Early Christian art and architecture

Early Christian art and architecture, works of art exhibiting Christian themes and structures designed for Christian worship created relatively soon after the death of Jesus. Most date from the 4th to the 6th cent. a.d. See also Christian iconography under iconography.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Eastern Traditions
• Architecture
• Sculpture
• Mosaics and Manuscript Illumination
• Earliest Works
• Bibliography

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2025, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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