Roman mosaics were more frequently used to adorn the floors, and thus used less glass, gold, and elaborate materials. Perhaps the most famous Byzantine mosaics are those found in the Hagia Sophia, the most famous church in Eastern Christianity. On the South Gallery or Catechumena is displayed a depiction of Christ, Mary, and St. John the Baptist known as the Deesis. Christ's "face is strikingly realistic and expressive…All [figures] are set against a golden background" ("Byzantine art," Art Lex, 2010). Of almost equal fame are the glittering, gold mosaics of Ravenna's holy buildings. "Ravenna's most famous Byzantine mosaics are of an emperor, his empress and their retinues. On one wall of the choir of San Vitale in Ravenna, built for Justinian and consecrated in AD 547, the emperor stands with crown and a golden halo" (Gascoigne 2001). Although the ostensible purpose of the structure is a holy one, the Emperor Justinian chose to parallel his image with that of a king-like Christ, also often found in glittering mosaics. Christ as ruler of heaven was a very popular design in mosaics, given the brilliant jewel-like tesserae used so often in Byzantium works. Images of rulers in mosaics of the same materials often intentionally or unintentionally resembled the images of the divine. While glass tesserae and gold came to dominate Eastern mosaics, Western Christianity began to adopt a new form of mosaic art, that of stained glass. Stained glass windows came to adorn many of the most famous churches of Western Christendom. Similar to the mosaics of early Byzantium, early stained glass scenes often featured the holy family. As Gothic-style churches became higher and narrower, stained glass was used to allow light to pour through the windows and draw the inhabitant's...
Theophilus wrote about the production of stained glass in 1100 CE. The technique sounds very similar to that of mosaics, in which a shape was first created and then filled by the craftsman: "if you want to assemble simple windows, first mark out the dimensions of their length and breadth on a wooden board…select colors that are to be put in. Cut the glass and fit the pieces together with the grozing iron" ("A history of stained glass," Art Glass Association, 2010).
Art Culture: Public Space Art Public art like that of Koon's Train (2011), Serra's Tilted Arc (1981), Lin's Vietnam Veterans Memorial (1981), and James' Sea Flower (1978), ignite discussion to the point of its modification, re-arrangement, or removal. The reason for this controversial treatment of public art is its ability to embrace a variety of aesthetic practices. The adoption of different aesthetic values like poster art, outdoor sculpture, earthworks, multimedia projections,
The artworks prevalent during the early Middle Ages in many ways stand between these two extremes. The art of this period was one that was both religiously inclined but also celebrated the human form and human nature that was to become so prominent in the Renaissance. In many ways much of early Medieval art was similar to the abstract and decorative art that we find in Islamic examples. An example
Art of classical antiquity, in the ancient cultures of Greece and Rome, has been much revered, admired, and imitated. In fact, the arts of ancient Greece and Rome can be considered the first self-conscious and cohesive art movements in Europe. Style, form, execution, and media were standardized and honed to the point where aesthetic ideals were created and sustained over time. The art of classical antiquity in Greece and Rome
The basis of collage with is associated with humor and entertainment forms its captivating content, an element for passing its information. Materials that are used for collage are normally readily available old objects that have been disregarded. Use of new materials in the art is not restricted but again not considered to add value to the collage work. It is thus a considerably less expensive process as compared to
To be sure, under the label Art Nouveau, there resides a long list of diverse artistic styles, from two dimensional arts to constructive and geometrical arts. Art Nouveau was an important architectural movement, inspired by the inherent patterns of nature. For example, C.F.A. Voysey's textile prints showcase plant forms in free curves, while Christopher Dresser's design philosophy stemmed from his knowledge of botany. Aubrey Beardsley (1872-98) is famous for his
The new woman is scary for many, especially for men. Not only because she personifies a radical change, but because they no longer have the power upon her. Being independent, wise and strong she becomes an adversary, an opponent and therefore a challenge. And it's not only the male pride at stake, but also the acknowledgement that society was really changing. A relevant example for our discussion is the literary character
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