The use of art has played a crucial role in shaping the history of Christianity. Drawings, sculptures, and architectural designs have been used to tell the story of how Jesus Christ, a Christian's most revered personality, came to being and his influence. It is the use of these pieces of art that helps non-believers understand Christianity history better. The Byzantine art has been influential to the history of Christianity since it explains events that occurred in a simple way (Corman, 2018). During this period, several artists took place in creating the future of Christianity. Unlike other arts that were centered in one place, Byzantine art was spread across the previous areas occupied by the Roman empire. Therefore, the Byzantine art has been used by artists throughout the ancient Roman empire to manifest the history of Christianity and the position of Jesus Christ.
The Mosaic Art in San Vitale
The Mosaic art was famous in the history of the Catholic church, especially during the Byzantine period. The San Vitale church features several Mosaic arts, which simplify Christianity history (Kleiner, 2016). For instance, there is an upper ambulatory, specifically depicting recorded events in the Old Testament. The most famous events recorded in this area include the history of Abraham, Moses, Melchizedek, Isaiah, the Burning Bush, Cain and Abel, and Isaac.
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There are also sculptures depicting angels. Other mosaics in this area include the Four Evangelists, the Lamb of God, and the creation depicted in the Bible. Two of the most revered cities in the history of Christianity, Bethlehem and Jerusalem, are represented in the mosaics (Shin, 2020). The cities also represent the inclusivity of Christianity, unlike other religions that were discriminatory during that period. Therefore, mosaic art in the San Vitale Church is a rich source of Christianity history.
Bishop Ecclesius is the pioneer of the mosaic arts in San Vitale. In 526, Ecclesius came up with the mosaic art designs. The choice of sophisticated mosaic arts by Ecclesius made it possible for all the people to understand Christianity with ease. Bishop Ecclesius chose Ravenna as the best place to build San Vitale due to the favorable geographical, political, and religious location. For instance, the project was sponsored by Julian, who was a member of the eastern part of the Byzantine Empire. The mosaic arts are a mix of Roman and Hellenistic traditions, which further make the church attractive. Although Bishop Ecclesius is the church's pioneer, it was not until 547 when Bishop Maximian completed it. During this period, every major renovation in the mosaic arts represented any major event that occurred in the church’s history, as narrated by the Bible.
The visual representation of the Bible is a vital tool for people interested in the Christianity doctrine for several reasons. First, visual representation through mosaic arts leaves a long-lasting impact on the learner, unlike oral narration or written manuscripts. For example, sculptured images of Jesus would help a learner to retain such an image in their subconscious mind for a long time. Second, using mosaic art helps the learner to create a mental image of events as taught in the Bible. A person can create a mental picture of how Jesus taught his disciples on various occasions. Third, mosaic art is highly persuasive compared to other literature material and, therefore more reliable during Christian teaching. People learning about Christianity are less likely to disagree with the Bible teachings when they are presented with mosaic art. Therefore, using mosaic art to explain Christianity's history is highly effective and persuasive.
Given the persecution of Christians by the Romans, the risk of written material being destroyed was very high, hence the need for mosaic art. The mosaic art created a long-lasting image in the minds of both the teacher and learner, making the Gospel easy to teach. Visual representation of the Gospel also made the people feel closer to God. Seeing an image of Jesus close gave Christians hope when they were in trouble. The visual representation of the Gospel also raised curiosity among the learners to know more about Jesus Christ. Using this strategy of teaching the Gospel also made it to spread faster and easier than other methods. Therefore, using mosaic art in the Gospel was beneficial to Christians, the church, and people curious to learn about Christianity since the knowledge could be passed easily to others.
In conclusion, the Gospel has undergone several phases since the middle ages. The choice of mosaic art, especially during the Byzantine period, has carved the modern Gospel. Unlike written manuscripts that could be burned and forgotten, using sculptures and drawings was more beneficial since the people could create a mental image. The future of Gospel and understanding of Jesus Christ will depend on the preparedness of the teachers on the same. Failure to enrich people’s minds with visual and audio images of Jesus Christ. Since the risk of attacks and persecution to Christians is negligible, it would be easy to spread the Gospel. However, the success of Christianity is dependent on the preparedness of being relevant in this era of technological brainwash.
References
Cormack, R. (2018). Byzantine art. Oxford University Press.
Shin, J. M. (2020). Emperor, Empress, and the Divine in San Vitale and the Binyang Central Cave. Buddhist-Christian Studies , 40 (1), 369-384.
Kleiner, F. S. (2016). Gardner s Art Through the Ages: A Concise Western History. Nelson Education.
