From 313 onwards, the expansion of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire established another phase in the development of artistic expressions linked to this new belief. According to the fundamental bases of the Edict of Milan, official document granted by the Emperor Constantine, Christianity became a religion recognized by the Roman State. After this determination, Christian churches proliferated and opened space for a new field of expression for such art.
Early Christian temples were visibly influenced by the architectural tradition of Roman public buildings. One of the greatest manifestations of this influence is seen in the use of the word “basilica” to name churches. Before such an event, this same name was only used for the buildings that took care of the administration of the empire.
Being a true tribute to the Christian confession, these first built churches had a very elaborate architectural project. The financial resources used were high, as there was a great concern with the solidity of the constructed work. Internally, the first Christian basilicas had a large roof segmented into three large pointed arches supported by smaller warheads which, in turn, were supported by several columns.
In some situations, due to the lack of knowledge of the architect or simply to contain expenses, some churches had a less elaborate project. However, we see that a considerable part of these churches valued the design of wide spaces that could suit the congregation of various followers of Christianity. In addition, the walls were rich in paintings that referenced biblical passages.
The paintings that appear at this time clearly indicate the state of cultural hybridity experienced in the Roman world. Many of the images represented inside these churches, which made sense to Christian worship, could also awaken the senses of followers of other pagan religions. The representation of vines in the arabesques of the basilicas, which could have originated in Dionysian rituals, now, in the Christian context, referred to the sacred Eucharistic ritual.
In addition to this fusion, we realize that the release of the cult provided the inauguration of a series of new elements that integrated Christian iconography. As an example, we can cite an interesting image present in the Church of Santa Constanza. In such a construction, we can appreciate the image of Christ in a paradisiacal setting delivering the laws in the hands of the apostles Peter and Paul.
Even during the fourth century, we still have to highlight the actions taken by Emperor Theodosius. Through the powers given to him, this Roman ruler, in the year 391, elevated Christianity to the status of the official religion of the entire Roman Empire. In this way, we can understand why Christian painting and architecture developed so much in this period of time.
See more:
Early Christian Art – The Catacomb Stage
By Rainer Sousa
Master in History
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Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SOUSA, Rainer Gonçalves. "Primitive Christian Art – The Official Stage"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/artes/arte-crista-primitiva-1.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.