesthetics without analyzing Byzantine culture. Announcement of the purpose and objectives of the lesson.

Student message.

Byzantium gave the world art, in which the deepest spirituality was the measure true beauty. Originating in Constantinople, the capital of the empire, it influenced the development of cultures in such countries as Serbia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Ancient Rus'. To a certain extent, the countries of Western Europe were also covered by his influence.

On modern map this state does not exist. (See the geographical map of the Roman Empire 4-15 centuries). It ceased to exist in May 1453, when it was conquered by the Turks. The very name of this state is the Roman Empire. It arose in 395, when the emperor Theodosius, dying, divided the Roman Empire into 2 parts: Western and Eastern. The latter was called Byzantium by historians of the 19th century. Byzantium is the successor of Antiquity. It was the Byzantine scribes who saved the world the works of Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, until the 7th century there was a folk antique theater. Greek remained the spoken language.

In the lesson, of course, we will not be able to cover the entire spectrum of Byzantine culture, but we will focus only on some types of art: architecture, mosaics, icon painting, music.

Statement of the problem of the lesson. What is the richness and diversity of Byzantine culture? What are artistic features Byzantine culture?

Class assignment. In the process of working in the lesson, draw up a table.

(See the pattern on the board).

Working with multimedia presentation “Middle Ages. Byzantine culture. The first group of students presents the achievements of Byzantine architecture.

1. Watching a fragment of the video film “Temples of the world. The mountain path."
2. A story about the features of the external architectural appearance and interior decoration of the Cathedral of St. Sophia in Constantinople.
3. Expressive reading poems by O. Mendelstam "Hagia Sophia".

• What mood is the author conveying in this poem?
• What characteristic architectural features cathedrals are mentioned in the poem?

Questions session.

• Which architectural structure most characteristic of the early stage of Byzantine architecture?
• What ideas did the builders of the Hagia Sophia seek to embody?
• What architectural innovations were used in the construction of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople?
• Why were basilicas replaced by cross-domed churches in Byzantine architecture?

The second group talks about the art of mosaic. (Viewing the second block of the presentation "Mosaics of Byzantium").

1. What is Byzantine Mosaic.
2. Expressive reading and analysis of A. Blok's poem "Ravenna".
3. Analysis of the mosaics of Ravenna "Empress Theodora", "Emperor Justinian with retinue".

Conclusion. Characteristic features of the mosaic:

• perfect compositional techniques;
• decorative;
• color effects;
• matching contrasting colors;
• regulation colors;
• the manner of laying smalt in even rows forming a pattern;
• the composition was always built from a circle - a sphere, a halo as a symbol of heavenly perfection.

Questions to the class.

• What is smalt?
• Where did the art of mosaic come from in Byzantium?
• Why did the art of Byzantine mosaicists acquire world fame? By what means was the effect of magical influence on the viewer achieved?

The third problem-search group analyzes the art of Byzantine icon painting.

1. What is an icon.
2. Analysis of the icons presented in the presentation: "Sergius and Bacchus" - 6th century, "Vladimir Mother of God" - the beginning of the 12th century, "Christ Pantocrator" - 14th century.

Discussion questions.

• What is the place of icons in Orthodox world?
• How did the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir come to Rus' and why is it still one of the most revered icons?
• What are characteristics icons?

Characteristic features of icons:

• frontality of the image (their appeal to the viewer);
• strict symmetry in relation to the central figure of Christ or the Mother of God;
• high forehead- focus spirituality;
• a shining halo around the head;
• the fixed, stern look of enlarged eyes;
• static, a state of ascetic dispassionate rest;
• decorative and conventional clothing, emphasizing the incorporeality, incorporeality of the figures;
• the color on the icons is symbolic.

The fourth group of students is musical culture Byzantium.

1. Listening to the Znamenny chant and reading a quote from Bishop John Chrysostom.

2. Message students about famous musicians and theorists of church music, musical instruments of Byzantium. (Working with a presentation).

What feelings and thoughts does this music awaken in you?

Exercise. Write conclusions in a notebook.

Conclusions:

1. What was the connection between Byzantine culture and antique art, In your opinion?

• Classical / correct transfer of proportions human body, its volume and movements/.
• The focus of the artist is a person.
• art performed aesthetic function and was a mediator between the human and divine worlds.

2. What do you think, what are the main achievements of the artistic culture of Byzantium?

• The embodiment of the cross-domed church.
• Synthesis various kinds arts.
• Orientation artistic language on conventionality, symbolism / the origin of iconography and musical notation /.
• Emotional beginning, the predominance of spiritual content over physical perfection.

3. What is the role of Byzantine culture in the development medieval culture, and in particular Russian?

• The adoption of Christianity in Rus' was a powerful stimulus in the development of culture.
• Orthodox culture develops according to the canons of Byzantine art.
• In the Middle Ages, Rus' becomes the spiritual center of Orthodoxy

/Moscow is the third Rome/.

Reflection.

• What new did you learn in the lesson?
• What discovery did each of you make?

At the end of the lesson, I would like to draw your attention to the epigraph, the words of the poetess V. Borovitskaya.

... Everything in the world goes away - art remains.
The chain of centuries will not be interrupted by the voices of poets.
They look at the frescoes of cathedrals and canvases of portraits.
On the decrepit land it will be bitter and sad.
Only it will not be empty as long as art is alive.

Byzantine culture did not disappear with the fall of the Byzantine Empire. We are the keepers of that huge layer of world culture that was created by our ancestors, and we have the opportunity to study and admire these masterpieces.

MHK lesson in 10th grade

Lesson topic: "The World of Byzantine Culture"

Prepared by: Altynnik Antonina Nikolaevna,

Fine art teacher

MOU "Veydelevskaya secondary school", pos. Veidelevka.

The purpose of the lesson: Through the analysis of the diversity of Byzantine culture, to reveal its artistic features and role in the culture of the Middle Ages.

Tasks:

Educational:

To reveal the historical conditions for the development of Byzantine culture.

Analyze the largest monuments of Byzantine art.

Outline the origins and role of Byzantine culture in the development of medieval culture.

Developing:

develop figurative and associative thinking, activate cognitive activity through computer technology

To develop interest in the knowledge of Slavic culture.

Develop a love of art, horizons, logical and imaginative thinking.

Educational:

Raise interest and respect for cultural monuments.

To promote independent study of the history of world culture.

To educate students' patriotic feelings, the ability to defend their views on various art history problems.

Enrich the spiritual world of students.

Equipment:

Computer, projector, screen, presentation, video lecture by Sergey Pavlovich Karpov "CIVILIZATION OF BYZANTIA"

Lesson type: familiarity with new material.

Form: presentation lesson.

During the classes

Organizing time: Greeting, checking readiness for the lesson

Knowledge update: A lecture by Sergei Pavlovich Karpov "CIVILIZATION OF BYZANTIA" - historian, dean of the Faculty of History of Moscow State University, doctor historical sciences, professor, academician of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences ( Russian Academy natural sciences).

Lesson topic message:"The World of Byzantine Culture"

What is the purpose of the lesson?

Explanation of the new material:

In 330g. Roman emperor Constantine the Great declared the city of Byzantium, located on the banks of the Bosphorus, his capital, and renamed it Constantinople - "new Rome", which later became the capital of the future Byzantine state.

The need to move the capital was caused, first of all, by the remoteness of the former capital of Rome from the tense eastern and northeastern borders of the empire; it was possible to organize defense from Constantinople much faster and more efficiently than from Rome. Also among the reasons for the transfer of the capital are the religious preferences of Constantine: he sympathized with Christianity and did not really like Rome, where paganism was highly developed.

The Byzantine Empire became a powerful power, the empire of the "Romans" (heirs of the Romans)

But Byzantium was destined to leave its own mark in the history of culture

The Byzantine Empire gave birth special culture, called byzantism in science

World of Byzantine culture

The basis of Byzantine culture was the organic combination of the Roman imperial idea, Orthodox faith and Greco-Roman cultural heritage. In Byzantium there was not such a deep gap between antiquity and the Middle Ages, which was characteristic of the West, it absorbed all the knowledge obtained in ancient world, being the guardian of the ancient heritage, creatively transforming it with the Christian spirit. Byzantium managed to preserve the ancient heritage and transfer it to Italy on the eve of the Renaissance.

In the 1st century AD in Palestine, on the outskirts of the Roman Empire, Christianity arises. Already in the second half of the 1st c. There was a Christian community in Rome. During the I-III centuries. Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire and beyond. The imperial authorities were suspicious of Christians, attributing to them misanthropy, since the Christians of that time not only waited, but also called for the end of the world and Last Judgment. Christians were also accused of disloyalty to the authorities, as they refused to perform official sacrifices in front of statues of state gods (including emperors). This led to numerous persecutions of Christians, but Christianity continued to spread into the 4th century. became a force with which the emperors themselves were forced to reckon. In 313, the emperors Constantine and Licinius publish Edict of Milan , which proclaims the equality of all religions, including Christianity, and in 325 Emperor Constantine declares Christianity the state religion. In 395, by decree of Theodosius the Great, all pagan temples were closed, from that moment Christianity became the only official religion of the Roman Empire.

Christianity became the bearer of the new ethics, declaring highest values man himself, love of neighbor, mercy. Having loved God, a person gained peace of mind and bliss. Christianity was also attractive because, according to this creed, all people were considered equal before God. According to Christian ideas, life does not end with the death of the body, and by gaining faith and repenting of sins, a person can save his soul and find eternal bliss. Thus, everyone received the hope of salvation. The Byzantine artistic system developed on the basis of the totality of spiritual culture. Based on ancient ideas about the essence of beauty, she changed them in the spirit of Christian doctrine. In Byzantine art system found a new worldview brilliant expression in architecture.

In Byzantium, a new approach to temple architecture developed, different from the ancient one. If Greek temple was just a place where a statue of a deity was located, usually open only to clergy (the religious rites themselves were performed outside, in the square), then the Byzantine Christian church was the place where the service was held, and had to accommodate many believers. In order for the temple to accommodate more worshipers, Christian architecture took as a model the ancient rectangular structures called basilicas, divided into several longitudinal parts - naves (from lat. navis - ship). This type Christian temple with a middle nave, usually more spacious and high, and subsequently with a transverse (transept), giving the temple the shape of a cross, was called basilica. The paramount importance begins to play interior decoration temples.

Plan-scheme of the Byzantine temple

From the 6th century, when the Byzantine Empire was strengthening, a new type of temple replaced the basilica - cross-domed, which has the shape of a cross with a dome in the center. The greatest achievement of Byzantine architecture is Hagia Sophia in Constantinople(532-537, architects Anfimy and Isidore). Plan of St. Sophia is a slightly elongated rectangle, in the center of which there is a square marked with powerful abutments that separate the central nave from the side ones. The central dome of the cathedral had a diameter of 31.5 meters. From the sides, the pressure of the dome was balanced by a hidden system of spacers - buttresses. Outside view of St. Sophia is imposing and withdrawn. On three sides, it is surrounded by buildings that come close to its walls, and only from the eastern part can the temple be seen from top to bottom.

Saint Sophie Cathedral. Istanbul (Constantinople). 532-537

The interior of the temple was bright, colorful and contrasted with the severity of its appearance. The walls were faced with marble and decorated with mosaics. In the center of the temple stood a huge pulpit - a complex structure made of silver and precious stones, around which liturgical ceremonies unfolded. The huge domed hall of the temple symbolized the image of the universe. The lighting of the hall intensified towards the dome: twilight reigned below, while the dome was brightly lit, since at its base there were 40 windows that created the illusion of a ring of light. Sophia of Constantinople amazed contemporaries with its size (the length of the temple is 77 m), the harmony of forms, rational organization volume-spatial structure. All together, this gave rise to associations with the wisdom and strength of the emperor, with the power of the state he ruled, with his right to autocracy.

The interior of the Hagia Sophia

Byzantine fine arts are represented primarily monumental painting. In Byzantium, a certain system of volume-spatial structure of the temple and its murals was developed, which depicted biblical history humanity, ethical standards sanctified by Christianity. Monumental mosaics, which were used both in temple architecture and to decorate walls and ceilings in secular buildings, are widely distributed. mosaic canvases were made of colored glass alloys - smalt. Artists attached great importance color, which played a special, symbolic role. Purple, for example, was the color of divine and imperial dignity. Only the emperor could walk in purple robes. The red color symbolized both life and blood (in particular, the blood of Christ), it was also the color of the purifying and punishing flame. White color- a symbol of purity and holiness, detachment from the worldly, black is a sign of death, a symbol of the grave and hell, green is a symbol of youth, flowering, a symbol of the earth, in contrast to heaven - purple, blue, gold, blue and blue in Byzantine symbolism - signs otherworldly world.

Constantine the Great and Justinian before the Mother of God on the throne. Mosaic of the Church of St. Sophia in Constantinople. Around 950

In the XI-XII centuries. picturesque icons began to play a prominent role in the decoration of temples. The icon is written on a board (linden, base, cypress) and consists of 4-5 layers, arranged in the following order: base, primer, paint layer, protective layer, salary. The base is a wooden board with a fabric glued on it - a canvas. The soil consists of chalk or gypsum and is called gesso. The paint layer is the painting itself. Protection is various materials, including drying oil, egg white, oil varnish.

The main subjects of icon painting were the birth of Christ from the Virgin Mary, baptism in the Jordan, transfiguration on Tabor, suffering, death of Christ and symbols of his divine nature: the saving cross, the coffin, the resurrection, etc. Most significant figures compositions (Christ, the Mother of God, saints) were usually depicted in a frontal position. The figures surrounding them were located in more free poses, which emphasized the special significance of the central figures. used to convey emotional experiences. inanimate objects. In profile, negative (Judas, Satan) and minor characters, animals.

For organization art space Byzantine masters did not use direct perspective: it was developed only by Renaissance artists. Direct perspective has a vanishing point deep in space and above the subject. The Byzantines used a special perspective system, called the reverse by the art historian O. Wulf. Perspective in Byzantine painting suggests multiple points of view. The viewer examines the objects depicted with different positions. Thus, the artist emphasized the most significant places in the composition of the work. Significance central figure icons underlined with with the help of the figures of side characters facing her. The angle of the side figures (the painter depicts the right one, as if being to the right of him, the left - being located to the left) creates a movement directed towards the center of the image. The artist sought to provide the viewer with maximum information about the depicted object, combining two points of view: from above and from the height of normal human growth. For example, a table is always presented in such a way that the viewer sees the entire plane of its tabletop as if from above. This allows you to show all the items on the table. The objects themselves are depicted in direct projection.

The size of the depicted object in Byzantine painting does not depend on its position in space, but on its semantic role in the depicted plot. So, in the scene of the Nativity of Jesus Christ in the mosaic of the Palatine Chapel in Palermo (XII century), the Mother of God is highlighted on a large scale, Joseph is next in size, then the Magi, and then the women attending the ablution. Thus, the system of depicting space developed by the Byzantine masters corresponded to the ideological and aesthetic essence of their painting.

Reverse Perspective Example

By combining elements of Eastern and Western cultures, Byzantium had a significant impact on both the development of the cultures of many countries of Western and of Eastern Europe and the culture of the peoples of the East. Thanks to Byzantium, the values ​​of ancient and Eastern cultures were not forgotten and became known to other nations. The most significant was the influence of Byzantium on the countries in which Orthodoxy was established, primarily on Ancient Rus'.

Review questions:

1. Tell us about major achievements artistic culture of Byzantium. In what and how did its connection with ancient art manifest itself?
2. Identify the characteristic features of Byzantine architecture. Compare the designs of basilicas and cross-domed structures
3. Describe the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. What ideas did its creators strive to embody?

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