arly Medieval Art
th
5
–
th
10
Century
Slides # 16-18
Terminology
Nomads –
Relics Carolingian -
Characteristics
• Time period of nomadic peoples (a nomad is someone who is
always travelling).
• Since people travelled small portable artworks were created
• Europe has divided into a variety of small kingdoms
• There are numerous invasions of previously Romanized areas by
barbarian peoples
• Pockets of education are maintained by remaining monasteries /
religious communities
Interior of the Palatine Chapel of
Charlemagne.
(786-805) Aachen, Germany
Interior of the Palatine Chapel of
Charlemagne.
(786-805) Aachen, Germany
Charlemagne called the "Father of Europe",
united most of Western Europe for the first time since the
Roman Empire.
Charlemagne collected a variety of relics during his lifetime, which are still kept in
Aachen Cathedral. The four most important are impressive indeed:
• the cloak of the Blessed Virgin;
• the swaddling-clothes of the Infant Jesus;
• the loin-cloth worn by Christ on the Cross; and
• the cloth on which lay the head of St. John the Baptist after his beheading.
16. Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne.
(786-805) Aachen, Germany
History:
-commissioned by Charlemagne who was the First Holy
Roman Emperor
-designed by Odo of Metz
Purpose:
-personal chapel
-it became a place visited by many pilgrims for the relics
Style & Forms of Decoration:
-this style of architecture is called Carolingian
-Odo of Metz based his design on the Church San Vitale
-striped arches
-marble floor (imported purple marble)
-golden mosaics
Architectural Feature:
-octagon floor plan
-cupola (31 meters above the pavement)
17. Rocca Calascio. (10th century)
Abruzzo, Italy
History:
- at an elevation of 1,460 metres (4,790 ft),
- It is the highest fortress in the region.
Purpose:
-began as a watch tower
-then for the accommodations for the military
-never intended as a residence for nobles
Style & Forms of Decoration:
-Build of stone and masonary (larger stones on the bottom
were used to make impenetrable to invaders
-the four cylindrical towers and wall added later
What is this?
http://www.bl.uk/turning-the-pages/?id=cb4c06b9-02f4-49af-80ce540836464a46&type=book
18. X-P Chi-Rho page from the
Lindisfarne Gospel Book.
(between 689-721) Manuscript.
Artists:
-painted by monks (hand painted)
Purpose:
-to preserve religious teachings
-pages from a book (Bible)
Style:
-Calligraphic writing
-Celtic designs
Medium:
-Paintings made on vellum (calfskin) or
parchment (calfskin)
Symbolism in the Work:
-X-P monogram of Christ
-Also the symbol of a warrior’s cross
and Constantine’s cross
19. Symbols of the Four
Evangelists page from the Book
of Kells. (c. 800) Manuscript.
Matthew - Eagle
Mark – Winged Lion
Luke - Ox
John - Angel
Purpose:
-to preserve religious teachings
-pages from a book (Bible)
Style:
-Calligraphic writing
-Celtic designs
Medium:
Paintings made on vellum
(calfskin) or parchment
http://digitalcollections.tcd.ie/h
ome/index.php?DRIS_ID=MS
58_003v
• Look at the next slides of the interior of the Palatine Chapel of
Charlemagne and identify
Clements
• Karol
• Andie
• Ellison
• Noor
• Adiba
• Steve
Rogina
• Cassidy
• Ashley
• Valentina
• Josh
• Miriam
• Joline
• Christian
Douglas (Natalie)
• Omema
• Martina
• Danielle
• Shobiga
• Delphia
• Kelsey
• Ariene