>>7680563
>religion bait on /ic/ now

Not exactly anon.
You see, the move towards a more non-figurative/symbolic art movement was already apparent in the late 3rd century.
I think this is pretty apparent in pieces like the porphyry portrait of the tetrarchs from around 300ad. It's taking on many design features that are typical of early medieval art. See Carolingian or Ottonian work for example. Many carolingian reliefs are shockingly similar to late antique work.

This whole concept really misses the point though. We see large monumental free-standing sculpture appear in societies that can support workshops with enough demand to provide work for them to continue operation. Unfortunately for your point, it's much more likely that it was just the fall of the roman empire that caused this and not some christian iconoclasm. Which, might I remind you, is condemned as a heresy.

Early christian destruction of pagan works is vastly over-stated. At least partially the fault of very exaggerated hagiographies and christian histories. However historical study suggests that most pagan works were deliberately preserved in museums, but mostly just plain abandoned. With a fall in infrastructure and the ability to upkeep those great ancient workshops, it wasn't economically feasible anymore.

Let's also not forget that the new dominant culture was germanic. These cultures did not carry with them a great sculptural tradition. However, germanic peoples were incredibly talented in decorative arts and metalsmithing. Which is exactly the kind of work we see flourishing in the early middle ages, and exactly what we would expect to see from the small workshops that an early medieval society can support.

By about the 1200s there is a renewed interest in free-standing sculpture. And high gothic sculpture is absolutely one of my most favorite traditions in all of art. See work by, the Naumburg Master, Giovanni and Nicola Pisano, Bernt Notke, Claus Sluter etc.