Religious, Linguistic, Racial, Ethnic, and Social Origins within the Roman Empire
There was a wide range of religious, linguistic, racial, ethnic, and social origins within the Roman Empire. The bulk of Romans turned away from polytheism and toward monotheistic cults and religions in the second and third centuries. This marked the beginning of Christian art, which began to develop gradually after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Prior to Constantine signing the Edict of Milan in 313 CE, Christianity was regarded as an unlawful form of devotion. Christians thus conducted their devotion in secret and private locations. The rise of Christian art was facilitated by the fall of the Roman Empire. This happened primarily as a result of Christians' freedom to practice their faith. Therefore, Christian artists could develop paintings, which had ideas and meanings of the Christian principles.
Reflecting and Embracing Cultural Influence
Early Christian art reflected and embraced the cultural influence from the Roman art in social standing, religious identity, and depicting the differences between subject manner and style. In the Old Testament, there is a prohibition for the use of graven images. Therefore, it becomes unclear why the Christian art emerged. One of the possible explanations is that the Greco-Roman culture had a significant influence, which contributed to the growth and expansion of Christian art (Cudnik 1028). However, in spite of the similarities between these two arts, Christian one had different meaning from that of the Roman. These meanings were based on ideologies and beliefs that Christians have towards life, Christ, and life after death.
Influence of Roman Cultural Practices
Roman empire was diverse in terms of religious, linguistic, racial, ethnic, and social backgrounds. It is because of this that monotheistic religions, which include Christianity, emerged in society. People at this time had embraced the Roman cultural practices and activities. These individuals who converted from polytheism to monotheism had a great experience of the Roman art. As such, they carried with them their knowledge and skills of this form of art to the Christianity. Therefore, the artistic designs, paintings, and images, which these people produced, were based on the principles and particularities of art used by the Romans. Therefore, Roman art influenced the Christian art through the Greco-Roman culture in terms of the images and form of the art used by the Christians.
Identification of Christian Art and the Influence of Greco-Roman Culture
Identifiable Christian art is traceable to the end of the 2nd Century and the onset of the 3rd Century. The prohibition of using the graven images in the Old Testament implies that Christians could not be pioneers of art, but rather people who focused on what was done in society and converted the same to have Christian based ideas and beliefs. These images are borrowed from Roman Culture, which had a unique meaning of them that was different from the meaning assigned by the Christians. In terms of form, the images are the same, but what Christians did was to place Christian ideas and beliefs in the images in a different manner as to what was ascribed to the same by the Romans. Therefore, it is this Greco-Roman culture, which contributed in informing Christians of how they could engage in the artistic works.
Cultural Influences and the Foundation of Christian Art
The surrounding culture influenced the ability of people to change their way of life and adopt new cultural practices. The early community of Christian was comprised of individuals from different cultural backgrounds where some were Jews and others pagans deeply rooted in the Greco-Roman world. It is the diffusion of these unique cultures, which gave root to the foundation of Christian art. Among the early Christians, taking up Christianity was considered as a way of people to forego their former cultural backgrounds and practices. As such, individuals who converted to this religion carried with them their cultural practices of engaging in different types of artworks. The Christian art reflected and embraced the cultural influences and build on them to have new levels of expressing the values and purposes of Christianity.
Borrowing Images and Meaning from Roman and Jewish Culture
Furthermore, early Christian artworks borrowed images from Greco-Roman and Jewish culture. For example, Jewish image of the love of God to people is further used in the Christian art. This image also features in the Greco-Roman heritage as a calf-bearer or moschophoros. Therefore, Christians were using the Roman pictures to have a new meaning based on beliefs and ideology of Christian principles. The Old Testament scriptures were the main sources of Jewish images, which appeared in the Christian artworks. These include the illustration of the stories of Isaac, Abraham, Adam and Eve, Daniel, Jonah, and Moses. The Christian artists used the images as good illustrations of the themes of sacrifice, death, resurrection, and salvation. Greco-Roman world had also made an influence on the creation of Christian artworks. For instance, the early Christian artists found meaning in the lawgiver figure, festive meal image, and philosopher figure.
Emperor Constantine and the Influence of Roman Culture
Early emperors supported the diffusion of the Roman and Christian culture. Emperor Constantine, in 312, defeated rival Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge Battle. It is after this victory when Constantine became a patron of Christianity, and in 313, he allowed religious toleration. To support this statement by signing the Edict of Milan, which established Christianity as a legal relogion. Christianity embraced the aura of imperial Rome during Constantine, which further was reflected in its art. Hence, cultural practice of artwork was valued and developed significantly based on the events and tendencies in the Roman culture. For centuries, emperors had engaged in the construction of temples in the entire Roman Empire. The construction of the same temples continued with the advent of Christianity where individuals embraced the Roman approach to the art and improved on the form, style, and image to give a Christian meaning.
The Influence of Roman Architectural Forms
Roman architect forms were also used in the establishment of Christian art. As such, Romans were building temples with the design concentrated on the outside. Christians borrowed this form to establish the Basilica, which was famous for its brilliant interior architecture. Constantine was aware of the Christian Basilica and contributed to the building of this structure based on the form used in other temples constructed in Rome. Basilica was not a new type of architecture to Romans. This is because the Romans had engaged in the building of the basilicas within their cities as palaces for several centuries. However, for the Christians this was a new adventure, which they focused on developing to have the Christian workmanships' examples.
The Rise of the Christian Church and its Influence on Art
The Christian Church was born as a new power source in the wake of the Roman Empire. Thus, it was strongly interconnected with Roman art, which was developed and changed to have a Christian meaning. The place, which was initially occupied by the Roman emperors, was taken by the popes. As such, the Church had a dominant role to play within 500 years because of the classical period decline. Consequently, the influence of the church spread touching on different aspects of life, which include the visual artworks. Before the legalization of Christianity in 13 AD, there were pictures painted with a hidden Christianity meanings. These were made in narrow passages underground and on stone walls. The artists did this after observing Romans' masterpieces. However, early Christian artists did not have strong interest in strength, grace, and beauty of human body, which was highly valued among the Roman and Greek artists. The art of the Christians was intended to depict the power of glory of Christ by telling the story of his life on earth. This story was highly valued since it acted as a model of what people should follow in order to have salvation in Heaven.
Transformation of Roman Art into Christian Art
Early Christians used the artworks as a depiction of their views on life on earth. This artwork appeared to be Roman. However, the ideas and beliefs, which were being passed to other Christians, were not Roman, but Christian. These early Christian artists used symbols and images, which they borrowed from Romans. For example, there was the use of birds, animals, and plants, which also appeared in Roman art. The plants, animals, and birds were used to symbolize different ideas of the Christians. An unknown Christian artist created a painting on catacombs ceiling while using images, which were similar to the artworks seen in different places in Rome. Nevertheless, the image was given a new meaning according to Christian beliefs and views. Hence, Romans had a significant control of how Christians could engage and grow in their artistic works. This is because Christianity was not a legal religion, which implied that attempts of developing artistic works based on these principles could not be successful in the Roman culture.
Adoption of Similar Artistic Media
A similar artistic media to the one, which surrounded the pagan culture was adopted by early Christians. This occurred since these artists did not have any knowledge of artwork. As such, they had to borrow from other cultures. Therefore, artists focused on using illuminated manuscripts, sculptures, mosaics, and frescoes. The early Christian art also used the style of the Romans. For example, there was impressionistic presentation of space and human body portrayal in a proportional manner. The classical style is also seen in Rome Catacombs, as well as the Christian frescoes. Thus, this style was enhanced and carried on in Christianity after the decline of the Roman empire. The borrowed style from the Romans is experienced in the modern Christian art. However, modernism and evolution in the area of art have given value to this style such that it has a unique aesthetic meaning in society.
The Growth of Byzantine Empire
The growth of Byzantine Empire fostered the development of Christian art. Constantine established the Constantinople city, which grew in wealth and size beyond Rome. As such, Greek, Roman and Constantinople blended to generate a brilliant and rich art. This art focused on serving the Church needs and glorifying the religion of the Christians. Byzantine style was adopted in the establishment of new structures in society. An example of this style was the foundation and development of great churches. Architects from the East favored the use of a central plan while those from the West advocated for something, which looked as a hall for their churches. Christian artists focused on what was done by the Romans and developed their structures from the same principles of artwork. They just added value and gave unique meanings in accordance to Christian principles.
Tracing the Origin of Christian Art
In conclusion, Roman art influenced the Christian art through the Greco-Roman culture in terms of the images and form of the art used by the Christians. As such, the Roman empire was diverse considering social, religious, linguistic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. During the Roman Empire, Christians were not highly accepted in the society. However, they observed and practiced art in hidden manner since Christianity was not legal. This is what made Christians to copy the style, image, and form of the Roman art in their artistic works. Their lives and social activities, as well as practices revolved around the Roman culture. This implies that Christians had to live and do according to what was practiced in this society. This created an opportunity for these individuals to copy the artwork depicted by the Romans in terms of its styles, images, and form. The symbols used for plants, animals, and birds in Roman art had a different meaning as compared to what was depicted in the Christian art. Hence, this new wave to Christian art was highly influenced by the Greco-Roman culture. Therefore, in order to trace the origin of Christian art one has to focus on Roman art.
Bibliography
Blum, Gerd. "Vasari on the Jews: Christian Canon, Conversion, and the Moses of
Michelangelo." Art Bulletin, vol. 95, no. 4, Dec. 2013, pp. 558-577. EBSCOhost.
Cudnik, David M. "Facing the Gods: Epiphany and Representation in Graeco-Roman Art,
Literature and Religion." Heythrop Journal, vol. 54, no. 6, Nov. 2013, pp. 1028-1029. EBSCOhost.
Kampen, Natalie Boymel. "On Writing Histories of Roman Art." Art Bulletin, vol. 85, no. 2,
June 2003, p. 371. EBSCOhost.
Platt, Verity. "Making an Impression: Replication and the Ontology of the Graeco-Roman Seal
Stone." Art History, vol. 29, no. 2, Apr. 2006, pp. 233-257. EBSCOhost.
