Rome's conversion to Christianity was a turning point for Christian art, as it was influenced by Roman artistic styles. The new Christians from the Romans and the Greeks brought their styles and artistic traditions to the new religion. The Romans and the Greeks excelled in the arts of architecture, sculpture, and painting, so they developed these arts when they converted to Christianity. Painting and borrowed art represent the most important themes of Christian art influenced by classical Roman art. Christian drawings often incorporate laurel wreaths and acanthus leaves as symbolic elements. Notably, the basilica, built in the Romanesque style, represents an important aspect of this fusion of old and new, as it omits depictions of pagan gods in favor of Christian themes. (Farber, n.d).
Christian paintings, such as mosaics, which were influenced by Roman painting techniques, often depicting scenes from the religion. One such example is the catacombs in Rome, where early Christian paintings have been found. (Netizenme, 2020).
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Mosaics have been used to decorate the walls and ceilings of churches and to depict scenes from the Bible and the lives of saints. Ravenna mosaics, such as those in the Basilica of San Vitale, are an example of early Christian art showing the influence of Roman art. As for sculpture, they used Roman methods and techniques to create religious artwork. An example of this is the Arch of Constantine in Rome, decorated with bas-reliefs depicting scenes from Roman mythology and history, as well as Christian scenes, such as the vision of the cross. (Farber,