Editing Byzantine art (section)

===Age of Justinian===
[[File:Sanvitale03.jpg|thumb|260px|Mosaic from San Vitale in [[Ravenna]], showing the Emperor [[Justinian]] and Bishop [[Maximianus of Ravenna|Maximianus]], surrounded by clerics and soldiers.]]
[[File:Byzantine ivory 801.jpg|thumb|[[Archangel ivory]] of the early 6th century from Constantinople]]

Significant changes in Byzantine art coincided with the reign of [[Justinian I]] (527–565). Justinian devoted much of his reign to reconquering Italy, North Africa and Spain. He also laid the foundations of the imperial absolutism of the Byzantine state, codifying its laws and imposing his religious views on all his subjects by law.<ref>{{harvnb|Maas|2005}}.</ref>

A significant component of Justinian's project of imperial renovation was a massive building program, which was described in a book, the ''Buildings'', written by Justinian's court historian, [[Procopius]].<ref>Tr. H. B. Dewing, ''[https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Procopius/Buildings/home.html Procopius VII]'' (Cambridge, 1962).</ref> Justinian renovated, rebuilt, or founded anew countless churches within Constantinople, including [[Hagia Sophia]],<ref>{{harvnb|Mainstone|1997}}.</ref> which had been destroyed during the [[Nika riots]], the [[Church of the Holy Apostles]],<ref>{{harvnb|Dark|Özgümüş|2002|pp=393‒413}}.</ref> and the [[Little Hagia Sophia|Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus]].<ref>{{harvnb|Bardill|2000|pp=1‒11}}; {{harvnb|Mathews|2005}}.</ref> Justinian also built a number of churches and fortifications outside of the imperial capital, including [[Saint Catherine's Monastery]] on [[Mount Sinai]] in [[Egypt]],<ref>{{harvnb|Forsyth|Weitzmann|1973}}.</ref> [[Saint Sofia Church, Sofia|Basilica of Saint Sofia]] in [[Sofia]] and the Basilica of St. John in [[Ephesus]].<ref>{{harvnb|Thiel|2005}}.</ref>
[[File:StSophiaChurch-Sofia-10.jpg|thumb|left|260px|Nave of [[Saint Sofia Church, Sofia|Basilica of Saint Sofia]]]]
Several major churches of this period were built in the provinces by local bishops in imitation of the new Constantinopolitan foundations. The [[Basilica of San Vitale]] in [[Ravenna]], was built by Bishop [[Maximianus of Ravenna|Maximianus]]. The decoration of San Vitale includes important mosaics of Justinian and his empress, [[Theodora (6th century)|Theodora]], although neither ever visited the church.<ref>{{harvnb|Deichmann|1969}}.</ref> Also of note is the [[Euphrasian Basilica]] in [[Poreč]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://nickerson.icomos.org/euf/euf-idx.htm |title=Eufrasiana Basilica Project. |access-date=2007-01-28 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225201/http://nickerson.icomos.org/euf/euf-idx.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Recent archeological discoveries in the 19th and 20th centuries unearthed a large group of [[Early Byzantine mosaics in the Middle East]]. The eastern provinces of the [[Eastern Roman Empire]] inherited a strong artistic tradition from [[Late Antiquity]]. Christian mosaic art flourished in this area from the 4th century onwards. [[Byzantine mosaics|The tradition of making mosaics]] was carried on in the [[Umayyad]] era until the end of the 8th century. The most important surviving examples are the [[Madaba Map]], the mosaics of [[Mount Nebo]], Saint Catherine's Monastery and the Church of St Stephen in ancient Kastron Mefaa (now [[Umm ar-Rasas]]).

The first fully preserved illuminated biblical manuscripts date to the first half of the sixth century, most notably the [[Vienna Genesis]],<ref>{{harvnb|Wellesz|1960}}.</ref> the [[Rossano Gospels]],<ref>{{harvnb|Cavallo|1992}}.</ref> and the [[Sinope Gospels]].<ref>{{harvnb|Grabar|1948}}.</ref> The [[Vienna Dioscurides]] is a lavishly illustrated botanical treatise, presented as a gift to the Byzantine aristocrat [[Julia Anicia]].<ref>{{harvnb|Mazal|1998}}.</ref>

Important ivory sculptures of this period include the [[Barberini ivory]], which probably depicts Justinian himself,<ref>{{harvnb|Cutler|1993|pp=329‒339}}.</ref> and the [[Archangel ivory]] in the [[British Museum]].<ref>{{harvnb|Wright|1986|pp=75‒79}}.</ref> [[Byzantine silver]] plate continued to be decorated with scenes drawn from classical mythology; for example, a plate in the Cabinet des Médailles, Paris, depicts [[Hercules]] wrestling the [[Nemean lion]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}