Medieval history of art in Italy

1. Medieval art period
in Italy
“Together with Arts”
Erasmus+ team SP2 Poznan

2. Introduction- Medieval period in Italy
Throughout the Middle Ages, Italian art consisted primarily of architectural
decorations (frescoes and mosaics). Byzantine art in Italy was a highly formal and
refined decoration with a standardized calligraphy and an admirable use of color
and gold. Until the 13th century, art in Italy was almost entirely regional, affected
by external European and Eastern currents. After 1250 the art of the various
regions developed characteristics in common, so that a certain unity as well as
great originality is observable.

3. Romanesque and Gothic styles
Gothic architecture appears mainly in construction of churches from 12th to 15th
century. In Romanesque style most elements have functional character, but
nevertheless it has also symbolic meaning, like for example 12 columns
representing 12 apostles.
Siena Cathedral - gothic San Michele in Foro

4. Painting
The most important things in painting:
❏ It was a religious topic
❏ Painted on wood
❏ Painted with tempera and oil paints
❏ Lack of proportion
Most famous painters:
● Giotto di Bondone
● Fra Angelico

5. Painting
Giotto di Bondone: Fra Angelico:

6. Sculpture
Sculptures in Italian collections include artworks from 5tf century B.C. such as:
Hermes - unknown
(1st century)
Ombra della sera - unkown
(3rd century B.C.)
Capitoline Wolf - Antonio Pollaiolo
(11-12th century)
Perseus with the Head of
Medusa - Benvenuto Cellini
(16th century)

7. Architecture
Ancient
Greece
and the
Etruscans
Ancient
Rome
Early Christian
and Byzantine
architecture
Romanesque
architecture
Gothic
architecture
Renaissance
and Mannerist
architecture
Baroque and
Rococo
architecture
Neoclassical and 19th
century architecture
Modern architecture

8. Applied art
Vases Dishes
Ceramics Jewelry

9. Calligraphy
Scripts used in medieval Italy:
● Rotunda
● Italika or copperplate

10. Embroidery
Themes in Italian Medieval embroidery:
● flora, fauna, hunting
● love
● rich colour, architectural
frames and structures,
metallic gold and silver,
geometric patterns
● Christian saints and
biblical stories
● flowing, draping clothing
● fantastical beasts

11. Monuments
-Colosseum -Tower of Pisa -St. Peter’s
basilica
-Bartolomeo Colleoni monument -Victory
Monument

12. Fashion
Women's fashion changed from a high-collared dress and braided hair
wrapped around the head to layered V-necklines and longer braids.
The top and bust were always fitted tight and the waist was to be
emphasized as the smallest part of the body.Wealthy women often wore
fur-lined sleeves.The clothes weren't about comfort as women usually
wore about 5 layers on a daily basis.Underwear was an ordinary linen
dress, called kamica.The men wore large, fitted waistcoats under pleated
coats called giornea.Men wore hats like caps and berets.

13. Music and dance
Famous Italian medieval composers:
● Maestro Piero (before 1300 – c. 1350)
● Gherardello da Firenze (c. 1320/1325 – c. 1362)
● Jacopo da Bologna (fl. 1340 – 1360)
● Giovanni da Cascia (Giovanni da Firenze) (14th century)
● Vincenzo da Rimini (14th century)
● Lorenzo da Firenze (Lorenzo Masini) (died 1372/1373)
● Francesco Landini (c. 1325/1335 – 1397)
● Donato da Cascia (fl. c. 1350 – 1370)
● Bartolino da Padova (fl. c. 1365 – c. 1405)
● Niccolò da Perugia (later 14th century)
● Johannes Ciconia (c. 1370 – 1412)
● Antonello da Caserta (late 14th – early 15th century)
● Matteo da Perugia (fl. 1400–1416)
Tarantella - famous
Italian dance

14. Food
The cuisine of Italy has many unique dishes and foods.
- medieval vegetables
- pane (bread)
- common pizzas
- rice dishes
Everyday food for the poor in the middle ages consisted of cabbage, beans,eggs, oats and brown bread.
Sometimes as a speciality, they would have cheese bacon or poultry. All classes commonly drank ale or beer.
Milk was also available, but usually reserved for younger people.
medieval people roasting meat, from an original 15th century -
illustration

15. Life In Italy during The Middle Ages
In the time following the end of the Western Roman Empire known popularly as the Dark Ages, Italy faced great
hardship due to the political and military struggles among the Byzantines, the Lombards and the Franks, along
with a visible collapse of the Mediterranean trade.
In the 11th century trade gradually rose particularly on the seas, where the four cities of Amalfi, Pisa, Genoa and
Venice became major trading poles.
During the 12th century the Italian cities belonging to the Holy Roman Empire put a collective effort to gain their
independence.
During the 13th century, the city-states of Italy widely expanded and grew in terms of power, to the point of
eventually becoming fully independent from the Holy Roman Empire.
During the 14th century, Italy experienced a series of natural catastrophes, causing the economy to experience a
set back.The war between France and England disrupted trade in many parts of North Western Europe, mainly in
1345. However, the most devastating event of all was the infamous Black Death, the bubonic plague, who
decimated Italian and European population.

16. Authors
That presentation was prepared by the 8th grade students of Szkoła Podstawowa nr 2 z Oddziałami
Dwujęzycznymi in Poznan:
Zuzanna Wenderska
Amelia Dodat
Zofia Konecka
Mateusz Gliszczyński
Patryk Zarębski
Weronika Witaszak
Blanka Włoch
Wiktoria Jędraszczak
Alex Ceglarek
Tomasz Stępczak
Teacher: Barbara M-N’sir

17. Sources of information
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Gothic_architecture#/media/File:Duomo_di_siena,_facciata_01.JPG
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_Italy
Malarstwo włoskie (lovetotravel.pl)
https://www.hisour.com/romanesque-architecture-in-italy-33046/
Malarstwo średniowieczne. - Sciaga.pl
Ostatnia Wieczerza (fresk Giotta) – Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia
Madonna z Dzieciątkiem (obraz Giotta di Bondone) – Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia
Pokłon Trzech Króli (fresk Giotta) – Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia
Zwiastowanie (obraz Fra Angelica) – Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia
Koronacja Matki Boskiej z aniołami i świętymi – Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia
Noli me tangere (obraz Fra Angelica) – Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronological_list_of_Italian_classical_composers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYIFlAa5Bow
https://cottesimple.com/articles/medieval-embroidery-on-clothing/
https://www.decorarconarte.com/Br-85
https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermes_(pos%C4%85g_z_Porta_Tiburtina)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitoline_Wolf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perseus_with_the_Head_of_Medusa
https://www.lifeinitaly.com/history/life-in-italy-during-the-middle-ages/