Contextual Analysis
Junius Bassus was a Roman politician who gained prominence during his career and was also known as the Urban Prefect of Rome. His artwork, the Sarcophagus is a magnificent piece of art from the Late Antique era. It is of high-quality artistry as well as beautifully detailed to show the interplay of the biblical iconography. Christianity for a long time had a marginal status in the Roman land. In this period, Christianity was very appealing to the desires of many faithful; however, due to monotheism Christians suffered a lot of persecutions. In his artwork, Junius Bassus prominently represents Jesus Christ as a narration from the New Testament but in a way that is derived deeply from the Roman’s imperial art. Toward the 3rd Century, Christians in Rome would practices their new-found religion in secret places. However, under the rule of Constantine, Christianity became legal, and they were allowed to build their churches to show reverence and sympathy for the early martyrs that had even given up their lives for the religion.
On the other hand, the Last Judgment of Gislebertus is situated at the Cathedral of St. Lazare in France. This piece of art is located at the main entrance into the church, and effective reminder to be on your best behavior. It dictates Jesus sitting in what appears to be heaven and surrounded by angels. He is flanked by Virgin Mary, and his disciples are cast as observers and penitents of the last judgment. The Last Judgment had a great inspiration in the Western years for many decades. The story of Christianity according to the Bible tells that the world would end by Jesus coming back to earth to judge the should of the living as well as the dead to verify who goes to hell or heaven. Therefore, the artist of this piece found a very convincing way to express his historic and cultural views of this particular storyline. The main idea that the Last Judgment was trying to bring out the idea that each and every person’s deeds are going to be judged one day. Over the years, as many Europeans had ultimately recast man as God’s most important creation, the Last Judgment’s idea of warning became less significant as the artistic expressions of the story were given more attention.
For the Last Judgment, the local sandstone that is used to build the Cathedral was not suitable for carving; therefore, a whitish limestone imported from Tournus was used for the sculptured parts of the fabric. There are about 29 pieces of the limestone that are carefully fitted together to bring pout the lunette. The use of many parts was necessary due to the large size of the piece. The base width is about 6.40cm with an average thickness of 35cm with heads projecting a further 10cm. The solid lintel has a height of 76.5cm and a length of 6.40cm. At both sides, the lintel rest on square capital and the remaining portion of the lintel is supported due to the weights of the tympanum. The center of the lintel is strongly supported by a simple trumeau which also divides the main portal into a two-way door. Moreover, three archivolts are used ornamentally to frame the scenes of the major tympanum.
On the other hand, the Sarcophagus is a 4-inch by 4-inch by 4-inch piece that is carved on three sides. It is made up high relief carving material such as marble. The forms that were used in creating the Sarcophagus were the elements of naturalism and the contrapposto stance. The subject matter of the Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus is the Biblical stories in the Old and New Statement depicted into one story. The scenes from the two registers are made up of five compartments that are framed by columns. The figures that are depicted on the Sarcophagus include Jesus Christ, Adam and Eve, Peter, and Mary the Virgin. The styles that are used in this particular piece of artwork are from the Early Christianity, the Roman Imperialists, and the Classical Greeks. From the side view, the artist shows children collecting grapes and grain. The forms that were used in creating the Sarcophagus were the elements of naturalism and the contrapposto stance. It also serves modesty by removing sexuality from the nude figures.
