Medieval Art 5c-15c The Middle Ages followed the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5 th century and merged into the Renaissance. WATCH ME!

The Middle Ages refers to the time period between the 5th and 15th centuries Medieval is an adjective that is used to refer to the people, places, things, and events of that same period. Let’s get it straight, shall we? It is correct to say medieval furniture, medieval art, medieval philosophy, medieval history, or medieval scholar It is not correct to say Middle Ages furniture, Middle Ages art, Middle Ages philosophy, Middle Ages history, or Middle Ages scholar.

The Middle Ages can be broken up into several time periods…we will be looking at the Medieval Art and Architecture of… Early, high and Late Middle Ages in Europe Religious Icons Romanesque Art/Architecture Gothic Architecture Byzantine Empire Religious Icons Byzantine Architecture

@ Beginning of Middle Ages

Medieval Churches & Monestaries Difference between Romanesque and Gothic Artchitecture Video Romanesque structures featured round arches and heavy thick walls, small windows like the Roman style (necessary so the windows do not weaken the structure). A lot of sculptural decorations. Gothic structures featured pointed arches and have slender feel as if they soar upward (to Heaven), large stained glass windows filtered in light and color. Byzantine structures featured l arge Domes that cover soaring spaces, arches and lavish decoration. Students should be able to identify the two styles below.

St. Patrick's Cathedral Tour Byzantine Hagia Sofia, (eye- ya SO-fia)Turkey & St. Catherines Monestary, Egypt Gothic – St. Patricks, NYC Romanesque –St. Vitale, Revenna, Italy

Characteristics of Medieval Art Rich colors Heavily outlined Flat and stiff figures showing no depth Religious Icons Architecture is influenced by Greek and Roman – Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic styles emerged from this period. Mosaics replaced carved decoration Large Domes central to the church

Early Middle Ages 5th century– 10c Also called the “Dark Ages” –Characterized by decline in population, culture, trade, architectural and technological advances. –Christianization “age of Faith” influenced art and architecture –Monestaries and churches grew in number, size and political importance –Focus on Europe - Romanesque Architecture – 6c -10c

Justinian as world conqueror (Barberini Ivory) mid-6th century ivory 1 ft. 1 1/2 in. x 10 1/2 in. Art of the Early Middle Ages

Christ enthroned with Saints (Harbaville Triptych) ca. 950, ivory, 9 1/2 in. x 5 1/2 in. high

San Vitale Ravenna, Italy Romanesque Architecture -Thick walls -Semi circular Arches -Heavy in visual weight

San Vitale Ravenna, Italy

Theodora and attendants, south wall apse mosaic, San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy ca. 547, mosaic

The Art of Illumination 1 - Structure of a Medieval manuscript 2- Making manuscripts Importance of Illuminated Manuscripts Illuminated letter PPT by Amy Bruce

Ireland's Book of Kells, the most beautiful illuminated manuscript that survives from the early Middle Ages. It consists of four Gospels written in Latin. Only two of its 680 pages are without color. Ninth Century

High Middle Ages 10 th -13 th century (c ) Rapidly increasing population = boost in economy and political organization The Rise of Knighthood, Templar Knights … The Crusades –control of the Holy Land Produced many forms of artistic works –Most notable - Gothic Architecture

Glass Window from Troyes Cathedral, Troyes, France

Historiated initial R from the frontispiece of a 12th-century manuscript of St. Gregory's Moralia in Job, Dijon, Bible Gerona Bible Master, Bologna, Italy, 1285

Late Middle Ages 14-15c (c. 1301–1500). Great Famine of 1315–1317 and the Black Death, reduced population by half! Social unrest, peasant uprisings, Hundred Years War Conflict within Catholic Church Despite conflict and unrest it was a time of great progress! A resurgence of interest in Greek/Roman ideals…turning into the “Age of Discovery” and then Renaissance

One of the finest examples of gothic architecture and most well known churches in the world – Notre Dame de Paris

First to use Flying Buttresses (Arched exterior support system to accommodate higher and thinner walls) Famous for the use of water spouts, or gargoyles Completed in 1345 The “rose window” contains symbolism – center is blessed virgin mary and child who are surrounded by prophets and saints.

Christ as Savior of Souls, early 14th century tempera, linen and silver on wood 3 ft. 1/4 in. x 2 ft. 2 1/2 in.

Madonna from the Annunciation, Simone Martini, c Tempera on panel

Late 1400’s mural - dawning on realistic representations and attempt at perspective

Byzantine Empire aka Early Christian Art 3c Byzantine Empire – capital city of Constantinople (modern day Turkey) Series of Monasteries were built on various sites sacred to religious events Most prosperous and powerful empire in the world during the empire (which fell to the Ottoman…and the Byz art and culture disappeared) Architecture has some Near Eastern influence Byzantine Art Mostly Religious Icons Used Ivory and Gold to show the strength and power of the empire How the Religious Icons were made in 2 MINUTES!

Hagia Sophia ***Known as one of the grandest examples of Byzantine Architecture.

A view of the DOME Hagia Sophia Constantinpole, (Istanbul), Turkey Rick Steven's Hagia Sophia

Monastery of St. Catherine Mount Sinai, Egypt, 6c. Getty Images of St. Catherines start at 2min

Oldest known monastery Mt. Sinai in the Sinai peninsula, the peak where Moses received the Ten Commandments Due to Isolation, the Monks devoted much time to develop art which they believed showed their devotion to God. The monastery has one of the largest collections of ancient illuminated manuscripts in the world, as well as one of the most important collections of Religious icons, or paintings of important religious events. Transfiguration of Jesus apse mosaic, Church of the Virgin, Monastery of Saint Catherine, Mount Sinai, Egypt, ca. 565, mosaic

6th or 7th century Icon of Jesus and an abbot shares in the anti-realist style of Byzantine iconic art, Monastery of Saint Catherine, Mount Sinai, Egypt

The Enthroned Virgin and Child with Saints and Angels, 6th century, perhaps the earliest iconic image of the subject to survive at Monastery of Saint Catherine, Mount Sinai, Egypt

Christ the Savior (Pantokrator), a 6th-century encaustic icon

Other Byzantine Art Icon with the Virgin and Child, carved mid–10th–11th century Byzantine; Probably made in Constantinople Ivory; 9 3/16 x 2 3/4 x 1/2 in St. Catherine Wall Painting, Chapel of St. Nicholas, Pendali, Greece, 12c

This ICON is believed to have originated in Tuscany c. 1300, and influenced a wide number of paintings from the following century as well as Florentine sculptures from the 1440–1450s. This version was in turn widely copied across Italy and northern Europe during the 14th and 15th centuries – THIS WORK SERVED AS A BRIDGE FROM BYZANTINE TO EARLY RENAISSANCE

Review Characteristics of Medieval and Byzantine Art Rich colors Heavily outlined Flat and stiff figures showing no depth Religious Icons Architecture is influenced by Greek and Roman - Romanesque and Gothic Mosaics replaced carved decoration Large Domes central to the church

4/art-history-for-kids-byzantine-art/ References