The Macedonian dynasty of emperors oversaw something of an artistic revival in the Byzantine empire, which some have even branded as a ‘renaissance’ for its ‘new range of expression and an increasing technical virtuosity’. Use of the term ‘renaissance’ immediately invites comparisons to the later Italian renaissance and whether or not this period of Byzantine art is worthy of such a comparison is debated. However, what is clear is the distinctive developments in Byzantine art, with the revival of classical forms in design, painting and architecture. The question I will consider in this essay is whether, and to what extent, these developments can be attributed to the Imperial court.

This mini-documentary offers a brief overview of the influence the Imperial Court exerted over Byzantine artistic developments during the reign of the Macedonian Emperors (from the 9th-11th century)

All materials are used under fair use for education and commentary.

Music:
Hiraeth by Scott Buckley (  / hiraeth-cc-by  )
Borealis by Scott Buckley (  / borealis-cc-by  )
In Search of Solitude by Scott Buckley (  / in-search-of-solitude  )

Full picture credits, as well as bibliography, can be found here: https://sites.google.com/view/the-his...

Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction
2:07 - Artistic Developments in the Macedonian Period
5:43 - The Influence of the Imperial Court
9:59 - The Influence of the Byzantine Church
13:14 - Foreign Influences
16:10 - Other Influences
17:07 - Conclusion