An examination of the iconographic evolution of the image of Christ in Early Christian Art.

Georgina Barter
Trinity College Dublin
Department of History of Art and Architecture
2017
BA

Subject: Frescoes, Mosaics and Sculpture
Country: Italy and Greece
Period: Early Christian

10,000 words

This dissertation examines the iconographical evolution of the image of Christ in Early Christian art. For the purposes of this thesis, it is assumed that the typical rendering of Jesus Christ as the fair skinned adult male with long brown hair, is instantly recognizable to most people. It is an image that has not changed dramatically since the sixth century. The divinity associated with the image of Christ gives it a significant amount of religious importance especially for Christians themselves, but where did this symbolic image come from? How has it changed since its inception? It is intended in this work to examine the origins of the image of Christ and trace the iconographic evolution of his image as it is developed throughout the Early Christian period. The time frame under examination is mid 3rd century AD to mid 6th century AD.

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An examination of the iconographic evolution of the image of Christ in Early Christian Art.