Byzantine art

Frontal forms appear clearly against planar color regions and a bright ground.

Visual traits

• Frontality
• Outlines
• Planar ground

Expected changes

• Forms are more likely to appear frontal
• Ground and form are more likely to read separately

Definition

It organizes figures through frontal form, clear outlines, planar color regions, and decorative grounds. It does not mean recreation of a specific religious figure, sacred symbol, building, work, or locality.

In more detail

It can emphasize frontal form and clear grounds. Subject, writing, symbols, religious content, and materials such as gold leaf must be specified separately with verified evidence.

Includes

• Frontality, clear outlines, planar color regions, and bright decorative grounds

Excludes

• A specific religious figure or symbol
• A specific building or work
• Accurate recreation of writing or ornament

What this does not imply

• A particular religion, figure, symbol, or work
• Accurate writing or architecture
• A particular material

Variability

Brightness and ornament of the ground can be adjusted for the subject.

Usage

• Use frontality and a planar ground
• Specify religious content and symbols separately with verified evidence

Distinguish similar expressions

• Verify individual sources when recreating a specific work or building

Typical uses

• Show figures or objects with frontality and a clear ground

Possible failure modes

• Religious signs are added without evidence
• Realistic spatial depth becomes dominant