Art Chapter 15 Early Medieval

Architectural references to Christian Roman tradition

A deceptively simple design, the alternation of heavy and light supports, and round and rectangular forms prefigured the Romanesque style; The Gospels of Otto III showed influence of Byzantine art - The architecture was more controlled and balanced, alludes to perspective and Roman wall painting tradition

Themes and subjects of Gospel book illuminations

Book of Durrow; The Coronation Gospels The portrait of Matthew in the Coronation Gospels reflects a lifelike representation consistent with Greco-Roman tradition; Conventions for creating the illusion of solid figures in space may have been preserved from Byzantine manuscripts. Halo, use of gold also from east; The Ebbo Gospels An innovative Gospel book made for Archbishop Ebbo of Reims was illustrated with energetic abandon. St. Matthew's page shows a rapidly sketched landscape, wiry hair, and rippling drapery, meant to symbolize the fervor with which Matthew transcribed the Word of God; An example cover of the Lindau Gospels combines jewels and pearls with sculpture in gold. Its crucifix was created using a repoussé technique, or hammering up from the back. Jesus, calm and wide-eyed, seems to foreshadow his triumph over death

Charlemagne

Frank barbarians settled in northern Gaul and established a dynasty beginning with Charles the Great, called Charlemagne, in 768. Charlemagne imposed Christianity throughout his empire and declared himself the rightful successor to Constantine. Unified power of church and state

Carolingian Empire

Frank barbarians settled in northern Gaul and established a dynasty beginning with Charles the Great, called Charlemagne; unified power of church and state; architecture: Charles the Bald provided Carolingian prototype of an idea ruler; basilica plan re-emerged; westwork - broad, imposing masonry; minuscule: uniformity, legibility, clear capital letters, space between words; Costly manuscripts were protected with heavy wooden covers; Lindau Gospels combines jewels and pearls with sculpture in gold

Christianity and conversion

Gradual conversion of "barbarian" groups to Christianity served to unify Europe's diverse population; The Church provided wealth and influence to kings and nobles who defended the Christian way of life, and this led directly to the commissioning of buildings and liturgical patronage; Frank barbarians settled in northern Gaul and established a dynasty beginning with Charles the Great, called Charlemagne, in 768. Charlemagne imposed Christianity throughout his empire and declared himself the rightful successor to Constantine. Unified power of church and state

Manuscript illuminations, education, and the scriptorium

Lavish gospel books were produced in workshops called scriptoria and were essential for spiritual and monastic life (Book of Durrow); Full pages of ornament in this manuscript are complex, visual puzzles (Lindisfarne Gospels); scriptorium - It was a place where monks and nuns carefully wrote books on prepared animal skins (either vellum or parchment), Work on a book was often divided between scribes, who copied text, and artists, who illuminated pages with large initials and decorations; Charlemagne sponsored the scrupulous editing and copying of key ancient and religious texts. A type of script called Carolingian minuscule increased legibility and streamlined production. Scribes and illuminators revived, reformed, and revitalized established traditions of book production

illuminated books

Ottonian monks and nuns illuminated manuscripts that were often funded by secular rulers; handwritten book that has been decorated with gold or silver, brilliant colours, or elaborate designs or miniature pictures

Power of church and state

The Ottonian dynasty re-established Charlemagne's Christian Roman Empire in 962 - Ideology is rooted in the unity of Church and state, evidenced by the altar created for Magdeburg Cathedral; The church taught the people that they must obey the emperor, whereas the emperor enforced the authority of the church over the people in spiritual matters

Barbarians

The Roman Empire crumbled to the power of Germanic people whom Romans called "barbarians"; Gradual conversion of "barbarian" groups to Christianity served to unify Europe's diverse population; Many "barbarian" groups were metalworkers and created colorful jewelry that included precious metals and inlaid gems. Artistic motifs were geometric or abstract natural forms.

palace complex

a group of buildings used for living and governing by a particular ruler, usually located in a fortress or citadel

cloister

a square or rectangular courtyard sometime with garden, surrounded on all sides by a vaulted arcade; typically devoted to a spiritual contemplation or scholarly reflection, a cloister is usually part of a monastery, a church, or occasionally, a university

animal style

a type of artistic design popular in Europe and western Asia during the ancient and medieval periods, characterized by linear, animal-like forms arranged in intricate patterns; style is often used on metalwork or other precious materials

Migrations and new (non-Roman) influences

barabarians (metalworkers and created colorful jewelry that included precious metals and inlaid gems; Artistic motifs were geometric or abstract natural forms) - Middle Ages - period of innovation; Merovingians: illuminated books have been attributed to this time, but most exemplary artworks are jewelry from the graves of nobles, including gold, silver and inlaid stone; The Norse: animal style - Trade, warfare, and migration brought a variety of jewelry, coins, textiles, and other objects into northern Europe; Celts and Anglo-Saxons: Metalworking was a glorious example of Anglo-Saxon art; The hinged clasp found at Sutton Hoo displays garnet and blue-checkered glass called millefiori cut into precise shapes

Animal style characteristics, interlace pattern

decoration made of interwoven animals or serpents; in the fifth century CE, Scandinavian animal style was untouched by the Classical Mediterranean world; animal bodies are elongated into ribbons, which form intertwined and undulating, symmetrical shapes-eschewing naturalism. They rarely have legs, and are therefore most commonly described as serpents, even though the heads often have characteristics of other types of animal such as eagles or dogs. In animal Style II, the animal becomes secondary to the ornamental interlace patterns.

westwork

the monumental west-facing entrance section of a Carolingian, Ottoman, or Romanesque church; the exterior consists of multiple stories between two towers; the interior includes an entrance vestibule, a chapel, and a series of galleries overlooking the nave