DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26747#1007
Chap. I.
ORIGIN OF BYZANTINE STYLE.
943
BOOK X.
BYZANTINE.
CHAPTER I
CONTENTS.
Origin of Style — St. SopMa’s — Otlier Churches at Constantinople—Churckes in
Greece — Byzantine Orders — St. Mark’s, Yenice.
The teiTii Byzantine has been so indiscriminately and so incorrectly
applied to styles invented by people who bardly knew tbe name of
Byzantinm, and to forms of art wbicb bave not tbe sligbtest affinity
witb tbose practised in tbat capital, tbat it is now difficult to confine it
witbin its true and only signification. Properly speaking, it applies
only to tbat form of art invented in Constantinople after its virtual
separation from tbe Western Empire, and practised by tbe Greek Cburcb
during tbe wbole of tbe middle ages.
As now used, tbe narne comprises every building possessing a
dome, every style in wbicb tbat form was at all usual, and every form
of arcbitecture in wbicb polycbromy was adopted to any extent. Tbe
latter is now known to bave been common to all true styles, wbetber
ancient or modern, and consequently far from being peculiar to Byzan-
tine art; and it must not be forgotten tbat tbe Bomans were tbe true
inventors of tbe domical form as applied to large buildings. From
Bome it went to Constantinople, and from tbe same source also came
tbe few insignificant attempts at domes in tbe Western Empire.
In tbe following pages tbe term Byzantine will be restricted ex-
clusively to tbe arcbitecture of tbe Greek Cburcb as it arose under
Justinian, and continued, down to tbe 16th or 17th century, to be prac-
tised in all tbe Cbristian countries of tbe East. It will make tbis
clearer if we recapitulate, as briefiy as possible, tbe leading features of
tbe history of art at tbis period, as it is more fully developed in anotber
part of tbis work.
During tbe tbree centuries wliicb elapsed from tbe age of Augustus
to tbat of Constantine, tbe Boman form of architecture prevailed from
tbe shores of tbe Atlantic to tbe valley of tbe Eupbrates ; and all round
tbe sbores of tbe Mediterranean, witb tbe sligbt exception of Egypt,
wliicb for some time retained lier own style. It was bowever a period
of transition, and before Constantine assumed tbe purple a vast cbange
ORIGIN OF BYZANTINE STYLE.
943
BOOK X.
BYZANTINE.
CHAPTER I
CONTENTS.
Origin of Style — St. SopMa’s — Otlier Churches at Constantinople—Churckes in
Greece — Byzantine Orders — St. Mark’s, Yenice.
The teiTii Byzantine has been so indiscriminately and so incorrectly
applied to styles invented by people who bardly knew tbe name of
Byzantinm, and to forms of art wbicb bave not tbe sligbtest affinity
witb tbose practised in tbat capital, tbat it is now difficult to confine it
witbin its true and only signification. Properly speaking, it applies
only to tbat form of art invented in Constantinople after its virtual
separation from tbe Western Empire, and practised by tbe Greek Cburcb
during tbe wbole of tbe middle ages.
As now used, tbe narne comprises every building possessing a
dome, every style in wbicb tbat form was at all usual, and every form
of arcbitecture in wbicb polycbromy was adopted to any extent. Tbe
latter is now known to bave been common to all true styles, wbetber
ancient or modern, and consequently far from being peculiar to Byzan-
tine art; and it must not be forgotten tbat tbe Bomans were tbe true
inventors of tbe domical form as applied to large buildings. From
Bome it went to Constantinople, and from tbe same source also came
tbe few insignificant attempts at domes in tbe Western Empire.
In tbe following pages tbe term Byzantine will be restricted ex-
clusively to tbe arcbitecture of tbe Greek Cburcb as it arose under
Justinian, and continued, down to tbe 16th or 17th century, to be prac-
tised in all tbe Cbristian countries of tbe East. It will make tbis
clearer if we recapitulate, as briefiy as possible, tbe leading features of
tbe history of art at tbis period, as it is more fully developed in anotber
part of tbis work.
During tbe tbree centuries wliicb elapsed from tbe age of Augustus
to tbat of Constantine, tbe Boman form of architecture prevailed from
tbe shores of tbe Atlantic to tbe valley of tbe Eupbrates ; and all round
tbe sbores of tbe Mediterranean, witb tbe sligbt exception of Egypt,
wliicb for some time retained lier own style. It was bowever a period
of transition, and before Constantine assumed tbe purple a vast cbange