ART 263 / MAN 263
The Business of Art

Part II
Early Christianity

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Without going into any lengthy religious/philosophical discourse, we will just look at the roots of Early Christianity and its art briefly.

Jesus Christ was a Jewish citizen of the Roman Empire who had twelve primary followers
(apostles or disciples), one of whom was Peter.     (note the mosaic of Peter preaching to the Romans from the old basilica of St. Peter's, Rome Italy c. 700)  Peter’s name is mentioned nearly 200 times in the Gospels and Acts, while the other followers’ names added together are only mentioned about 130 times. Peter was instructed by Jesus to "feed my sheep" and was called "…Peter, and on this rock I will build my church."  Thus, Peter is considered to be (by some) the successor to Jesus and by Catholics to be the first in a long line of Popes.   This mosaic depicting Peter preaching to the Romans is from the old basillica of St. Peters (Rome, Italy) and dates from c. 700 A.D.

After Jesus’ execution, the Apostles spread his philosophy. Those who embraced it (Christians) were subjected to persecution by the Roman officials who did not endorse this new cult. (A cult is technically defined as an offshoot religious group, usually with a charismatic leader. Early Christianity was an offshoot of Judaeism.)

Early Christians were often from the poorest segments of Roman society - those for whom the official Roman religion offered no solace.  Pagan Romans did not really believe in an afterlife. The promise of heaven appealed particularly to the suffering impoverished masses.

The major monuments of the Era of Persecution (AD 37-313) are the catacombs, where the Early Christian dead were laid to rest.   About 4 1/2 million Early Christians are buried in the 57 catacombs alongside the Appian Way outside of Old Rome. The catacombs were tunnels dug in the soft tufa. Some are 5 levels deep. There are literally hundred of miles of catacombs in Rome alone. There are also catacombs in Naples, Palermo, and other Roman cities. The catacomb of Pricillia in Rome, Italy is represented in this picture. --------------------->

The art of the catacombs is generally humble - inscriptions on walls, terra cotta or bronze oil lamps, simple to elaborate sarcophagi (stone coffins),   fresco paintings (which have not survived well), and some mosaics.  This sarcophagus from the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, Ohio depicts the myth of Orestes and dates to c. A.D. 140-150.  
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The Early Christians were all buried in the catacombs. (Catholics consider these Early Christian bishops of Rome to be the Early Popes.)  The painted ceiling of a cubiculum in the catacombs of Saints Peter and Marcellinus in Rome, Italy (c. early
fourth century A.D.) is an unusally fine example of a catacomb fresco painting.

Since the church was a poor, loosely organized, persecuted institution, art patronage was non-existent.

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