THE FIRST big exhibition in Britain of Byzantine art for 50 years kicks off at the Royal Academy of Arts on Piccadilly this weekend, highlighting some of the cultural splendours of an empire that lived for over a thousand years.
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As well as being packed full of what you might expect – icons, mosaics and intricate metal work – Byzantium 330-1453 also brings to light less obvious work, including artefacts never before shown in public.
Byzantium began life as the eastern portion of the Roman Empire, centred on the city of Constantinople (now Istanbul). When the western half fell apart in a perfect storm of internal bickering and barbarian attack, its eastern counterpart remained alone to carry civilisation’s torch forwards.
That, at least, is how its leaders would have liked to see things and you get some idea of that reverence for civilisation, most especially orthodox Christian civilisation, in the Royal Academy’s exhibition, which traces the history of the empire through its art.
Byzantium 330-1453 opens this Saturday, 25 October and runs until 22 March 2009. Tickets are priced at £12 for adults, children between £3 and £4. Full details on the Royal Academy’s official site
