Early Christian

Scope note

Refers primarily to the style and period of Christian art in Italy and the western Mediterranean, roughly from the fourth to the mid-eighth century CE. It is characterized by an adaptation of the artistic language and symbolism of classical antiquity, but generally sacrifices classical ideals of physical beauty and technical perfection to emphasize spirituality and the immaterial world. fFor the style and period of eastern Mediterranean Christian art from the fourth to the mid-fifteenth century CE, use "Byzantine."

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