Study
History of Christian Art & Architecture
This course will survey the rich artistic and architectural heritage of the Christian Church - the parish, cathedral, and monastic traditions - considering the stylistic and theological developments of art and architecture therein beginning with the Apostolic Church, through Byzantium, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the post-Reformation world. We will focus on the ritual use and context of sacred space, monumental decoration, icons, manuscripts, liturgical objects, etc.
Class begins on Wednesday, January 25 (7-8:30pm)
Course Schedule:
Week One
• Course Overview
• Introduction of Sacred Space
• Judaism & Sacred Space
o The Tent of Meeting
o The First Temple Jerusalem
o The Synagogue
Week Two
• Judaism & Sacred Space (continued)
• Jesus, the Rise of Christianity
Week Three
• The Beginnings of Christian Art & the Use of Space
• The House Church
Week Four
• The evolution of catacomb and sarcophagus art
• Review Pre-Constantinian Worship and its Setting
Week Five
• The Age of Constantine
o the Birth of the Byzantine Empire
o Christianity
• Churches
o Architecture, (Cathedrals and Parishes)
o Sacred Art (Iconography)
o The Sanctuary and the sacred rites celebrated therein
Week Six
• The Age of Justinian:
o Hagia Sophia Church
o The Monastery of St. Katherine
o The Church of St. Demetrius
• Minor Arts
o Ivory Carvings
o Illuminated Bibles
o Liturgical Instruments
• Monastic Dwellings
• The iconoclast controversy c726-843
Week Seven
• Middle to Late Byzantine Architecture and Art
• Romanesque Christendom
Week Eight
• Gothic Art & Architecture
Week Nine
• The Renaissance Art & Architecture
• Classical Renaissance and the Baroque synthesis
• Churches of the Enlightenment and Gothic Revival
Week Ten
• Formal Worship and Architecture
• Non-formal Worship and Architecture
Week Eleven
• Evangelical Architecture in the Nineteen Century
• The New Community
Week Twelve
• Review
