This lavish, full-color publication is the catalogue accompanying the spectacular exhibition on view at the Getty Villa from April 9 through August 25, 2014. Byzantine artists drew from pagan and early Christian foundations to fashion the opulent and deeply spiritual world of Byzantium (CE 330–1453). The establishment of Christianity as the state religion inspired the creation of luminous icons, textiles, architectural sculptures, frescoes, and mosaics to adorn basilicas throughout the empire. Prosperous monasteries produced illuminated manuscripts and preserved the legacy of ancient Greek literature, while private patronage fostered the embellishment of daily life. Nearly two hundred objects, exclusively from Greek collections, display the distinctive Byzantine aesthetic that influenced the artistic traditions of neighboring cultures for over a millennium.

Anastasia Drandaki, Demetra Papanikola- Bakirtzi, Anastasia Tourta, editors
363 pages
978-9604761319 
paperback
Benaki Museum, Athens, Greece
2013
General History, Exhibitions