Art History

Church of Michael Bronzework

Bishop Bernward went to Rome with Otto. Saw Roman art. Came back and emulated parts of roman style. Column. Similar to an ivory column in Rome. Both freestanding with spiraling bands of figures. The figures are not like Roman ones though, very unrelistic. Bronze doors. Figures not like Roman ones but have Roman attitude.

Syncretic Tradition

Blending of ideas and traditions from different schools of thought (i.e. wall painting). Much early Christian art imitated Roman art.

Old St. Peter's Basilica

Built in Rome after the Edict of Milan. Constantine may have contributed money.

Santa Costanza

Built originally as a tomb. Consecrated as a Church much later. Central plan.

Sutton Hoo

Burial mounds in England. Found a large wooden ship. High status person. All organic material rotted away.

Millefiori

"thousand flowers" Glasswork technique. Layer colored glass into rods and cross section shows a pattern

The Edict of Milan

313 AD. Constantine allowed Christians and Jews to practice without prosecution. Resulted in more openly Christian art.

Hagia Sophia

A basilica. In Istanbul. Built by Constantine on the previous site of Acropolis. Political statement to put Christian Church on top of previous Greek city center. Burnt down.

Coronation Gospels

Buried with Charlemagne. Dyed purple (expensive) made for royalty. No complex patterns, realisric roman figure and landscape.

Pantokrator

Byzantine representation of Christ. Christ as the divine judge, decides if you go to heaven or hell. Older than Roman's Divine Shepard.

Ottonians

Christian Saxons who called themselves HRE. Sort of a continuation of Charlemagne's empire.

Catacomb Art

Christian catacomb art was similar to Roman but with Christian subject matter. No overt Christian meanings, could be interpreted by any of the traditions. (i.e. The Good Shepard, Jesus, Hermes etc.)

Basilica

Common Roman civic building. Adapted to use as a Christian Church. Long rectangular building with semi-circle apse, central nave, and side aisles. Able to fit large numbers. Chosen because it was different from Greek and Roman temples and the rectangular form allowed for procession. Roman columns still used.

Interlace

Common decorative form found all across Europe. Pattern created by intertwining linear elements to make a repeating pattern.

Small scenes within interlace

Could be a meaningful symbol, could be bored monk with a sense of humor.

Parchment

Dried, scraped, stretched animal skin. Not as porous as paper.

Contrapposto

Figure's weight shifted to one side. Greek/Roman.

CloisoneE

Flat plate, use flat with to for a pattern and fill in the spaces with cut stone or glass.

Wall Paintings

Images to teach people about Christianity. Imitated Roman Art (Syncretic Tradition).

Alterations to the Basilica

Just one apse (where the alter is) instead of two. One entrance of opposite end of apse to draw attention to the alter instead of multiple on the sides.

Royal Runestones

King Harold. Memorial stones at important sites. Celebrated his parents, victory in battle, and conversion to Christianity. Most likely painted. Shows simplified figure of Christ surrounded by interlace.

Ivory Panel of St. Michael

Looks Roman, but his feet.

Typical Style of Middle Ages Art

Lots of bright colors, animal forms, patterned forms , very abstract and stylized.

Borgund Stave Church

Made of wood. Similar to a basilica (rectangular with apse) but have a high roof (because of snow). Showed a combination of norse and christian imagery. (Crosses and stylized animal forms)

Style of Manuscripts

Many were quite small. Complex geometric patterns and spirals. Became more complex over time. Often contained a mix of languages (copying of greek and roman texts)

Charlemagne and changes in manuscripts

More Roman in style.

Mosaics in San Vitale

Mosaics of Justinian and Theodora decorated with halos to show they were spiritual leaders. Mosaics made of gold to create other worldly quality. 2-D looking figures, much of their shape is hidden by clothes. Emphasis on symbolic nature and not realism. However, Justinian and his priests have individual facial characteristics (Roman idea, want portraits to look true to life).

Middle Ages

Often perceived as lack of culture. No organized government or permanent cities. Migratory society.

Carpet Page

full illustrated page introducing an important sections.

Central Plan

Originally baptismal areas, tombs, or a place for a Saint. Became used as churches with the alter placed in the center. Contained decorative mosaics on the ceiling (Greek and Roman mosaics were found on the floor).

Cubiculum

Own space in catacomb, often painted. Could be afforded by the wealthy. Were decorated with pictures appropriate for the beliefs of the owners.

Viking Osberg Ship

Part of a burial site. Elaborately carved. End of boat had a snake head.

Santa Sabina

Plain on the outside, emphasis on internal spirituality. Also Christians didn't have a lot of money.

Justinian uses art to...

Promote idea of Roman empire.

San Vitale

Ravenna. Church in North Italy. Supported by Justinian. Outpost of Byzantine empire. Centrally planned. Plain exterior, glamorous interior (created sense of supernatural/spiritual space).

House Churches

These buildings were not specifically constructed for Christianity. Often plain so they wouldn't attract attention. Interior decorated with wall paintings.

Pendentives

Triangular support of dome.

Chi Rho Page, Book of Kells

Very impressive, for display in a church. Introduces story of birth of Christ.

Illuminated Manuscripts

Very valuable. Held the word of god and took a long time to make. Every element must be produced. Specially created and individualized. For use in church or by missionaries.

Acropolis

"High city". The city's spiritual center where major temples are, often on hilltop.

New Hagia Sophia

Rebuilt by Justinian. Still rectangular but with a domed roof supported by pendentives. (Justinian wanted in to look Roman modeled the dome after the Roman Pantheon). Full of windows to let light in, lighten the weight of the dome, create a sense of transformation ("House of God"). Decorated with mosaics on ceiling, forced to look up toward heaven. More open than traditional basilica, had to be big because it was the capital church. Later converted to a mosque.

Spolia

Reused materials from other buildings.

Christian Art was founded on...

Roman Art

Junius Bassus' Sarcophagus

Roman Christian Aristocrat. Similar to Roman sarcophagi but with Christian subject matter. Similarities: Figures in contrapposto, framed by Roman columns. Differences: Less focus on realism, Christian subject matter (scenes from the Bible).

Byzantine Art

Roman Roots. Very religious. No separation of Church and state, emperor is head of both. Much art was government sponsored.

After Charlemagne dies...

Shift back to less realism. More spiritual. Smaller simpler drawing integrated into the text, less colorful. Focus on the words.

Monastery at St. Gall

Showed Charlemagne's attempts to standardize everything in his empire. Very ordered and gridded layout. Similar to a roman fortress.

Gospels of Otto 3

Shows the power of the church and the military (roman eagle) Otto is depicted as larger (more important)

Icons

Small paintings of religious figures used in prayer

Barbarian Art

Small. portable, functional, practical, yet decorative items. Made of valuable materials, had economic value (could be traded) and were a status symbol.

Palace Chapel

West work, rounded arched entrance similar to Roman arches. Large mosaic, more similar to Byzantine, on ceiling with gold. Spolia columns from Roman building. Also alternating blocks of color more like mosques. Not direct copying of Roman style but an emulation of Roman look.