Early Medieval Art
Cloister
a rectangular open-air monastery courtyard with a covered arcade surrounding it.
Gospels
the first four books of the New Testament that chronicle the life of Jesus Christ.
Scriptorium
a place in a monastery where monks wrote manuscripts.
Psalter
a book containing the Psalms , or sacred sung poems, of the Bible.
Animal Style
a medieval art form in which animals are depicted in a stylized and often complicated pattern, usually seen fighting with one another.
Westwork
a monumental entrance to a Carolingian church in which two towers flank a lower central entrance.
cloisonne
decorative metalwork technique in which small pieces of metal are bent into patterns to allow for application of glass paste and enamel. example: purse cover
Cloissonne
enamelwork in which colored areas are separated by thin bands of metal, usually gold or bronze