Chapter 14 Lessons One and Two
The Middle Ages in Western Europe:
Early Middle Ages:
 Early Christian: 200 AD – 550
 Dark Ages: 550-750
 Carolingian and Ottonian: 750-1000
Romanesque: 1000-1150
Gothic:
 High Gothic: 1150-1400
 Late Gothic: 1300-1500
Dark Ages a.k.a. The Age of Faith
The Medieval Church
Devils and Division
Visions of Heaven and
Hell
Division of clergy into
secular and cloistered
Carolingian and Ottonian: Charlemagne's Empire
 Charlemagne: The Roman Ideal
 "Charles the Great" – semiliterate
 All of Western part of the old Roman
Empire except Britain, Spain,
southern Italy, and Africa.
 Revived art and learning
 Welcomed Jewish immigration and
trade throughout the Mediterranean
Art of the Early Middle Ages
Painting
Tangible expression of faith
Made the rites of the church more
vivid
Illustrate Church Doctrine and
history
Art of the Early Middle Ages
Illuminated Manuscripts
 Change to codex format from scrolls
 Influence of Irish art on GrecoRoman prototypes
flat, ornamental, precisely
rendered, highlight & shadow, few
colors, figures outlined
Art of the Early Middle Ages
Sculpture
 A minor or small scale art
 Prohibition of graven images by Old
Testament
 Gero Crucifix is a contrast to
Christus Rex type
 Suffering
Christ vs. Risen and
Glorious Christ
Gero Crucifix
Christus Rex
Romanesque : Castles
Purpose: Defense
Eliminated possibility of windows
Three styles:
Motte-and-bailey: a high mound
(motte) of earth on which sat a
wooden tower overlooking a
courtyard (bailey). Both the Motte
and bailey surrounded by a moat.
Corfe Castle
Restormel
Castle
Romanesque : Castles (cont.)
Stone keep: 3 or 4-story story
castle. Square with square towers
at each corner and a carefully
defended entrance at ground level
Romanesque : Castles (cont.)
Concentric Castle: two rings of walls
for protection. Inner wall higher
than outer wall
Romanesque : Castles (cont.)
Layout:
Thick walls with narrow slits for
archers
Steep Stairs, dark and narrow
passageways
Drafty rooms sparsely furnished
Romanesque: Castles (cont.)
Layout (cont.):
Tapestries sometimes adorned
walls to keep dampness out.
 Tapestries: textile wall hangings
that were woven, painted, or
embroidered with colorful scenes
Romanesque: Churches
At the center of EVERY town
Exemplified the power and wealth
of the Church
Richly decorated stone
Roman cross ground plan, side
aisles, larger size (carryover of
Carolingian design)
Bays
Ambulatory
Apse
Nave
Aisle
Aisle
Aisle
Aisle
Transept
Romanesque: Churches (cont.)
Size of Churches increased to
accommodate Pilgrimages
Nave and Transept extended
Added an aisle on each side of the
Nave
Added ambulatory
 walking space curving around the
main altar
Romanesque: Churches (cont.)
Added altars in small curved
chapels built along the transept and
ambulatory
 To accommodate the necessary
additional priests
Romanesque: Churches (cont.)
Stone vaulted roof used a system
of vaults, transverse arches and
bays to create an open, high
central space
 transverse arch: pointed arches
 bay: any of a number of similar
major vertical divisions of a large
interior, a.k.a. a wall
Revival of Sculpture and Painting
Relief Sculpture
Purpose: to teach
the faith
Capital
decoration
 Biblical scenes,
human figures,
birds, animals
Revival of Sculpture and Painting
(cont.)
Tympanum: half-round panel that
fills the space between the lintel
and the arch over a doorway of the
church
 Large figure at center, with
smaller figures on either side.
 The Last Judgment was a popular
theme
Revival of Sculpture and Painting (cont.)
Paintings
Church Wall paintings and
Manuscript Illumination
Common Features
 Purpose: create easy-tounderstand religious symbols
 Reality NOT important
 Flat, colorful shapes, bold use of
line