Middle Ages Art - Dascolihum.com

The Middle Ages – c. 814

Middle Ages Era 









481 CE – First Catholic King Clovis unites the Franks – forms Frankish Kingdom in Gaul – establishes the Merovingian Dynasty 6th century CE – Pope Gregory the Great implements chant as the standard form of church music – calls it plainchant (later called Gregorian Chant) 600 – 1050 CE – Period called the Early Middle Ages 750 CE – The first English Epic poem – Beowulf – is written 750 CE – Irish monks produce the Book of Kells

Middle Ages Era 







800 CE – Charlemagne is crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope on Christmas Day – start of Holy Roman Empire 871 CE – Alfred the Great unifies England and writes first code of laws for English people 11th century CE – Song of Roland is written in France – one of earliest French written poems – national epic of France 1050 – 1200 CE – Medieval Era also called Romanesque Era in Art History

Romanesque Era 

 



11th – 14th century CE – Troubadours appear in Provence (southern France) and spread through Europe – singing songs and telling stories of epic romances and chivalry (Holy Grail, etc) 1066 CE – William the Conqueror invades and conquers England from Normandy (France) 1079 CE – Scholasticism develops as new form of philosophy combining Aristotle with Medieval thought 12th century CE – pilgrimage routes are established throughout Europe and the Holy Land for people to visit Holy sights and relics

Middle Ages Art Characteristics  

 



Decayed style Faulty proportions (arms, legs, head too large) Focus on symbol not style Focus on the power of the Church Religious themes (mainly Christian)

Barbarian Art

Frankish (Merovingian) Looped Fibula 6th - 7th Centuries France Craftwork silver gilt worked in filigree with inlays of garnets and other stones 4 in. long Merovingian art is a combination of French and German styles

Briton/Dane Art   

  



Purse Cover 7th century CE Sutton Hoo, England Craftwork Animal pattern Man with animals on either side and birds in middle Ivory background with garnet, gold and enamel

Sutton Hoo Ship Burial and Artifacts

Burial Ship ca. 825 Oseberg, Norway Sculpture wood 75 1/2 ft. long

Viking rulers were usually buried in their ships

Animal-Head Post ca. 825 Oseberg, Norway

Sculpture approximately 5 in. high Intricate woodwork is typical of Norse art

Cross and Carpet page from Lindisfarne

Gospels

ca. 698 – 721 Northumbria, England Illuminated manuscript

Artist: Eadfrith Intertwining so intricate almost impossible to tell that some of the shapes are animals Sort of a sacred riddle

Chi-rho-iota page 800 CE

Iona, Scotland Illuminated Manuscript From the Book of Kells Created on Scottish island by Irish monks Considered the masterpiece of illuminated manuscripts

High Cross of Muiredach ca. 923

Monasterboice, Ireland Sculpture 16 ft. high Typical of Celtic weaving patterns Considered masterpiece of Celtic stonework

Middle Ages Art   

   

Interior of Palace Chapel 792 – 805 CE Aachen, Germany Architecture Artist: Odo of Metz Palace of Charlemagne Built on plans of Constantine’s Lateran Basilica to show Charlemagne’s power and attachment to Rome

Palace Chapel of Charlemagne

Equestrian portrait of Charlemagne(?) early 9th century Metz, France Sculpture bronze, originally gilt 9 1/2 in. high Gold has worn off

St. Matthew from Coronation Gospels ca. 800-810 Aachen, Germany Illuminated Manuscript

12 3/4 x 10 in. This Bible was made to commemorate Charlemagne’s coronation as Holy Roman Emperor

Saint Matthew from Ebbo Gospels ca. 816 – 835 Hautvillers, France Illuminated Manuscript

10 1/4 x 8 3/4 in. Almost modern art like as compared to Coronation Gospels created less than 10 years earlier

Middle Ages Art     



St. John 800 – 810 CE Aachen, Germany Illuminated Manuscript Sense of Roman style still appears From Charlemagne’s Coronation Gospel

Saint John from Ebbo Gospels ca. 816 – 835

Hautvillers, France Illuminated manuscript 10 1/4 x 8 3/4 in. Less than 10 years difference but totally different in style and skill from Coronation Gospels

Psalm 44 of the Utrecht Psalter ca. 820 – 835 Hautvillers, France (near Reims)

Illuminated Manuscript 1 ft. 1 in. x 9 7/8 in. Hautvillers was the most prolific scriptorium in Europe Masterwork of Carolingian manuscripts

Middle Ages Art Plan of a monastery

Middle Ages Art 

   





Front Cover from Lindau Gospels 870 CE Lindau, Germany Craftwork Also made at Reims scriptorium Gold work with encrusted jewels Masterpiece of gold work

Torhalle (gatehouse) 9th century Lorsch, Germany Architecture Typical Carolingian style architecture

Abbey Church of St. Michael’s ca. 1001-1031 Hildesheim, Germany Architecture Interior is considered masterpiece of Ottonian Art

Abbey Church of St. Michael’s - Interior ca. 1001-1031 Hildesheim, Germany

Typical basilica plan – painted roof is exceptional

Gero Crucifix ca. 970 Cologne Cathedral, Germany Sculpture commissioned by Archbishop Gero 6 ft. 2 in. high Considered early middle ages sculptural masterpiece

The end …. 

Next lecture … Romanesque