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JA3. The Influence of Classical Rome on Christian Art and Architecture

Statement

Referring to resources listed in this unit’s Reading Assignment, please address the following:

  • To what extent was the development of Christian art and architecture influenced by the art and architecture of classical Rome?
  • How was it unique?

Answer

Christian architecture and art were greatly influenced by the art and architecture of classical Rome, especially at the early stages of Christianity; but later, as time passed, Christian art started to take a unique shape as it distanced itself from classical Roman art and adopted a model that is a combination of Roman, Byzantine, and other influences along with its own unique elements (Farber, n.d.).

Classical Roman architecture was known for its dome and great structure; in fact, the first type of building that was used by Christians was the basilica, which was a Roman building used for public purposes. Basilicas, similar to churches, have a rectangular shape and start with a big empty nave and two colonnades on the sides and they have a rounded half-dome roof; the place was used for public gatherings and legal proceedings (Spanswick, n.d.).

Towards the Romanesque era, around the 12th century, geometric shapes were introduced on the walls and windows along with the rounded arches that used to hold the roof. In Gothic architecture, where pointed arches were used which allowed for higher roofs and bigger buildings as the arches would hold more weight despite being smaller, and the use of glass windows made the structure of the walls and ceilings lighter, but it also allowed for more natural light to enter the building.

The direction of the light entering the building was also important, as it draws the attention of the person passing through the nave to the altar, following a specific path that reads a story that is depicted to capture the attention of the viewer and to teach them about the religion.

Picturing or sculpting a living thing was prevented in Christianity so Christian art was moved towards abstract as opposed to the nearly-realistic Roman art. The use of mosaics and the interest in the internal decoration of the church and making it large enough to attain social gatherings came also from the Roman influence.

In conclusion, Roman art and architecture had a great influence on Christian art and architecture. The Romans who converted to Christianity brought their knowledge and skills to the new religion, including the catacombs, basilicas, and the use of mosaics.

References