After the Edict of Toleration (Milan) in 313, Christian art was permitted by the state. Emperor Constantine encouraged Christian art. In 380, Theodosius I (379-395) recognized Roman Christianity as the state religion. The Empire became a powerful patron of the Christian art.
No longer did art have to be "underground," such as in the catacombs of Rome and inside house churches. For the first time, basilicas (churches whose design was adapted from that of Roman secular basilicas) were built for Christian worship. Inside the basilicas, artists did paintings and mosaics of biblical stories that could be viewed publicly.
An inside view of St. Peter's in Rome, about 1910. The old basilica is gone.
Constantine played an important role in the rise of Christian architecture. He brought artists together from many places and gave them special favors. Some examples of basilicas that Constantine had built are the Lateran Basilica and old St. Peter's in Rome, the Church of the Apostles and the original Hagia Sophia in Constantinople , and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. An example of the Roman basilica of the age of Constantine is the church of S. Maria Magiorre.
Not all Christians accepted or welcomed Christian art. For example, the famous church historian Eusebius of Caesarea refused to send a picture of Christ to Constantia, Constantine's sister, when she requested one. He told her one could find pictures of Jesus and the apostles in the bazaars of Palestine but he did not think that the people who painted the art or those who sold the art were even Christians. The controversy over Christian icons was to grow over the next few centuries.
Sources: Beat Brenk, "Early Christian Art," The Interpreter's Dictionary to the Bible, Supplementary Volume, edited by Keith Krim (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1976), pp. 62-64; John Tinsley, "Art and the Bible," The Oxford Companion to the Bible, edited by Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993), pp. 56-57. Henry Chadwick, The Early Christian Church (New York: Penguin Books, 1967), pp. 277-280.
Learn about the some of the ways early Christians interpreted the Bible. Meet Ephraim of Syria of the Edessan School of Interpretation, Clement and Origen of Alexandrian School of Interpretation, and John Chrysostom of the Antiochene School of Interpretation.
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Visit other web sites that have information about this time period.2.
Learn more about basilicas. View some of the earliest basilicas and their mosaics.
Basilica (Catholic Encyclopedia)
http://www.knight.org/advent/cathen/02325a.htm
The term basilica signifies a kingly, and secondarily a beautiful, hall. The name indicates the Eastern origin of the building, but it is in the West that the finest examples of the basilica are found.
Basilica of St. Peter.
http://pulse.tcs.tulane.edu/lester/text/Early.Christian.Period/Early.Christian/Early.Christian1.html
Around 333 Constantine began the construction of the old Basilica of St. Peter's. The old basilica no longer exists. The image is from an ancient Roman fresco.
Basilica of S. Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna
http://www.racine.ra.it/RACINE/docs/I/05F5E49B/RAVENNA/nuovofruk.htm
This basilica was built for Theodoric's Arian worship at the beginning of the 6th century and was consecrated to Catholicism by Archbishop Agnello half way through that century. Some of the mosaics are shown from including The Call of Peter and Andrew and Jesus and the Woman at the Well.
Basilica S. Apollinare in Classe
http://www.racine.ra.it/RACINE/docs/I/05F5E49B/RAVENNA/classefruk.htm
The basilica was built during the first half of the 6th century with the generosity of Giuliano Argentario.
Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi
http://www.assind.perugia.it/umbria/assisi/doc/ing/cmaria.htm
The church was built over an early Christian place of worship that had been converted from a Roman temple. Roman ruins can be
seen in the crypt, especially in the capitals and walls.
Mosaics
http://www.knight.org/advent/cathen/10584a.htm
A great impetus to the art occurred when Constantine, in establishing himself on the throne of Byzantium, commenced to give his
capital an imperial appearance as far as art was concerned. Of the works carried out by them, the mosaics of the church of St. George at
Thessalonica in many cases yet occupy their original position. The nave of St. Mary Major's in Rome still retains some of the
fine mosaics placed there in the fifth century (430-440) and the churches of St. Sabina (422- 433), of St. Paul without the walls,
and of St. John Lateran were also so decorated in the same era (446-462).
Disclaimer: Some links jump to outside sites for further information on the Bible, interpretations, the canon, translations, manuscripts, resources, and other perspectives. Links do not constitute an endorsement by the Women's Division of the information on other web sites. External web sites offer us diverse perspectives; afford us an opportunity to compare them to United Methodist positions; and, encourage us to critically analyze the issues raised by The Bible: the Book that Bridges the Millennia web pages.
Copyright Notice: The photo "Interior of St. Peter's, Rome" is a detail from an image at Transcript's
IMAGES OF FAMOUS ARCHITECTURE, c. 1910, PLATES FROM THE 11TH EDITION OF THE ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA, Plate 3, Fig. 69. These pictures are offered free by transcript for non-profit educational use. Transcript retains all rights. Under no circumstances may these pictures be resold, or distributed in the form of a library. All products/pages containing these pictures should indicate Transcript as the holder of the copyright on these images.
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