Tuesday
• Islamic Quiz
• Early Medieval
Tomorrow:
• Medieval Worksheet DUE!
• Unit 4 Test: Next Monday!
• Chapters : Early Christian, Byzantine,
Islamic & Medieval.
Early
Medieval
Art
KEY CONCEPTS for the EARLY MEDIEVAL PERIOD
DEVELOPMENT OF BOOKS
The transition from the scroll to the bound book in this period was critical in the
preservation and transmission of learning in Europe. Illuminated manuscripts are
among the most important art objects created during the Early Middle Ages.
Understand the process of bookmaking, copying, and illustrating that was developed
during this period.
CHARLEMAGNE'S PROJECT
Charlemagne's attempt to revive the arts and create a culture along the lines of
ancient Rome is the historical background for the most important period of art in the
Early Middle Ages. His accomplishments and their influence, especially Carolingian
miniscule and monastery design, are key concepts
INTERLACE
Ribbon interlace and animal interlace were used as decoration on a variety of art
objects from Sweden, Norway, and the British Isles. Themes of animal interlace to the
presumed religious beliefs of the people that developed it.
Three Basic parts to Early Medieval Era:
Fall of Western Empire (5th Century): Anglo-Saxons (Warrior Lords)
Migration Period
Western Empire now broken up amongst the Goths, Angles, Saxons
and Franks… Known for the ‘animal style’ that is prevalent in this
period… Chi Rho Iota from the Book of Kells
OTTONIAN Periods (950-1050): The Three German Ottos known for
uniting the region under a common Christian Rule again.
The Anglo Saxons (warrior lords)
• Very few surviving work to tell us about the
people of the time.
• Sm. Portable “status symbol” objects
• Tradition of Kings/ Queens buried with rich
belongings
• Beowulf (8th -11th Century)
Purse cover, from the Sutton Hoo ship burial
(Suffolk, England), c. 625, gold, glass, and enamel
cloisonné with garnets and emeralds
art of migratory people/
predatory subject matter/ interlaced pattern
zoomorphic (abstract animal forms)
Two views of the Oseberg
ship (Oslo)
discovered beneath burial
mound
bodies and precious objects
(many stolen)
Animal head post, from
the Oseberg ship
burial (Norway), c.
825, wood
Vikings/ fusion of
interlaced pattern and
the animal form/
gruesome rituals of
human
sacrifice/mastery
wood carving/
fusion of warrior lord
expression with animal
forms and interlace
pattern
Hiberno- Saxon (Celts) &
Illuminated Manuscripts
• Christianization of the Celts in 5th century
• Irish monastic establishments created.
• Produces many illuminated manuscripts
–
–
–
–
Primary vehicles in effort to Christianize
Spread word of God to illiterate population
Books seen as treasures
Handmade/ monks/ copied/ before printing
press
Cross and carpet
page from the
Lindisfarne Gospels
(Northumbria,
England), c. 698721, tempera on
vellum
early Medieval
manuscript
The Cross/
symmetry/
zoomorphic forms
intermingling lines
use of serpents, dragons, and other fantastic animals
Carpet Page, Lindisfarne Gospels, ca 698-721. HIBERNO-SAXON ART
Varied styles within the
Book of Lindisfarne/ St.
Matthew (apostle)/
sacred act of copying
images/
flat line and color- no
volume/ winged man
symbol
Chi-rho-iota page
from the Book of
Kells (Iona,
Scotland), late
eighth or early ninth
century
use of abbreviations
Initial letters of
Christ in Greek/ chi(x) rho (p) iota (I)/
curves and ripples
Biblical text into
abstract pattern
inclusion of
human and
animal shapes
High Cross of
Muiredach
(Monasterboice,
County Louth,
Ireland), 923
Celtic Cross
(circle & cross)
large mass and
scale/ love of
pattern/ wheel and
the circle/
transom/ crucified
and Christ risen on
each side/ souls
weighed on scales
CAROLINGIAN Period (768-814):
• Charlemagne crowned King of the Franks in 768 and Roman
Emperor (r. 800-814)
• Charlemagne came to be seen as the first Holy (that is,
Christian) Roman Emperor.
• Cathedral of Aachen promoted the ‘three-part elevation’ to
Churches…
• Education to the people through art and illuminated
manuscripts, like the Ebbo Gospels
Why do we call it
Carolingian Art?
Coronated at Saint Peter’s
basilica in Rome, built by
Constantine, the first
Roman emperor to
embrace Christianity.
He gave his name (Carolus
Magnus in Latin) to an
entire era, the Carolingian
period.
Equestrian portrait of Charlemagne
(Metz, Germany),
early ninth century
Carolingian Art
Equestrian/ parading,
not in action/ imperial
rob/ glove –symbol of
world domination/
Revive Roman Empire
Saint Matthew folio
from the Coronation
Gospel Book of
Charlemagne (Aachen,
Germany), c. 800-810,
ink and tempera on
vellum
Charlemagne/ Aachen/
reliance on classical
prototypes for
artistic inspiration/
Saint Matthew from
the Ebbo Gospels
(Hautvillers, near
Reims, France),
c. 816-835, ink and
tempera on vellum
classical calm
replaced by a frenzy
of energy
classical illusionism
merged with linear
northern linear
tradition
Saint Luke from
the Ebbo Gospels
(Hautvillers, near
Reims, France),
c. 816-835, ink
and tempera on
vellum
Carolingian Art
The golden cover of the Lindau
Gospels.
pearls and jewels that are raised
on golden claw feet so that they
can catch and reflect the light.
The figures are rendered in
repoussé, or hammered or
pressed relief.
The youthful Christ brings to mind
the beardless unsuffering Christ of
the fifth-century ivory casket from
Italy.
This single eclectic work displays
the classical and native stylistic
poles of Carolingian art side by
side.
Crucifixion, front cover of the Lindau Gospels,
ca. 870
Left: front cover of the
Lindau Gospels,
c. 870, gold
Below: back cover
Cover of the Psalter
of Charles the Bald
(St. Denis, France),
c. 865, ivory panel
set in silver-gilt with
filigree work and
precious stones
rich, decorated
surfaces/ continued
intellectual and
artistic endeavors
during the
Carolingian period
Monday
• Finish Early Medieval
• Go over Unit 4 Exam
• Turn in Medieval WKST for Late Grade.
• Tomorrow: Unit 4 Test
– Must have an excused absence to miss test.
Parent email/ call. Otherwise it’s all Essay Test.
Odo of Metz.
Interior of the
Palatine Chapel of
Charlemagne
(Aachen, Germany),
792-805
modeled after San
Vitale (Ravenna)/
clear structural
articulation/
eastern feel:
octogan shape/
striped arches/
basilica-central plan
Important Relics: cloak of
Virgin Mary, Loin cloth of
Christ on cross
The “Three Floor” Elevation
Clerestory
(upper level
floor for
windows)
Gallery
(2nd floor area
looking down)
ambulatory
Abbey church of
Corvey (Westphalia),
Germany, c. 873-5
only Carolingian
westwork to survive
westwork: “façade with
towers” castle or
fortress like
stairs in tower
provided access to
upper stories
2nd floor-2 story
chapel w/ aisle and
gallery on 3 sides
THURSDAY
• Turn in medieval worksheets for late grade
• Finish Early Medieval: The Ottonians
• Sister Wendy: Art History Video
• Tomorrow: REVIEW
• MONDAY: UNIT 4 EXAM!!!!!
• Will put up review images online tonight
Ottonians
• 30 yrs after Charlemegne’s death, the
empire was divided by his three grand
children
• Mid 10th century- newline of emperorsOttonians consolidated eastern part of
Charlemagnes former empire.
• Sought to preserve & enrich the culture and
tradition of Carolingian period
St. Michael’s (Hildesheim, Germany), 1001-1031
Three “Ottos”/ Bishop
Bernward/ lateral
entrances/ alternate
support system/
Doors with relief panels from
Saint Michael’s at Hildesheim,
1015, bronze
Adam and Eve Reproached by the Lord, from the
doors of St. Michael’s at Hildesheim
Church’s reestablishment of authority/ passing of blame
The Presentation at the Temple
Crucifix
commissioned by
Archbishop Gero
for Cologne
Cathedral, c. 970,
painted wood
Archbishop Gero/
suffering on a
monumental scale/
INRI (Iesus
Nazarenus Rex
Iudaeorum)
Ottonian Art
This Crucifix, carved in oak and then painted
and gilded, epitomizes the revival of interest in
monumental sculpture during this period. The
six-foot-tall image of Christ nailed to the cross
is both statue and reliquary [a shrine for
sacred relics].
Crucifixion, commissioned by Archbishop Gero
ca. 970
Annunciation to the
Shepherds, from
the Lectionary of
Henry II
(Reichenau,
Germany), 10021014
clarity and
confidence
expressed by line
quality
immense, looming angel
Otto III
enthroned, from
the Gospel Book
of Otto III,
(Trier, Germany),
997-1000
alignment of
church and
state/ mixture
of pagan and
Christian
imagery
Janus figures/ under a canopy
Compare & Contrast
Washing of Peter’s feet,
from the Gospel Book of
Otto III, c. 1000
Page of Christ
Washing the Feet of
His Disciples
Gospels of Otto III, c.
1000
This manuscript painting, done
about 1000 CE, is a scene of
humility, but during the next
200 years, the Romanesque
period, the emperors, kings,
popes and abbots lavish their
material resources on churches
to glorify God and recreate an
image of the heavenly
Jerusalem on earth.