Early Medieval Art
Theme: TV Networks HCO After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Western Europe entered what is known as the Dark Ages. Power became decentralized, dispersed among various nomadic tribes. Trade among towns and outposts collapsed because the Roman legions were no longer present to maintain order. When comparing the art produced during early medieval times with the many achievements of the Roman Empire, it is obvious why historians first labeled the period the Dark Ages. However, recent discoveries and scholarship have uncovered works of art and architecture that reveal the presence of rich cultures between the years 500 and 1000 CE. T: Tribes – Power dispersed among nomadic tribes. Vast system of trade developed. V: Vikings– These powerful warriors destroyed monasteries in Great Britain and Northern Europe, and took over large tracts of land. Networks: Nomadic tribes developed networks of trade. These trade routes spread goods, information, language, and ideas. H: Hiberno-Saxon – Art created on the British Isles by Celtic converts to Christianity. Look for interlace patterns, animal imagery, and detailed manuscripts. C: Carolingian – Art produced under Charlemagne’s empire. Charlemagne tried to reunite Europe and recreate Rome’s glory. O: Ottonian – Art produced under the Ottonian rulers builds on and expands Carolingian progress. Look specifically at church and monastery design.
“Barbarian” Art
Purse cover from the Sutton Hoo ship burial Interlace patterns Animal forms Purse cover from the Sutton Hoo ship burial Suffolk, England ca. 625 gold, glass and enamel cloisonné with garnets and emeralds 7 1/2 in. long Why were works of art from this time period small?
Scandinavian “Viking” Art
Burial Ship Oseberg, Norway ca. 825 wood 75 1/2 ft. long
Animal-Head Post Oseberg, Norway ca. 825 wood approximately 5 in. high
Wood carved portal of the stave church at Urnes Urnes, Norway ca. 1050 - 1070 wood
Monastic Life in the Middle Ages
Great Skellig Ireland
Schematic plan for a monastery St. Gall, Switzerland ca. 819 redrawn after a 9th century manuscript Read the box in your textbook on page 420. What was the organizing principle this plan was built around?
http://www.dw.de/a-monastery-one-millenium-in-the-making/a-15437495
The Latin inscription on the foot of the chalice reads: AD HONOREM B The Latin inscription on the foot of the chalice reads: AD HONOREM B. MARIE VIRGINIS F. BERTINUS ME FECIT Ao MCCXXII (In honor of the Blessed Virgin brother Bertinus made this in the year 1222). The inscription is remarkable because historians of medieval art rarely have the advantage of a date or the name of a patron or maker. It is all the more frustrating, then, that brother Bertinus has not been further identified, and that the place where this chalice was manufactured thus remains unknown. The style, apparent in the richly decorated knop with encircling dragons, is closely related to the metalwork production in the Meuse valley, in present-day Belgium
Hiberno-Saxon Art
Chi-rho-iota page Book of Kells from Iona, Scotland This page reads: “Now this is how the birth of Christ came about” “Carpet page” – pages in Early Medieval manuscripts that look like textiles Angels Human heads Chi-rho-iota page Book of Kells from Iona, Scotland 8th - 9th centuries tempera on vellum 13 x 9 1/2 in.
Evangelists symbols page Book of Kells from Iona, Scotland 8th - 9th centuries tempera on vellum 13 x 9 1/2 in.
Matthew and Mark symbols Book of Kells from Iona, Scotland 8th - 9th centuries tempera on vellum 13 x 9 1/2 in.
Luke and John symbols Book of Kells from Iona, Scotland 8th - 9th centuries tempera on vellum 13 x 9 1/2 in.
erat autem hora tertia et crucifixerunt eum Illuminated text from the Gospel of Mark Erat autem hora tercia Book of Kells from Iona, Scotland 8th - 9th centuries tempera on vellum 13 x 9 1/2 in. erat autem hora tertia et crucifixerunt eum And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
Cross and Carpet page Lindisfarne Gospels Northumbria, England http://www.bl.uk/turning-the-pages/?id=fdbcc772-3e21-468d-8ca1-9c192f0f939c&type=book Cross and Carpet page Lindisfarne Gospels Northumbria, England ca. 698 - 721 tempera on vellum 13 1/2 x 9 1/4 in.
Saint Matthew page Lindisfarne Gospels Northumbria, England ca. 698 - 721 tempera on vellum 13 1/2 x 9 1/4 in.
High Cross of Muiredach (east side) Monasterboice, Ireland ca. 923 16 ft. high
High Cross of Muiredach(east side) Monasterboice, Ireland ca. 923 16 ft. high Last Judgment
High Cross of Muiredach(east side) Monasterboice, Ireland ca. 923 16 ft. high Weighing of Souls
High Cross of Muiredach (west side) Monasterboice, Ireland ca. 923 16 ft. high Crucifixion
Carolingian Art
Equestrian portrait of Charlemagne(?) from Metz, France What is wrong with the scale in this sculpture? Why was Charlemagne portrayed this way? Equestrian portrait of Charlemagne(?) from Metz, France early 9th century bronze, originally gilt 9 1/2 in. high
St. Matthew Coronation Gospels Aachen, Germany ca. 800-810 ink and tempera on vellum 12 3/4 x 10 in.
Saint Matthew Ebbo Gospels Hautvillers, France Pay attention to the linear style of the mark making in this image. What aspects of this image are reminiscent of Ancient Roman works of art? Why were those associations made? Saint Matthew Ebbo Gospels Hautvillers, France ca. 816 - 835 ink and tempera on vellum 10 1/4 x 8 3/4 in.
Canon Tables Ebbo Gospels Hautvillers, France ca. 816 - 835 ink and tempera on vellum 10 1/4 x 8 3/4 in.
Crucifixion front cover Lindau Gospels Pierpont Morgan Library, New York ca. 870 gold, precious stones and pearls 13 3/8 x 10 3/8 in.
San Vitale Ravenna, Italy 526-547 Look back in your notes and review San Vitale (Byzantine). This central-plan church served as a model for Charlemagne’s Palatine Chapel. San Vitale Ravenna, Italy 526-547
Interior of the Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne How are the plans of the two structures similar? Different? Odo of Metz Interior of the Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne Aachen, Germany ca. 792-805
Interior of the Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne Odo of Metz Interior of the Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne Aachen, Germany ca. 792-805
Interior of the Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne Odo of Metz Interior of the Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne Aachen, Germany ca. 792-805
Interior of the Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne Odo of Metz Interior of the Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne Aachen, Germany ca. 792-805
Schematic plan for a monastery St. Gall, Switzerland ca. 819 redrawn after a 9th century manuscript Read the box in your textbook on page 420. What was the organizing principle this plan was built around?
Ottonian Art
Westwork of the Abbey Church Corvey, Germany What is westwork? Westwork of the Abbey Church Corvey, Germany ca. 873-885
Nave of the church of St. Cyriakus Gernrode, Germany How does this interior differ from the interior of an Early Christian basilica? Nave of the church of St. Cyriakus Gernrode, Germany ca. 961-963
Abbey Church of St. Michael’s Hildesheim, Germany ca. 1001-1031
Abbey Church of St. Michael’s Hildesheim, Germany ca. 1001-1031
Doors with relief panels Genesis, left door - Christ, right door Hildesheim, Germany ca. 1001-1031
Doors with relief panels Genesis, left door - Christ, right door Middle Bottom Doors with relief panels Genesis, left door - Christ, right door Hildesheim, Germany ca. 1001-1031
Doors with relief panels Genesis, left door - Christ, right door Hildesheim, Germany ca. 1001-1031
Column with reliefs illustrating the life of Christ Hildesheim, Germany ca. 1015-1022 bronze 12 ft. 6 in. high
Column with reliefs illustrating the life of Christ Hildesheim, Germany ca. 1015-1022 bronze 12 ft. 6 in. high
Column with reliefs illustrating the life of Christ Hildesheim, Germany ca. 1015-1022 bronze 12 ft. 6 in. high
Crucifix commissioned by Archbishop Gero Cologne Cathedral, Germany ca. 970 painted wood 6 ft. 2 in. high
Otto III enthroned Gospel Book of Otto III from Trier, Germany What symbols and stylistic devices are used to signify the imperial position of Otto III in this work of art? Otto III enthroned Gospel Book of Otto III from Trier, Germany ca. 997-1000 tempera on vellum 13 x 9 3/8 in.