Chapter 10 – Early
Medieval Art
·
A catchall phrase used to describe the art of a
number of cultures in western Europe after the Fall of Rome (476 CE) until the
eleventh century.
·
Invaders established settlements, and they
adopted many customs to the areas they conquered.
o
Overlaid were additional customs that were Roman
in tradition and including Christianity.
o
Many local tribes had adopted Christianity after
being conquered by the Romans.
·
Conversion to Christianity became less a
personal choice and more a social choice.
o
People would convert en mass when their leaders
converted.
o
Christianity had a strong allure during the
turbulent times.
·
The church was also emerging as a force for the
unification of Europe.
·
Feudalism began with strong leaders forming
economic and political alignments.
o
Dynasties formed as strong leaders began to
merge the Feudal areas together.
o
There was a push to regain a centralized
authority of Europe. The first since the fall of Rome.
·
There was a vibrant and vital mix in art.
o
Artistic methods, materials, and traditions
introduced by migration, were combined with those that predominate in the
regions where tribes settled.
·
Anglo Saxon Art
o
The Germanic people that invaded Britain in the
5th and 6th century.
o
Weaving metalwork, jewelry and woodcarving.
§
Exquisite metalwork was symbolic of wealth,
social position and craft.
o
Animal Style – heavy use of stylized animal-life
forms, merged with intricate ornamental metalwork of the Celts.
§
Produced unique combinations of abstract and
organic shapes, of formed discipline and imaginative freedom.
§
Sutton Hoo – Burial Mound Site. Contained
·
Intricate Anglo Saxon art
·
And objects of Christianity.
o
Christian artifacts were reflective of trade
with other cultures, and
o
Possibly used by some of the Germanic peoples.
·
Hiberno-Saxon Art
o
The Irish (Hibernians) were never part of the
Roman Empire.
o
In the fifth century, missionaries went to
Ireland and Christianity was readily adopted and brought them in contact with
Mediterranean civilization.
o
**** The Irish was mostly urban, and the
Christian institution did not blend well with them.
§
The adopted examples form areas that preferred
spiritual worship in the isolation or the solitude of the wilderness.
§
Irish monasteries were established in isolated
and secluded areas, including islands.
·
These monasteries required self-sufficiency.
o
Monasteries became centers of learning and the
arts.
§
Intrinsic geometric patterns and displays.
·
Repeating patterns.
·
Symmetry
·
Mirror-image effects.
§
Lots of effort put into copying literary and
religious texts.
§
Efforts went into decorative embellishment.
·
Manuscripts that combine Christian with Celtic
and Germanic elements.
§
Large numbers of bibles were copied in an effort
to spread the word of God.
·
**** Each
book was considered sacred and containing the Word of God.
§
The monastery became the cultural center for
several hundred years.
o
The gospels became codified with animal symbols
to represent the authors.
§
Matthew – the Angel
§
Mark – The Lion
§
Luke – The Ox
§
John – The Eagle
o
Seventh Century
§
The proliferation of decorative manuscripts were
attributed to the isolation of Irish monasteries in conjunction with the
intense desire to spread the word of god.
§
Communications and exchanges with Rome suggest
new Roman manuscripts arrived at the Irish Monasteries.
·
These new manuscripts became the models for new
artistic interpretations (320).
§
Book of Kells, the most elaborate codex of
Celtic art.
·
Viking Art
o
Scandinavian people.
o
Trading and attacking people along European
shores led to permanent colonies.
o
Use of realistic animals and mythical creatures.
o
Use of vessels to bury the important dead.
·
Carolingian art.
o
The empire founded by Charlemagne from the North
sea to Spain to Lombardy in Italy.
o
Charlemagne resisted the authority of the
Catholic empire.
§
Formed and interdependence of spiritual and
political authority.
§
Foundation of the Church and State that would
define western Europe for many centuries.
o
768 to 877 was dominated by Charlemagne and his
successors. Known as the Carolingian
period.
o
His goal was to increase the teachings of
Christian truths, as wells a better administrate his realm.
o
Revived Roman teaching and Roman styles and
produced.
o
Used to portray Charlemagne as the successor of
Marcus Aurelius’ successor.
o
325 He established an academy that encouraged
the collecting and copying of ancient Roman literature.
o
*** Again – influence of trade and communication
with other cultures.
o
Syncretism between Roman and Christian.
o
Architecture
§
Increase in building activity during the
Carolingian period.
§
Reflections of security and prosperity of the
reign.
§
Rome and Ravenna were used for architecture.
·
Rome was roman, but Ravenna was a Christian
outpost and served as a prototype.
·
Palace of Charlemagne is reminiscent of Islamic
temples. (329).
·
Used the trusted basilica.
·
Also see the beginnings of elaborate churches.
·
Symbolism of the number three representing the
holy trinity (331) Codified symbols.
·
Expansive height and surfaces.
·
Ottonian Art
o
In 911 the center of political power moved to
the Eastern part of the Carolingian Empire, roughly equivalent to Germany.
o
*** Improved Trade in the Economy.
o
From 919 to 1024, Germany was the political and
artistic leader.
o
Architecture
§
The reform of the church, as it had become
corrupt and mismanaged.
§
Formed alliances with the Papacy.
§
Renewed interest in religious buildings.
§
*** Early Christian basilica.
§
Note **** Spread of Christianity through leaders
*****
·
Leaders reflecting Christianity through social
choices more so than individual preferences.
·
Lower Crypts that housed saints.
·
Some similarities with Byzantine churches.
·
Again larger churches, almost castle like 335.
·
Abby Church of St. Michaels 336 – Reminiscent of
Byzantine architecture.
·
**** A reliance of church authority to
strengthen their own governmental rule encouraged them to build sumptuous works
of art to decorate them – Marx ***
·
Re-emergence of lost was process from antiquity
(338).
·
Manuscripts depicting Christ along with Ottoman empowers.
341…further development of to maintain and project political power.
·
970 Cero Crucifix sculpture.
o
First a dead Christ is represented on the Cross.
o
Emphasizes the physical strain of the body.
o
Deep feeling for Christ’s suffering.
No comments:
Post a Comment