History of Arts Research Paper
Craig jones
Dagmar E. Sproll
April 3, 2012
Research Paper
Christian Art In this research paper one will be reading about early Christian art and
about how pagan-inspired themes, classical influences, and its two major tendencies:
naturalism and abstract symbolism. Early Christian art and architecture is the art produced by
Christians or under Christian ruling from the earliest period between about 350 and 525. The
Christian art survived 2nd century’s and onwards. According to Beckwith “after 550 at the latest,
Christian art is classified as Byzantine, but It is also very difficult to know when Christian art
began. Prior to a large amount of Christians they may have been one of the best producing
durable works of art. Although Christianity was largely a religion of the less fortunate in this time
period” (Beckwith,john,2nd edn. 1979), and because of that there is a lack of surviving art due to
the lack of funds for patronage. Even though they had a lack of fund, they still made great work.
Early Christian practiced their religions in secret, and will make perfect catacombs
under Rome to bury their dead and then to practice their religion. Which in earliest times
included baptism and readings from early text. This became the catechism, the art of
catacombs is to celebrate a birth of a hero who teaches in mortal terms. The concepts of the protector healer, teacher and miracle maker are all based on the catechism. The Roman paganism, they worship of traditional gods natural spirits and emperors fail to satisfy peoples search for a meaningful satisfaction of metaphysical needs or guide to an ethical life. According to an article by David Balch
“Some of the Traditional Roman state religion fails to satisfy intellectual or emotional needs of lower class paganism, in example: Image of Caesars as god, becomes satirical, deteriorating social values and economic opportunity, at time of great wealth to
Dagmar E. Sproll
April 3, 2012
Research Paper
Christian Art In this research paper one will be reading about early Christian art and
about how pagan-inspired themes, classical influences, and its two major tendencies:
naturalism and abstract symbolism. Early Christian art and architecture is the art produced by
Christians or under Christian ruling from the earliest period between about 350 and 525. The
Christian art survived 2nd century’s and onwards. According to Beckwith “after 550 at the latest,
Christian art is classified as Byzantine, but It is also very difficult to know when Christian art
began. Prior to a large amount of Christians they may have been one of the best producing
durable works of art. Although Christianity was largely a religion of the less fortunate in this time
period” (Beckwith,john,2nd edn. 1979), and because of that there is a lack of surviving art due to
the lack of funds for patronage. Even though they had a lack of fund, they still made great work.
Early Christian practiced their religions in secret, and will make perfect catacombs
under Rome to bury their dead and then to practice their religion. Which in earliest times
included baptism and readings from early text. This became the catechism, the art of
catacombs is to celebrate a birth of a hero who teaches in mortal terms. The concepts of the protector healer, teacher and miracle maker are all based on the catechism. The Roman paganism, they worship of traditional gods natural spirits and emperors fail to satisfy peoples search for a meaningful satisfaction of metaphysical needs or guide to an ethical life. According to an article by David Balch
“Some of the Traditional Roman state religion fails to satisfy intellectual or emotional needs of lower class paganism, in example: Image of Caesars as god, becomes satirical, deteriorating social values and economic opportunity, at time of great wealth to
Bibliography: Beckwith, John, Early Christian and Byzantine Art, Penguin History of art Beckwith helped me understand and write about how the Christian had some of the best work but they didn’t have the right resources. Balch, David L., Roman Domestic Art & Early House Churches (Wissenschaftliche The tradional roman state religion didn’t really fit or meet the needs of the pagan and because it didn’t show any emotion and Balch showed that the roman state didn’t have any ethical or moral meaning when teaching. The book paganism and Christianity in Egypt The book really went into depth about the schools and how they differ in the teaching of art. The many different symbols and structures. Love,larry., the early Christians Pearson (2010) This site explain the variations of styles the Christians used to use in their work/.