What materials were used in Byzantine mosaics?

Like other mosaics, Byzantine mosaics are made of small pieces of glass, stone, ceramic, or other material, which are called tesserae. During the Byzantine period, craftsmen expanded the materials that could be turned into tesserae, beginning to include gold leaf and precious stones, and perfected their construction.

What are the characteristics of Byzantine mosaics?

Mosaics. The majority of surviving wall and ceiling mosaics depict religious subjects and are to be found in many Byzantine churches. One of their characteristics is the use of gold tiles to create a shimmering background to the figures of Christ, the Virgin Mary and saints.

What is the characteristics of Byzantine medieval paintings?

Byzantine art was conservative in nature, primarily featuring religious subject matter, and much of it was characterized by a lack of realism. Paintings in particular were flat with little to no shadows or hint of three-dimensionality, and the subjects were typically more serious and somber.

What is the distinct characteristic of a Byzantine sculpture?

Generally speaking, the main characteristics of Byzantine art include a departure from classical art forms that were highly realistic in nature. Byzantine artists were less concerned with mimicking reality and more in tune with symbolism, religious symbolism in particular.

What materials have been used traditionally for mosaics?

Mosaic art is the creation of patterns or pictures using small pieces of materials such as clay, marble, glass, tiles, or stones. The pieces are often glued or cemented to a surface such as a wall or a floor.

What were Byzantine mosaics made of and why were those materials used?

In antiquity, most mosaics adorned floors and so were usually made of colored stones that could withstand people walking on them. Because the Byzantines put mosaics on the walls, they could also use fragile materials: mother of pearl, gold and silver leaf, and glass of different colors.

What is the elements of Byzantine?

Their combination of the basilica and symmetrical central-plan (circular or polygonal) religious structures resulted in the characteristic Byzantine Greek-cross-plan church, with a square central mass and four arms of equal length. The most distinctive feature was the domed roof.