The people of that time were influenced by several different theologies and philosophies some believed that God could be experienced directly, others thought he couldn’t, and others thought that if he could, then he should not be physically depicted. The symbol of the cross was not used to represent Jesus until many centuries later, as in the early days of Christianity, crucifixion was a common form of punishment for various offenses and therefore would not have been exclusively linked with Christianity, but rather with incivility.Īnother symbol often used to represent Christ was the symbol of unity and peace, the dove.īesides the early Roman occupation discrimination against Christianity and Christian art, several other possible factors could have resulted in a lack of art representing Christian figures. Location: Catacomb of Priscilla, Italy, Rome, second half of the 3rd century Unknown Unknown, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons To hide the meaning of these early Christian artworks, artists represented the figure of Jesus symbolically with pictogram symbols such as the peacock, lamb, fish, or anchor.Ĭenter of the ceiling of the “Velatio” cubicle: the Good Shepherd (also sheep and doves with olive branches in trees). The first examples of Christian art still surviving today were found in the catacombs of Rome, on surfaces in Christian burial tombs, dated to be from somewhere between the 2nd to 4th centuries. They incorporated Christian themes subtly into imagery that was accepted within the predominantly Pagan culture. Under the Roman Empire in the earliest days of Christianity, Christian artwork was intentionally ambiguous so that the Christian undertones could not be noticed by the eyes of the Roman oppressors. Let us now explore the various periods of early Christian artwork and Christian sculptures. Historians and scholars have divided Early Christian art into two distinct periods: Before 313 CE and after 313 CE, as this was the year of the Edict of Malan.

It was also forbidden to create idols, so this too could have influenced the lack of art before 100 CE. At that time, Christianity was a small fringe religion with very few followers and little to no public recognition or support, so Christian painters would not have had the luxury of financial support from patrons.

Before 100 CE, Christians were a persecuted minority, so the chances of them being allowed to create art at this time were rather slim. Tracing the early days of Christian artwork can be a difficult task to undertake.

4.2 What Subject Matter Did Early Christian Artists Paint?.

4.1 Why Is It So Hard to Find Early Examples of Christian Art?.

3.4 Adoration of the Magi (1481) by Leonardo da Vinci.

3.3 Moses Striking the Rock (1624) by Joachim Anthonisz Wtewael.

2.4 The Tower of Babel (1563) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder.

2.3 The Creation of Adam (1512) by Michelangelo.

1 A Brief History of Early Christian Art.

A history of living art