The literature on early Christian art reveals a discipline where archaeology, theology, and aesthetics converge to unveil the visual soul of primitive Christianity. From the subterranean frescoes of the catacombs to the evolving iconography of the cross and fish, this field invites the reader into the Church’s ancient struggle to see—and to be seen—amid persecution, piety, and theological development.
Key Bibliographic Resources
This section builds on the literature already referenced in the discussion of the catacombs (see Chapter VII), providing an expanded catalogue of essential works that explore the symbology, stylistic development, and theological vision embodied in early Christian art.
Among the foundational sources:
– FR. Münter, Sinnbilder und Kunstvorstellungen der alten Christen (Altona, 1825) — an early and influential treatise on Christian symbolism and iconography.
– Grüneisen, Über die Ursachen des Kunsthasses in den drei ersten Jahrhunderten (Stuttgart, 1831) — an important study of the early Church’s ambivalence toward visual art and the suspicion it faced during centuries of persecution.
– Helmsdörfer, Christliche Kunstsymbolik und Ikonographie (Frankfurt, 1839) — offers a concise framework for interpreting Christian symbols.
– F. Piper, Mythologie und Symbolik der christlichen Kunst, 2 vols. (Weimar, 1847–1851), and his later work Einleitung in die monumentale Theologie (Gotha, 1867), with Über den christlichen Bilderkreis (Berlin, 1852, pp. 3–10) — together provide a monumental treatment of Christian art’s symbolic vocabulary.
Archaeological and Roman Catholic Contributions
Some of the most comprehensive archaeological studies come from Roman Catholic scholars deeply invested in the Church’s visual heritage:
– Giovanni Battista de Rossi, the foremost archaeologist of the Roman catacombs, authored De Christianis monumentis ἰχθὺν exhibentibus, published in the third volume of Pitra’s Spicilegium Solesmense (Paris, 1855), and his magnum opus Roma Sotterranea (1864–1867). His Bulletino di Archeologia Cristiana (published continuously since 1863) remains a valuable periodical resource.
– P. Raffaelle Garrucci, Jesuit scholar and prolific author of Storia della Arte Cristiana nei primi otto secoli della Chiesa (Prato, 1872–1880), produced a six-volume work in folio format with over 500 exquisite plates. Although rich in documentation and artistic scope, it leans heavily toward Roman Catholic interpretation. His earlier treatise Il crocifisso graffito in casa dei Cesari (Rome, 1857) examines the famous Alexamenos graffito, an early anti-Christian caricature.
– Fr. Becker, through works like Die Darstellung Jesu Christi unter dem Bilde des Fisches auf den Monumenten der Kirche der Katakomben erläutert (Breslau, 1866) and Das Spott-Crucifix der römischen Kaiserpaläste aus dem Anfang des dritten Jahrhunderts (Breslau, 1866), contributed significantly to the study of early Christological symbolism. His later work on Wand- und Deckengemälde der römischen Katakomben (Gera, 1876) documents the wall and ceiling paintings of the catacombs.
Reference Works and Visual Compendia
Several dictionaries and encyclopedias serve as indispensable companions for students of Christian art:
– Abbé Joseph Alphonse Martigny, Dictionnaire des Antiquités Chrétiennes (Paris, 1865; 2nd ed. 1877) — offers richly illustrated entries on Christian symbolism, art, architecture, and burial practices.
– F. X. Kraus, Die christliche Kunst in ihren frühesten Anfängen (Leipzig, 1873), a succinct yet well-illustrated survey with 53 woodcuts. Kraus also contributed numerous entries to his Real-Encyclopädie der christlichen Alterthümer (Freiburg, 1880ff.), often drawing from Martigny’s iconographic plates.
Specialized Symbolic Studies
– H. Achelis, Das Symbol des Fisches und die Fischdenkmäler (Marburg, 1888), presents an in-depth analysis of the ichthys symbol, one of the earliest and most poignant signs of Christian identity.
– C. W. Bennett, Christian Archaeology (New York, 1888), offers a general yet valuable introduction to the field for English-speaking readers.
Anglican Contributions and Liturgical Aesthetics
– A. Welby Pugin, a convert to Roman Catholicism and a leading ecclesiastical architect, compiled the richly illustrated Glossary of Ecclesiastical Ornament and Costume (London, 1844), blending liturgical form with artistic theory and drawing attention to the ritual beauty of Christian vestments and ornaments.
