THE MIDDLE (DARK) AGES
EUROPE c. ______________ AD
TOPIC: Early Christian, Byzantine
and Islam
308 AD- The Roman Empire splits into two:
1. Western Empire declines
2. Eastern Empire (orthodox) rises
Constantinople  Moscow
-fall of Rome
-313 AD Edict of Milan, Christianity becomes legal
-the church becomes the center of life
-Christianity rejects all previous accomplishments in art,
wants symbolic representation
-art is used for propaganda, for the church
-depicts the life of Christ (Old and New Testament)
-art is symbolic and emotional- lacks realism- is flat and
distorted
*-art is portable (especially before Christianity is legal)
*illuminated manuscripts
*icons
*diptychs
*triptychs
*crucifixes
*frescos in catacombs etc.
Often in the church-mosaics, sculpture, painting and church
service ornaments
Tapestries- Unicorn Tapestries at The Cloisters in NYC
Bayeux Tapestries
Greco/Roman- Body is beautiful

Medieval- Body is ugly and sinful
Illuminated Manuscripts
1. Celtic- Germanic other…
animals, interlacing lines, abstract motifs
2. Carolingian-very ornate, Byzantine influence
(King Charlemagne)
Ottonian- spiritual action
- pastels
- out of proper proportion
Architecture- Basilicas (1st churches),
*San Vitale- church in Italy, used *tesserae
*Hagia Sofia- starts out Byzantine…
St. Basil in Moscow- onion domes
Islam c.____________ AD
-abstract designs (interlacing lines), illuminations
-mosques, domes, minarets
-calligraphy
-forbids human representation in art inside mosque
*Dome of the Rock
*Hagia Sofia- becomes a mosque
*Alhambra- a Moorish palace/ fortress
THE MIDDLE (DARK) AGES
EUROPE
Part I
Topic: Romanesque c.______________________AD
-influenced by Roman, Early Christian & Byzantine
-church increases in power, influence and money
-*architecture is the #1 art form (sculptures and paintings are
used as ornaments and decorations)
*church construction:
-vaulting, including ribbed and fan vaults
1. thick walls
2.
3.
4.
5.
small windows
round arches
interiors do not match exteriors
a tympanum at the entrance
Part II
Topic: Gothic c. _________________________AD
-Gothic churches become taller (cathedrals), building higher
means getting closer to god
-thin walls supported by flying buttresses
-tall windows stained glass, clerestory
-rose windows large, round window on south transept
-interior and exterior match
-pointed arches
-gargoyles on the outside
Ex.- St. Patrick’s (NYC)
St. John’s (NYC) –the largest
Riverside (NYC)
Notre Dame (France)
Chartes (France)
Part III
Topic: Late Gothic c. _________________________AD
-altar, pulpit moves forward
-Florence and Sienna are leading art rivals
- artwork depicts the life of Christ (Old and New Testament)
*The leading art forms (other than architecture)-sculpture (in the church)
-painting- panels, fresco (Byzantine style)- used egg
tempera
-stained glass
-illuminated manuscripts
*emphasis on narratives, color and line
Siena
*Duccio
Florence
*Giotto (Scrovegini Chapel in Padua, Italy)
*Ghiberti &
*Brunelleschi- both are sculptors and architects