1. Early Medieval Art

2. 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.

4. “Barbarian” Art

5. 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?

6. Scandinavian “Viking” Art

7. Burial Ship
Oseberg, Norway ca. 825 wood 75 1/2 ft. long

8. Animal-Head Post
Oseberg, Norway ca. 825 wood approximately 5 in. high

10. Wood carved portal of the stave church at Urnes Urnes, Norway
ca wood

11. Monastic Life in the Middle Ages

12. Great Skellig
Ireland

14. 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?

16. 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

17. Hiberno-Saxon Art

18. 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.

19. Evangelists symbols page Book of Kells from Iona, Scotland
8th - 9th centuries tempera on vellum 13 x 9 1/2 in.

20. Matthew and Mark symbols Book of Kells from Iona, Scotland
8th - 9th centuries tempera on vellum 13 x 9 1/2 in.

21. Luke and John symbols Book of Kells from Iona, Scotland
8th - 9th centuries tempera on vellum 13 x 9 1/2 in.

22. 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.

23. Cross and Carpet page Lindisfarne Gospels Northumbria, England
Cross and Carpet page Lindisfarne Gospels
Northumbria, England
ca tempera on vellum 13 1/2 x 9 1/4 in.

24. Saint Matthew page Lindisfarne Gospels Northumbria, England
ca tempera on vellum 13 1/2 x 9 1/4 in.

25. High Cross of Muiredach (east side) Monasterboice, Ireland
ca ft. high

26. High Cross of Muiredach(east side) Monasterboice, Ireland
ca ft. high
Last Judgment

27. High Cross of Muiredach(east side) Monasterboice, Ireland
ca ft. high
Weighing of Souls

28. High Cross of Muiredach (west side) Monasterboice, Ireland
ca ft. high
Crucifixion

29. Carolingian Art

30. 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

31. St. Matthew Coronation Gospels Aachen, Germany
ca ink and tempera on vellum 12 3/4 x 10 in.

32. 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 ink and tempera on vellum 10 1/4 x 8 3/4 in.

33. Canon Tables Ebbo Gospels Hautvillers, France
ca ink and tempera on vellum 10 1/4 x 8 3/4 in.

34. 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.

35. 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

36. 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

37. Interior of the Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne
Odo of Metz
Interior of the Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne
Aachen, Germany ca

38. Interior of the Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne
Odo of Metz
Interior of the Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne
Aachen, Germany ca

39. Interior of the Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne
Odo of Metz
Interior of the Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne
Aachen, Germany ca

40. 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?

41. Ottonian Art

42. Westwork of the Abbey Church Corvey, Germany
What is westwork?
Westwork of the Abbey Church
Corvey, Germany ca

43. 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

44. Abbey Church of St. Michael’s Hildesheim, Germanyca

46. Abbey Church of St. Michael’s Hildesheim, Germanyca

47. Doors with relief panels Genesis, left door - Christ, right door
Hildesheim, Germany ca

48. 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

49. Doors with relief panels Genesis, left door - Christ, right door
Hildesheim, Germany ca

50. Column with reliefs illustrating the life of Christ
Hildesheim, Germany
ca bronze 12 ft. 6 in. high

51. Column with reliefs illustrating the life of Christ
Hildesheim, Germany
ca bronze 12 ft. 6 in. high

52. Column with reliefs illustrating the life of Christ
Hildesheim, Germany
ca bronze 12 ft. 6 in. high

53. Crucifix commissioned by Archbishop Gero
Cologne Cathedral, Germany ca. 970 painted wood 6 ft. 2 in. high

54. 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 tempera on vellum 13 x 9 3/8 in.