How does Early Christian and Byzantine portraiture represent both a continuation of and a break from the past?

They represent a break and continuation of the past in several ways. It shows a continuation of the past because they art form is similar to those of Ancient Egyptian painting as the facial portraits put on the mummies. The Fayum portraits were paintings by Greco-Romans that bring back to life the art of ancient Egypt which is a continuation of the past.

The Ravenna Portrait of Justinian represents more of a break from the past because it now puts the Christian element into the artwork with a halo around of of the character's heads. This shows the change from the past believe in many gods to the switch to Christianity with one God who they incorporate in their everday life, including art.


Works Cited
"Ancient Faces: Mummy Portraits from Roman Egypt | Past Exhibitions | The Metropolitan Museum of Art." The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York: Metmuseum.org. Web. 12 Mar. 2010. .
"File:Meister Von San Vitale in Ravenna 003.jpg -." Wikimedia Commons. Web. 12 Mar. 2010.