Chapter 14: Early Medieval
Art of Europe
Magister Ricard
Art History
Questions to Consider
• Who were the Carolingians and what did they
leave behind for Western Europe?
• What cultures inspired the Carolingians?
• Who were the Ottonians and what did they
instill in Western European culture?
• How does the Gero Crucifix differ from earlier
Christian images of Christ?
Chapter 14: 400-600 AD
ART OF THE WARRIOR LORDS
Art of the Warrior Lords
• The Roman empire dissolved in the West
• The capital had shifted to the eastern city of
Constantinople
• The administration was left to various tribes, who
began to organize things independently
• Warfare spread during this period, roughly 400600 AD (sack of Rome was in 476 AD)
• Most art was small, portable, and of fine metals
and precious stones and jewels
• Used animal motifs known as animal style
Sutton Hoo:
Hiberno-Saxon Art
They laid then the beloved chieftain,
giver of rings, on the ship's bosom,
glorious by the mast. There were
brought many treasures, ornaments
from far-off lands. Never have I
heard that a vessel was more fairly
fitted-out with war-weapons and
battle-raiment, swords and coats of
mail. On his bosom lay a host of
treasures, where were to travel far
with him into the power of the
flood.“
-Beowulf
Art of the Warrior Lords:
Characteristics
• Interlacing: refers to the ribbon-like
interweaving found throughout a design
• Cloisonne: refers to the technique which
solders small and thin strips of a metal to a
background metal plate; gaps are then filled
• Animal Style – repeated use of animal motifs
throughout the artwork, usually fighting
Hiberno-Saxon Art
• Hiberno = Ireland
• Saxon = England
• Artwork is similar to Art of the Warrior Lords
• Christianity begins to spread (St. Patrick 400’s AD)
throughout the British Isles
• Monasteries establish scriptoria
– Books written by hand - manuscripts
– These are illuminated manuscripts – illuminate
Christian concepts
Chapter 14: 700-900 AD
CAROLINGIAN ART
Why Carolingian Art?
•
On Christmas day of the year 800,
Pope Leo III crowned Charles the
Great (Charlemagne) as emperor of
Rome (r. 800-814).
– He ruled as king of the Franks since 768.
•
Charlemagne came to be seen as the
first Holy (that is, Christian) Roman
Emperor
– A title his successors in the West did not
formally adopt until the twelfth century.
•
The setting for Charlemagne’s
coronation was Saint Peter’s Basilica
in Rome
– Built by Constantine.
•
He gave his name (Carolus Magnus in
Latin) to an entire era, the
Carolingian period.
Characteristics of Carolingian Art
• Charlemagne wanted to revive the glory of
Rome
• Artwork and architecture reflects imagery of
Roman empire
• Charlemagne was fascinated by how past
rulers were portrayed publicly
– Equestrian statues convey power
• In uniting most of Western Europe, became an
heir to the glory of Rome himself
Charlemagne
turned to the
Church to help
stabilize his empire
through religion
and education. He
looked to the
Benedictine monks
as his “cultural
army.”
Although their
principal duties
were prayer and
liturgical services,
monks and nuns
spent hours
producing books.
Palace Chapel, Aachen, Germany, 792-805
The “Three Floor” Elevation
clerestory
gallery
ambulatory
Inside the Medieval Scriptorium
• Workshop for the production of books by
monks or nuns
• Found within the complex of a monastery
• Books written on pages of vellum or
parchment
• Produced by scribes and illustrators
– Signature on last page, called colophon
Carolingian Illuminated Manuscripts
St. Matthew, CORONATION GOSPELS,
(795-819)
St. Matthew, EBBO GOSPELS, (816-835)
Chapter 14: 900-1100 AD
OTTONIAN ART
Ottonian Europe
•
The heirs of Louis the Pious divided
the Carolingian Empire into three
parts.
•
The western portion eventually
became France
•
The eastern part of the empire,
roughly modern Germany,
Switzerland and Austria, passed to a
dynasty of rulers known as the
Ottonians after three principal rulers
named Otto.
•
Otto I gained control of Italy in 951
and the pope crowned him emperor
in 962.
•
Thereafter, Otto and his successors
dominated the Papacy and
appointments to other high offices.
Questions to Consider
• Who were the Carolingians and what did they
leave behind for Western Europe?
• What cultures inspired the Carolingians?
• Who were the Ottonians and what did they
instill in Western European culture?
• How does the Gero Crucifix differ from earlier
Christian images of Christ?