CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2014
| Author | Horvat, Franka |
|---|---|
| Title | Artistic Transfers from Across the Adriatic Sea: The Thirteenth Century Frescoes in the Church of Saint Chrysogonus in Zadar |
| Summary | This thesis explores Byzantine artistic traditions beyond the Byzantine frontier by focusing on a case study of the frescoes in the church of Saint Chrysogonus in Zadar. The frescoes preserved in its interior, dated to the 13th century, show connections to Byzantine traditions, although the city was by that time no longer under Byzantine rule, and despite the fact that the church belonged to a Benedictine monastery. The connections and roll-models are to be looked for in the territory of Southern Italy: in the region of Apulia. Monumental art preserved in Apulia is interpreted a product of specific social and political circumstances. Being physical remote from Constantinople, this region was subdued to influences from other centers. On the other hand, Byzantine traditions remained strong even after the Norman Conquest, which is a complex issue that has to do with audiences and patronage, as well as cultural overlapping. Strong trade connections of Dalmatia and Apulia, as well as evidence of other types of connections suggest artistic transfers between the two. The exterior of the church of St. Chrysogonus which finds its parallels in Apulian basilicas is another clue for that. The resemblance of the frescoes in Saint Chrysogonus and particular fresco-decorated rock-cut churches in Apulia enables a more precise dating of the former. The case of Saint Chrysogonus casts doubt on generalizations about Western influences on Dalmatian monuments. Apart from shedding light on artistic tendencies in Zadar, this study contributes to a better understanding of cultural transfers in the Mediterranean. |
| Supervisor | Szakacs, Bela Zsolt |
| Department | Medieval Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2014/horvat_franka.pdf |
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