Early Medieval Europe
Table of Contents:
1. Art of the Warrior
Lords
2. Carolingian
3. Hiberno-saxon Art
4. Ottonian
By: Lisa Boivin, Amy
Duncan, Kyle Morasse &
Emily Biehl
Art of the Warrior Lords
1. Occurs after the fall of Rome; during this period many cultures such as the
Huns, Vandals, Merovingian's, Franks & Goths competed for power & territory in
the northwestern provinces of the empire
2. The period consists of small scale status symbols
-cloisonné ornament is often featured in the art
-much of the decoration is very abstract & displays zoomorphic motifs
-Vikings were master wood carvers the animal head post form the Viking ship burial
combines in one composition the head of a roaring beast w/surface ornamentation
in the form of tightly interwoven writing animals
Carolingian Art
1. Charlemagne ruled for much of the period, expanded territories,
reunited much of western Europe 7 initiated of revival of early
Christian art in Rome
2. Illuminators merged illusionism of classical paintings w/northern
linear tradition by replacing the figures w/frenzied 3-D type figures
3. Sculptors of this era revived the imperial roman tradition of
equestrian portraiture ( portrait of Charlemagne) & youthfulness in
the statues
4. Corronation Gospels, Ebbo Gospels, Equestrian Portraiture of
Charlemagne, Lindisfarne Gospels
Hiberno-Saxon Art
-The Christian art of the early medieval British Isles
-Decorative style resulted when Irish monks went to England:
curvilinear forms, scrolls, spirals & double curve motif
-Produced in Britain & Ireland around 700-800
- Most distinctive products were illuminated manuscripts of the
Christian church
- Book of Durrow, Lindisfarne Gospels, Book of Kells, High cross of
Muiredach
Ottonian Art
-In the mid 10th century, a new line of emperoros called the Ottonians,
consolidated the eastern part of Charlemagnes former empire & sought to
preserve & enrich the culture & tradition of the Carolingian period
-Ottonian architects built basilican chruches with towering spires & imposing
westworks of their Caroligian models but introduced the alternate-support systen &
galleries into the interior elevation of the nave
--Ottonian scupltors revives the art of monumental scuplture in works such as the
Gero crucifix & the colossal bronze door of saint michaels at Hildesheim
--Ottonian paintings combine motifs & landscape elements from Late Antique art
w/golden backgrounds of Byzantine Art. Byzantine infulence on Ottonian art
became especially pronounced after Otto II married Theophanu in 972