European enamels . lish work ? Fortunately, sufficient evidence exists of theexistence of a Byzantine school, to which definiteworks of arts can be traced to enable us not only torecognize Byzantine work, but to describe its chiefpeculiarities. Briefly characterized, it is classicalart subjected to Oriental influence, and then mouldedinto form by Christianity. In order to understand the characteristics ofByzantine art, we must consider the sources fromwhich it sprung. When Constantine founded the new Byzantium,in 330 , he collected within the walls of the cityall the masterpieces of Greece
European enamels . lish work ? Fortunately, sufficient evidence exists of theexistence of a Byzantine school, to which definiteworks of arts can be traced to enable us not only torecognize Byzantine work, but to describe its chiefpeculiarities. Briefly characterized, it is classicalart subjected to Oriental influence, and then mouldedinto form by Christianity. In order to understand the characteristics ofByzantine art, we must consider the sources fromwhich it sprung. When Constantine founded the new Byzantium,in 330 , he collected within the walls of the cityall the masterpieces of Greece and Rome on whichhe could lay his hands. This resulted in an assem-blage of everything that could inspire the geniusand cultivate the tastes of his artists. It is there-fore not surprising to find that Byzantine workis founded on classical models. An examination ofthe ivory figure illustrated will demonstrate thisclearly. It represents an angel in Roman dress, withwings and sandals, standing on a flight of steps38. BYZANTINE IVORY FIGURE BYZANTINE ENAMELS under a canopy. The mode of wearing the cloak,the folds of the garments, the general treatment andfeeling of the later work, clearly shows that it isa development of the art of Roman times. Or again, compare a painting from the wallsof Pompeii with some rude effort of early Christianart from Rome or Egypt, and it will at once beevident that Christian art was only a developmentof classical art. In one case (at Ravenna) a Byzantine painterhas in a picture of the Baptism of our Lord actuallyrepresented the Jordan as a river-god crowned withweeds. Although Byzantine art was undoubtedly foundedon Roman models, it was largely influencedfrom other sources. In the first place it wasprofoundly modified by Oriental art, especiallythat of Persia. I do not know that any attempthas been made to trace the sources of ancientPersian art. It seems to me to have been largelyinfluenced, if not actually derived, from the artof ancient Assyria. T
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectenamelandenameling
