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Early Christian art
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detail from sarcophagus of Junius Bassus Figure 194: Use of gold tesserae, detail from the Early Christian vault mosaics of Sta. Constanza, Rome, c. 337-354 AD.
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detail from sarcophagus of Junius Bassus
detail from sarcophagus of Junius Bassus Detail from marble sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, c. 359; in the Museo Petriano, St. Peter's, Vatican City.

Early Christian art

Also known as: Paleo-Christian art, primitive Christian art
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History

Early Christian art, architecture, painting, and sculpture from the beginnings of Christianity until about the early 6th century, particularly the art of Italy and the western Mediterranean. (Early Christian art in the eastern part of the Roman Empire is usually considered to be part of Byzantine art.) The Christian religion was part of a general trend in the late Roman Empire toward mysticism and spirituality. As Christianity developed, its art reflected the prevailing late antique...

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