“Byzantine art was anonymous and impersonal. In the art of western Europe, at any rate since the late Middle ages, individual personalities attract much of our attention, so that the history of European art does not concern itself merely with the evolution of forms: it is also the story of persons who lived known lives, who introduced innovations, who expressed their opinions on art, who exerted an influence on other known artists. Nothing of the kind applied to Byzantine art. In Byzantium artists were regarded as craftsmen and no interest was felt in recording their names or their personalities.” – Cyril Mango, “The Ideal Life,” Byzantium: The Empire of New Rome