that Theodoric was not likely to have sent to Constantinople for workmen. As far as there is any evidence from documents it points to Italian artists: there seem to have been schools in Rome, Naples, Milan and Ravenna, that owed nothing to Constantinople.[1] In spite of this, since all the work from the 4th century till the Lombards came to Italy (568) forms, together with Eastern work, as much one style as any in history, and since one must have a name for this style, the word Byzantine will do as well as any, and is far more reasonable than most such names of periods. We are here concerned with what was Byzantine in every sense, the local manner of Constantinople. From Constantine to Justinian is the period of formation. The city was begun in 328, dedicated on May 11, 330. Very little of the work of this first period remains. Constantine planned out the imperial quarter of the city as it has been ever since. On the southern point of the promontory, looking over the Propontis, he set up a series of connected buildings that made up the Residence. Right over the water was the palace, where Csesar might watch his ships sailing out with the legions on board, or bringing the spoil back through the Hellespont. Behind the palace was the Hippodrome, where the races were held, the real centre of the life of Constantinople, the Forum, Senate-house, and the Emperor's church, dedicated to the Holy Wisdom of God. All these buildings have gradually been replaced by others even more sumptuous than the ones to adorn which Constantine ransacked the Empire.[2] The problem of this first period was
- ↑ Kraus (Gesch. der Christl. Kunst, i, pp. 427, seq.) distinguishes three periods at Ravenna—pure Roman, Ostrogothic, Byzantine. Beissel (Altchristl. Kunst u. Liturgie in Italien, kap. 4, pp. 118–221) is inclined to see Roman and not Constantinopolitan work throughout, even in the mosaics of St. Vitalis that represent Justinian and Theodora with their courts. For the Byzantine question see especially Strzygowski: Orient oder Rom. (Leipzig, 1901), who traces all Byzantine work almost exclusively to Asia.
- ↑ St. Jerome says: "Constantinople was dedicated amid the nakedness of almost all the other cities" (Chron. a.d. 332).
Maximian, who stands in his dalmatic, pænula and pallium, holding a cross, by Justinian's side. Maximian was bishop from 546 to 556, and also built St. Apollinaris in Classe, in 549. The green colour of these mosaics is special to Ravenna, green and gold, like its marshes.
