How Did Greece And Rome Influence Early Christian Art

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Greece and Rome influence on Development of Early Christian Art Early Christian art represents a period of art from the rise of Christianity and the recognition of Christianity in 313 till the formation of Byzantine art in the 6th – 7th century (Jensen, 2000). “Christianity did not begin as a religion, but rather as the movement of people around a single charismatic teacher or preacher” (Cohen, Shaye). “Two important moments played a critical role in the development of early Christianity. The first was the decision of the Apostle Paul to spread Christianity beyond the Jewish communities of Palestine into the Greco-Roman world, and the second was the moment when the Emperor Constantine at the beginning of the fourth century accepted Christianity and became its patron” (Cohen, Shaye). The creation and nature of Christian art were directly impacted by these moments. Paul spread Christianity to the Greek and Roman cities of the ancient Mediterranean world. When he explored different cities including Rome, he encountered the religious Cultural experience of the Greco Roman world (Cohen, Shaye). This encounter…show more content…
Elements of early Christian culture include: architectures, sculptures, paintings, and burial practices. One famous piece of art was the painting of Annunciation by the artist Leonardo da Vinci in the Italian Renaissance. Another famous painting in Christian art is the Crucified Thief created by the artist Robert Campin during the Northern Renaissance. Other pieces of art include Noah praying in the Ark from the inside of a Roman Catacomb and the 3rd century cover for a catacomb burial, engraved with the Adoration of the Magi. Lastly, the painting The Virgin and Child with St. Anne by the artist Leonardo da Vinci is a very simple, yet meaningful and powerful piece that is very well known in the Early Christian Art

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