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Name: Samuel anoints David
Date: ca. 245 - 256 CE
Period/Style: Jewish, Late Antiquity
Artist/Architect: Unknown
Patron: Unknown
Original Location: Syria
Material/Technique: Detail of a mosaic with religious themes.
Descriptive Terms: Like many other murals from Dura-Europos, this mural is devoid of action and expression. The artist conveys a story through stylized gestures. The importance of Samuel is emphasized because he is bigger than the other characters.
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Name: Interior of the mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Date: 425 CE
Period/Style: Early Christian
Artist/Architect: Unknown
Patron: Unknown
Original Location: Ravenna, Italy
Material/Technique: Mosaic with religious motifs
Descriptive Terms: The entire interior of Galla Placidia was covered with mosaics. The building itself represents the fusion of two basic Antique building plans: the longitudinal plan (i.e. basilicas) and the central plan (i.e. mausoleums).
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Name: Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus
Date: 359 CE
Period/Style: Early Christian/Late Antique
Artist/Architect: -
Patron: -
Original Location: Rome, Italy
Material/Technique: Marble sarcophagus, subtractive sculpture
Descriptive Terms: The sarcophagus of Junius Bassus is not able for demonstrating the increasing acceptance of Christianity amongst Romans, and also the fusion of Christian subject matter (i.e. the Old Testament narratives depicted) with Classical design.
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Name: Christ Seated
Date: c. 350 - 375 CE
Period/Style: Early Christian/Late Antique
Artist/Architect: -
Patron: -
Original Location: Civita Latina, Italy
Material/Technique: Marble statuette.
Descriptive Terms: This piece is notable for being one of the few examples of Christian monumental sculpture. During this era, monumental sculpture became increasingly uncommon.
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Name: Interior of Santa Sabina
Date: c. 422 - 432
Period/Style: Early Christian/Late Antiquity
Artist/Architect: -
Patron: -
Original Location: Rome, Italy
Material/Technique: Early Christian Church, modeled on Old St. Peter's
Descriptive Terms: Notable for its longitudinal, basilica plan, its timbered-rood, and clerestory windows. Demonstrates the synthesis of old and new via the incorporation of Corinthian columns into the nave arcade.
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Name: Interior of Santa Costanza
Date: 337 - 351 CE
Period/Style: Early Christian/Late Antiquity
Artist/Architect: -
Patron: -
Original Location: Rome, Italy
Material/Technique: Interior of mausoleum.
Descriptive Terms: Highly refined example of the central-plan design. Incorporates ambulatory (a ringlike barrel-vaulted corridor separated from the central domed cylinder by a dozen pairs of columns)
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Name: Detail of vault mosaic in the ambulatory of Santa Costanza
Date: 337 - 351 CE
Period/Style: Early Christian/Late Antiquity
Artist/Architect: -
Patron: -
Original Location: Rome, Italy
Material/Technique: Mosaic on roof of interior.
Descriptive Terms: The vault mosaics of Santa Constanza depict putti harvesting grapes and producing wine, motifs associated with Bacchus, but for a Christian, such scenes brought to mind the Eucharist and Christ's blood.
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Name: The parting of Abraham and Lot, mosaic in the nave of Santa Maria Maggiore
Date: c. 432 - 440 CE
Period/Style: Early Christian/Late Antiquity
Artist/Architect: -
Patron: -
Original Location: Rome, Italy
Material/Technique: Mosaic panel with Old Testament motifs
Descriptive Terms: Use of "head cluster" (view crowd; represents many figures without going into detail). The figures engage in a sharp dialogue of glance and gesture, communicating the emotions of the characters without ambiguity. Notable for its incorporation of Classical design principles (it would be another century before Western Christian artists abandoned this style).
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Name: Christ as the Good Shepherd, mosaic from the entrance wall of the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Date: 425 CE
Period/Style: Early Christian
Artist/Architect: -
Patron: -
Original Location: Ravenna, Italy
Material/Technique: Mosaic on building interior
Descriptive Terms: Also notable for use of Classical design principles. Depicts Christ as a regal figure (see golden robe, halo, and stoic expression), and places Christ at the center of the piece.
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Definition
Name: Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Date: 425 CE
Period/Style: Early Christian
Artist/Architect: -
Patron: -
Original Location: Ravenna, Italy
Material/Technique: Mausoleum or Church, constructed of brick
Descriptive Terms: Notable for being a cross-shaped structure, with barrel-vaulted arms and a tower at the crossing. Fuses two basic Late Antique plans: the longitudinal (basilicas) and the central (mausoleums and baptisteries).
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Name: Interior of Sant' Appolinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy
Date: 504 CE
Period/Style: Early Byzantine
Artist/Architect: -
Patron: -
Original Location: Ravenna, Italy
Material/Technique: Mosaic on building interior
Descriptive Terms: The mosaic decorations on the interior of the Church are divided into three zones. The upper two date from the time of Theodoric; they depict scenes from the Old Testament. Notable for showing the first mosaics with a "regal" Jesus in a purple robe and crown.
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Name: Detail of the Mircle of the Loaves and Fishes, mosaic from the top register of the nave wall of Sant' Apollinare Nuovo
Date: 504 CE
Period/Style: Early Christian
Artist/Architect: -
Patron: -
Original Location: Ravenna, Italy
Material/Technique: Mosaic on building interior
Descriptive Terms: Also notable for use of Classical design principles. Depicts Christ as a regal figure (see golden robe, halo, and stoic expression), and places Christ at the center of the piece.
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Definition
Christ before Pilate, folio 8 verso of the Rosanno Gospels, early 6th century. Tempera on purple vellum.
Name: Christ before Pilate, folio 8 verso of the Rosanno Gospels
Date: c. 500 CE
Period/Style: Early Christian
Artist/Architect: -
Patron: -
Original Location: Ravenna, Italy
Material/Technique: Tempera on purple vellum
Descriptive Terms: Earliest preserved illuminated manuscript depicting scenes from the New Testament.
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Name: Woman Sacrificing at an alter, right leaf of the Diptych of the Nicomachi and the Symmachi
Date: c. 400 CE
Period/Style: Late Antique
Artist/Architect: -
Patron: -
Original Location: Ravenna, Italy
Material/Technique: Mosaic on building interior
Descriptive Terms: Exhibits the endurance pagan themes and patrons of the classical style, even after Rome became officially Christian. Depicts a woman sacrificing and conducting the rites of Bacchus.
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