File:A short history of art (1913) (14773606905).jpg

Identifier: cu31924014078004 (find matches)
Title: A short history of art
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: De Forest, Julia B. d. 1910 Caffin, Charles Henry, 1854-1918
Subjects: Art
Publisher: New York, Dodd, Mead
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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oy the best artists of the time, and therichest materials; whereas the comparative poverty andobscurity of the early Christians condemned them to thepoorest quality of art in their days. Painting, says Gregory II., is employed in churchesfor the reason that those who are ignorant of the Scripturesmay at least see on the walls what they are unable to readin books. Mosaics This is the keynote to early Christian art. The Churchwas creating an artistic phraseology for herself; and, inorder that her words might be understood by all, a conven-tional representation of Scripture scenes, and an individualtype for saints and apostles, must, of necessity, be adopted.The progress in this direction, as evidenced by Romanmosaics, is gradual but steady. The beardless Christ ofclassic times gives place to the Christ with a long beard,familiar to us in mediasval pictures. An ideal dress, consist-ing of the Roman toga, becomes the adopted costume of o .t/J > O tao enH o o > > o >> piO IS
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154. A SHORT HISTORY OF ART the apostles. The earth is represented by a simple flat sur-face, sometimes adorned with flowers. Attempts to makethe meaning of the picture clear by the expression andgrouping of the figures are gradually abandoned. Theirposition, or a simple gesture, says all that is required.Prophets and apostles are placed opposite each other, to ex-press promise and fulfilment. The bowing of the knee sig-nifies worship; and in a thousand such conventional waysthe story is told to the initiated, with ever-increasing ac-curacy; while the knowledge of anatomy dechnes, and artis-tic taste is on the wane. In the apse of Sts. Cosmas and Damian (526-530) wehave a spendid example of the Roman mosaics of the time.The background is blue. The full-length colossal figure inthe middle is Christ. He stands upon gold-edged clouds.His mantle is draped over his left arm in classic style; infact, all the figures remind us of antique portrait-statues.In his left hand he holds a roll, whi

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