مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - FEMALE PATRONS OF THE ARTS IN EARLY BYZANTINE PERIOD AND THEIR EFFECTS ON CULTURAL LIFE

Abstract :

As the maintenance of a tradition inherited from the Roman Empire, one of the most effective ways for aristocrats or royals in the Byzantine Empire to demonstrate their generosity and importance to the community was to sponsor the creation of artworks that would be loved and appreciated by the common people. This mentality gained new meanings with the emergence of Christianity, and artworks were accepted as one of the most effective ways for artists to show their patrons strong faith, gratefulness or thankfulness. The quality of the artworks created thanks to the patronage or financial support of women in the early centuries of the Byzantine Empire vary by the wealth and social status of the donator. The artistic activities supported by women in this age had a broad range from relatively modest donations such as ceremonial plates to the jewelry which women believed that wearing would secure protection and mercy of the God. These donations, which were usually made with the influence of Christian beliefs, could be as large as the monumental church built by Anicia Iuliana, a powerful and rich princess from the imperial family. This presentation will analyze the importance of the financial support of female patrons in the Early Byzantine Period and focus on the contributions of patronage to women s social and economic status. It will also describe the influence of female patrons preferences on the aesthetic characteristics of the period based on the artworks that have survived to date.