Where the Byzantine artists were the first Western artists to?

Byzantine artists were among the first Western artists to effectively utilize the technique of iconography, creating religious images that conveyed spiritual meaning and narrative. They also pioneered the use of gold backgrounds and stylized figures in their mosaics and frescoes, which emphasized the divine rather than the naturalistic. This distinctive approach significantly influenced later Western art, particularly during the Medieval period. Their work laid the groundwork for the development of religious art in Europe.