Perspectives

Description:

This course critically reviews early Christian and Byzantine art from the 2^nd to 6^th Century. Its fundamental idea is that early Christian art emerged and evolved as manifestations of the faith’s conversation with its changing cultural contexts. Students will learn to critically engage the role theology, ecclesiology, socio-economics, and politics have in Christian art, with a special emphasis on church/worship architecture as innovative art.

Goals:

This course explores the following:

1. the fundamental stages in the development of Early Christian art and architecture
2. the theological, ecclesiastical, spiritual, and pastoral context of the analyzed material
3. the relationship between art and theology
4. the contextual character of early Christian art and architecture.
5. develop academic skills in careful reading, and critical analysis.

Video

Early Christian Art Course: Presentation from D. H. Pereyra on Vimeo.

Bibliography

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Beckwith, John. Early Christian and Byzantine Art. New York: Penguin Books, 1979.

Bernabò, Massimo. Pseudepigraphical images in early art. North Richland Hills, Tex. : BIBAL Press, 2001.

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Bruening Lewis, Elizabeth – Steven H. Helffrich. The Power of Sacred Images: A Guide to the Treasures of Early Christian Art. Christian Classics, 1996.

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Crippa, Maria Antonietta and Mahmoud Zibawi. L’arte paleocristiana: visione e spazio dalle origini a Bisanzio. Milano: Jaca Book, 1998.

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Jensen, Robin Margaret. Understanding Early Christian Art. London: Routledge, 2000.

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