The transition from the period of the Roman Empire to late antiquity was characterized by drastic changes in all spheres of human life. These changes had a considerable impact on the art of the period as it started to move from ancient Greek values to the values of the middle ages. The political and religious changes emphasized by Constantine I were the primary reason for the changes in the art of the time.
Constantine I is considered the first Christian emperor of the Roman Empire, which had tremendous implications for the spiritual life. Even before officially accepting Christianity, Constantine I was known to let his soldiers carry the symbol for Christ on their shields (Heritage History). Providing such freedom allowed the development of religious paintings in Synagogue and churches, such as Dura-Europos (Kleiner 233-234). At the same time, Constantine’s policies led to the blurring of lines between secular and spiritual lives, which resulted in the merge of different styles of art (Marcone).
The shift to late antiquity was also influenced by the expansion of the Roman Empire to the East. During the rule of Constantine I, the Roman Empire had an immensely diverse population with different cultural and linguistic backgrounds (Kleiner 232). This matter led to increased oriental influence, which was a reaction to the ossification of the ancient culture (Marcone). As a result, the focus of art moved from the beauty of form to pictorial narrative, which can be seen in the Arch of Constantine (Kleiner 225-226).
In conclusion, the period of late antiquity was influenced by various changes in social, political, and religious life in the Roman Empire. Constantine I was the central figure who ushered the transition to the Medieval Era. His actions formed new values, which changed the way people understood and expressed the world around them.
Works Cited
Heritage History. “Constantine.” Heritage History. Web.
Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner’s Art through the Ages: The Western Perspective. Vol. 1. 15h ed., Cengage Learning, 2015.
Marcone, Arnaldo. “Late Antiquity: Then and Now.” Antiquity and Its Reception – Modern Expressions of the Past, 2020. Web.