ARTH 2151-001  Early Christian and Byzantine Art 

Meets: T/R 3:30PM - 4:45PM, New Cabell Hall 323

Instructor: Fotini Kondyli

Email: fk8u@virginia.edu

Office Hours: Wed 4:00-6:00 PM

Course description:

From the magnificent church of Hagia Sophia and the Imperial palaces of Constantinople to mosaics, icons, and items of personal adornment, this course will trace developments in the arts and architecture of the Mediterranean in the course of thirteen centuries ( 2^nd - 15^th c. AD). We will explore the role of early Christian and Byzantine art between Greco-Roman aesthetics and the artistic production of the Renaissance. We will focus on the iconography of selected artworks to better understand Christian and Byzantine belief systems and look into the multiplicity of function and meaning in Early Christian and Byzantine architecture.  We will also consider how Byzantium negotiated its political and cultural identity among allies and enemies through its artistic production and visual language. Finally we will meet different social groups involved in the production of Byzantine art and architecture, such as craftsmen and architects, as well as the Imperial family, monks and nuns, elites and ordinary people.

Requirements: No previous knowledge on Byzantine culture is required. Students are responsible for doing the assigned reading before class and hand in their assignments on time.   All students are expected to follow the University Honor Code: http://www.virginia.edu/uvatours/shorthistory/code.html

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