Art Of The Middle Ages

Art of the Middle Ages Romanesque and Gothic Art Medieval Times 500-1050 Dark Ages 400-800

Around 400 A.D. the Roman Empire fell to invading armies

Charlemagne (742-814) In the 8 th century, Charlemagne brought Europe together as a civilized continent.

In the strictest definition of illuminated manuscript, only manuscripts decorated with gold or silver, like this miniature of Christ in Majesty from the Aberdeen Bestiary (folio 4v), would be considered illuminated.

Page of text from a Carolingian Gospel Book written in Carolingian minuscule.

Art of the Dark Ages Celtic-Germanic art combined ornamental interlacing patterns with animal style

Lock for a purse makes use of garnets, glass, enamel, and gold and was mounted on a slab of ivory. The two bears are facing each other in perfect symmetry, forming the shape of a heart .

Geometric and abstract designs were fascinating to Pre-Romanesque artists. Monks in secluded monasteries decorated pages of Scripture and other writings with infinite detail. X-P page From the Lindisfarne Gospel Book

The Lindisfarne Gospels: Gospel of St John the Evangelist, initial page, late 7th or early 8th century .

A page from the Book of Kells Celtic-Germanic art combined ornamental interlacing patterns with the animal style

Wood, stone were also used in Celtic animal style

The art and architecture at the end of the Middle Ages is divided into two periods Romanesque: 1050 – 1150 Gothic: 1150-1500

Bodiam Castle in England

Castle ruins in Worms Germany

Nouaillé Maupertuis

Architecture: Castles: fort like dwellings with high Walls and towers, protected further By a moat and drawbridge

Worms Cathedral about 1168-1181. Worms, Germany

Wooden roofs are replaced by masonry barrel vaults which eliminated the danger of fire and produced better acoustics Worms Cathedral typifies Romanesque architecture in Germany. Towers or campaniles

BARREL VAULT GROINED VAULT (CROSS VAULT) RIBBED VAULT

St. Sernin, Toulouse 1080-1121

Nave with barrel vault apse ambulatory transept

St. Sernin, Toulouse (nave)

St. Sernin, Toulouse (aisle)

Ste. Madeleine, Vezelay, France. 1120-32 Romanesque features Exterior View

Vezelay, nave: Groined vaults rather than single barrel vaults

Vezelay, exterior tympanum (Mission of the Apostles) Sculpture used to teach religion to people since most could not read. This type of sculpture is called architectonic since it is part of the architecture.

The Bayeaux Tapestry was stitched to commemorate the Battle of Hastings It measures 230 feet long (70 meters) and 20 inches wide. It was made To hang around the wall of a cathedral or castle.

For more on the Bayeaux Tapestry http://hastings1066.com/index.html

Gothic Art 1200 AD

Gothic Art is the style of art produced in Northern Europe from the middle ages up until the beginning of the Renaissance. Typically rooted in religious devotion, it is especially known for the distinctive arched design of its churches, its stained glass, and its illuminated manuscripts. People moved from the countryside into towns.

Here, the construction begins with an equilateral triangle, the simple rule of thumb for which is - all sides are equal. Now adjust your compass to half the length of the baseline, and from point A construct a semicircular arch. The Pointed Arch

With your compass still adjusted to half the length of the baseline, construct a concave arch from point B. Repeat at point C. World Trade Center, New York.

There are several features that Characterize Gothic construction. There is an overall feeling of verticality as architects tried to make the interiors as high as possible, as if reaching toward heaven. Chartres Cathedral

Chartres Cathedral, Nave with Labyrinth, 1194-1260

Chartres, flying buttresses

St. Etienne, Bourges

Interior of Salisbury Cathedral

Pillars carry most of the ceiling’s weight

Fan Vaulting broke the vaulting into many umbrella spokes and also lightened the pressure of the ceiling

Gargoyles: a protecting ornament on a building carved in the shape of a fantastic animal or grotesque creature; meant to look like spirits fleeing or being driven from the holy building, could also have been to entice non-believers to enter the cathedral.

Can you guess were this gargoyle is located?

If you guessed Parliament hill you were right! There are four gargoyles on the Peace Tower which are characteristic of Gothic Architecture.

Rose Window: A large round stained glass window in the front of the church

In Italy Romanesque style dominated over Gothic. (Basilica San Francesco)

The Capture of Christ A Fresco is a painting created when pigment is applied to a section of wall spread with fresh plaster. Fresco is the Italian word for “fresh” Fresco Upper Church of San Francesco, Assisi

Madonna Enthroned with the Child, St Francis and four Angels (detail) 1278-80 Fresco, 73 x 60 cm (full painting: 320 x 340 cm

Apocalyptical Christ (detail) 1280-83 Fresco, 350 x 300 cm Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

St Matthew 1280-83 Fresco, Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

The fresco decorations in the Arena Chapel at Padua have long been considered the greatest of Giotto's works, and one of the major turning points in the history of European painting.

Presentation of Christ

The Birth of the Virgin

The Vision of Joachim

Madonna and Child (1320-30) Giotto. Lamentation 1305-1306

Simone Martini. c. 1315 (or later). Tempera on wood. Louvre, Paris, France The Road to Calvary.

Les très riches heures du Duc de Berry (The very rich book of hours) is the classic example of a medieval book of hours. Calendars, prayers, psalms and masses for certain holy days were commonly included. January The month of giving gifts

April The arrival of spring, hope and new life August The month of hawking

December February Winter in a peasant village .

For more on medieval art http://witcombe.sbc.edu/ARTHmedieval.html