Summary:
This week I read Chapter 4 of Hinchman's book History of Interior Architecture. This section focuses on the period of Early Christian and Byzantine, This is the time following the fall of Rome and the spread of Christianity. Most of the art and designs focused on these topics. New forms of architecture were created, but many of them were inspired by Roman and Greek pieces. Designs had to incorporate theological beliefs to represent places for Christian meetings and worship. I also learned that Early Christian often refers to the west while Byzantine is the east. Christian church buildings didn't begin to be constructed until 300 years after the life of Jesus Christ.
Designs and Current Applications:
One piece of Early Christian design that stuck out to me was Sant' Apollinaire in Classe, Ravenna. Constructed by a group of architects, this structure employs the idea of a basilica revised to best fit the needs for Christians. The room itself is rectangular with an apse. The apse was the designated spot for communion, a Christian practice of taking bread and wine. The apse also has a mosaic that tells the story of Jesus's life. Through the art and structure of the apse, it becomes a key focal point in this design. A current design influenced by this structure is the Kimbell Art Museum by Louis Kahn. It has a similar form as the Sant' Apollinaire with its rectangular shape and curves at the front.
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Sant' Apollinare - Classe, Ravenna - Architect Unknown
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| Kimbell Art Museum - Fort Worth, TX - Louis Kahn |
Another work I admired was the building of San Vitale. This was constructed by the Byzantine Empire the Emperor Justinian's rule. This concept focused more on a spherical dome shape that had the congregation revolve around the center point of the room representing Jesus Christ. Similar to the Sant' Apollinaire, mosaics were also present in San Vitale. A modern design that was inspired by San Vitale is San Giacomo Apostolo Church. While this church is not shaped in a sphere or octagon, it does focus on the idea of radial design which was key in San Vitale's plan.
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| San Vitale - Emperor Justinian's Rule - Radial Concept |
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| San Giacomo Apostolo Church - Radial Design |
A third work I enjoyed was the Throne of Maximian. It included carvings made of ivory and was very prestigious among Byzantine furniture. The panels show stories believe to be of the story of Joseph from Egypt. The other side shows stories of influential Catholic characters. Not only does this piece show the importance of craftsmanship and delicacy in furniture, but also the narratives that the Byzantines valued. Carlo Scarpa's furniture today may not be as elaborate as the Byzantine, but there is a focus on craftsmanship and structure.
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| Throne of Maximian - Craftsmanship |
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| Carlo Scarpa - Chair with Excellent Craftsmanship |
One Step Further:
Another piece that really captivated my attention was a three-legged stool from Medieval times. While the designer of this chair is unknown, I looked at other anthropomorphic pieces of furniture. The video below describes the definition of anthropomorphic for a better understanding. The book included two examples of this type of design. One of these included a stool with handles built in while the other was a stool built to highlight the use of natural wood. This concept is so interesting to me because these pieces of furniture have been influenced and shaped by countless people using them. This idea is so cool to me that our touch and influence can impact the shape and function of objects.
Conclusion:
This week was important to learn about the similariteis and differences between Early Christian (west) and Byzantine (east) but also their similarities. They focused on two different structures of churches and designs, but they both shared the ultimate goal of making Jesus Christ the center point. Rome had a large influence on this period, and they learned to continue growing from what was left behind from the fallen empire,
Faith, I really enjoyed reading your post! You did a great job explaining the differences between Early Christian and Byzantine design while also showing how they influenced modern architecture. I liked how you connected buildings like Sant’ Apollinare and San Vitale to current designs. Your explanation of the Throne of Maximian and the three-legged stool also showed how much you appreciated the craftsmanship and meaning behind these pieces. You did a great job connecting the history of the period to modern design and sharing your personal thoughts.
ReplyDeleteFaith, I always enjoy reading your posts! It's amazing how both styles share the same goal of making Jesus Christ the center of their designs. I also didn’t know until now that Early Christian refers to the West and Byzantine to the East. Amazing job!
ReplyDeleteFaith, love the furniture focus, I didn't consider that aspect as much and enjoy reading about it. Beautiful layout, as always!
ReplyDeleteFaith,
ReplyDeleteYour Blog this week was informative and presented in a creative manner. I love how you explore significant buildings or pieces of furniture in detail and show how the influence on current designs.
I enjoyed your interest in the anthropomorphic pieces of furniture. It is interesting the thought that went into creating a chair, for example, that fit the human form and could be carried by human hands. WEll done! 50/50 points
Hi Faith! I really liked how you used Sant’Apollinare and San Vitale to show different ways Christian worship spaces could be organized. Comparing the long basilica plan with the more centralized Byzantine design helped me understand how circulation and spatial organization could shape the worship experience. Your examples also made the differences between the two periods easy to recognize. Great job!
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