Europe after the Fall of RomeCh. 16

Early Medieval Art

Dark ages 400-1400

Dying Roman Empire

• Rome slowly turns into a Christian Nation

• Non Romans – HUNS< Vandals, FRANKS, Goths

• Celts, Ireland, France – Power divided up by Scandinavian Vikings

• We don’t know a lot about these people but we do know that art was produced to create a status symbol

• Bracelets, Wallets, weapons, belt buckles

Purse Cover – Sutton Hoo Ship Burial in Suffolk, England 625ca

Gold, glass and enamel cloisonné with garnets and emeralds

Merovingian looped fibula, France 6th century

• Favored by the Romans to fastened their garments,

• Usually buried with women

• Justinian had one on his clothes

Animal Head Post - Viking ship burial - Norway

Pagan traders and pirates were known as Vikings

They Destroyed the Christian monastic communitiesEspecially in England

Lavishly carved animal head, roaring beast located on a Viking ship

Wooden Portal of the Stave church at Urnes, Norway 1050-1070

• Intertwined figures• Plants stalks

Hiberno – Saxon ArtMan –Symbol of Matthew 660-680

Hiberno – Saxon ArtBritish Isles – Hibernia – ancient name of Ireland

• St. Patrick established church in Ireland

• Began Christianization of the Celts

• These people wanted Independence

• Irish Monks settled in isolated areas in Ireland, Scotland and some locations in England

Cross and Carpet Page –Lindisfarne Gospels 698

Chi-rho-iota – Book of Kells-carpet page,

included the new testament

8th centuryTempera on Vellum

Saint Matthew –from the Lindsisfarne Gospels – 698ce

High Cross of Muiredach –Ireland 923Largest fine cross , Marked grave, fantastic animals,

Panels of Christ’s story

Mozarabic ArtCrossed into Spain from N. African, they brought Islam to where Rome had ruled for ages. Christian culture of Iberia

called Mozarabic - Christians living in Arab TerritoryEmeteriuis- Tower and scriptorium of San Salvador de

Tabara, colophon –SPAIN 970

Carolingian Art800- Pope Leo III, crowned Charles the Great aka Charlemagne, 1st HOLY

Roman Emperor, 9th Century –Charlemagne – outstretched hand in which he holds the globe. (world dominion)

Carolingian Art –Revive Art of Ancient Rome

St. Matthew – Coronation Gospels, 800ca

• Above – Ebbo Gospels, Frank (Ink and tempera on vellum)

Lindau Gospels -870ca

• Pearls, jewels, gem stones, repousse

Architecture –Roman Christian sources

• Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne 795 ce

• Imported purple marble

• Like san Vitale

Interior of Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne, 792 Germany

Torhalle (gatehouse), Lorsh Germany 9th century

Corvey, Germany 873

• Basilica with towers, west end of building

Ottonian Art

• Double transept plan begins in churches, loss of tradition in art

• Influenced by Rome and early Christian art

• Theme in Ottonian art arch – interior arches and windows do not line up with each other

Ottonian Art Abbey Church of St. Michaels 1000

Nave of the Church of St. Cyriakus – Germany 961

St. Michaels – Hildesheim, Germany 1015

• Bishop Bernwad visited Otto III• Hung out in the neighborhood

of Santa Sabrina( known for its church of carved doors)

• Made for St. Michaels 1015 – 16ft High – Lost Wax Process

• Compared to Ottoman and Carolington Books

• Only Monks could pass through the doors

• Doors tell the story of original sin

• Adam and Eve, emotional impact

Column w/Relief showing life of Christ 1015ce

Narrative -story of Jesus life top to bottom

Rome an influence

• Column of Trajan

Carolingian Tradition of book making

• Annunciation to the shepherd 1000ce( in Lectionary of Henry II)

• What influenced this page ?

• Winged Nike

Statue and Reliquary – 970 –Cologne Cathedral

• Like a Byzantine suffering Christ

• Blood

Otto III enthroned from Reichenau Germany 997ce

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