Sculpture and Byzantine Art

According to Art History Resources online, "Byzantine refers to eastern Mediterranean art from C.E. 330, back when Constantine transferred the seat of the Roman Empire to Byzantium." (paragraph 1)

In serdar-hizli-art.com, the article states that "As in Rome and Ravenna during the period of the Constantine basilicas, so also in the East during the long period of Byzantine Art, artists no longer conceived plasticity, and the victory of pictorial over plastic art was complete." (paragraph 1) 

But however, again from the website stated above, they mention that sculpting was very scarce about proportion sizing because religion was frowned upon, especially the replicas of certain God's and Saints. 

This is why not many sculptures are around and many of us are not familiar with it during the Byzantine era. But there are a few sculptures that we may be aware of such as, "the statues of angels in the interior of S. Mark's, Venice, or even of base reliefs of any size such as the worshiping Madonnas of Ravenna and Venice, and the inlaid figures of saints in the basilica of S. Mark, Venice." (paragraph 2)

But within the Byzantine Empire, Essential Humanities online states that "Byzantine sculpture is characterized by the Byzantine style." During this time, these carved sculptures were the main form throughout the Byzantine Empire and also the material of ivory was highly and often used to make such sculptures throughout the Medieval Art era during the reign of the Byzantine Empire. (section 3, paragraph 2)

http://www.essential-humanities.net/western-art/western-sculpture/medieval-sculpture/#.UTeaDKKzeSp

As you take a look with this sculpture above, is one of the Byzantine style sculpture of what is believed to be one of the virgins' and child in hand.

http://www.essential-humanities.net/western-art/western-sculpture/medieval-sculpture/#.UTeaDKKzeSp

This is another Byzantine style ivory panel that is symbolic to the different gods and saints of this time.

http://www.essential-humanities.net/western-art/western-sculpture/medieval-sculpture/#.UTeaDKKzeSp

And final, this is another ivory Byzantine Art sculpture that is a triptych and in the center of it, it looks to be again the virgin and innocent young in her arms.