1. Subject Matter: While Roman art often depicted mythological scenes, portraits of emperors and other powerful individuals, and everyday life, early Christian art focused primarily on religious themes and narratives from the Bible, the lives of saints, and the teachings of Jesus Christ. Christian artists sought to convey the spiritual and theological messages of their faith through their art.
2. Symbolism: Early Christian art made use of various symbols to convey religious concepts and ideas. These symbols included the fish (representing Christ), the dove (representing the Holy Spirit), the chi-rho symbol (formed from the first two letters of the Greek word for "Christ"), and the Good Shepherd (representing Jesus as the protector and guide of his followers).
3. Simplicity and Stylization: In contrast to the often elaborate and naturalistic style of Roman art, early Christian art tended to be simpler and more stylized. This was partly due to the fact that many early Christian artists were not trained in the classical artistic traditions and partly because the focus was on conveying the message rather than creating realistic or aesthetically pleasing images.
4. Narrative Scenes: Early Christian art frequently depicted narrative scenes, telling stories from the Bible or the lives of saints. These scenes were often arranged in a continuous narrative format, with multiple events depicted in a single work.
5. Use of Mosaics: Mosaics, made by arranging small pieces of colored glass, stone, or ceramic, were a common form of early Christian art. Mosaics were particularly suited to the decoration of churches and other religious buildings, as they could cover large areas and create a sense of awe and grandeur.
6. Influence of Roman Art: While early Christian art was distinct from Roman art in many ways, it also drew inspiration from certain aspects of Roman art, such as the use of portraiture, the depiction of historical events, and the adoption of certain artistic techniques and styles.
These are some of the key ways in which early Christian art differed from Roman art, reflecting the unique religious and spiritual focus of early Christian communities.