The Middle Ages (400-1400) The period of time in Europe between the collapse of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance.

The 3 styles in the Middle Ages were:

• Byzantine

• 532-37

• Central-dome church

• Romanesque

• Begun 1080

• Barrel-vaulted church

• Gothic(doesn’t mean emo or black)

• 1194-1260

• Having to do with architecture (pointed-arch cathedral)

Byzantine Art (Early Middle Ages)

Characteristics of Byzantine Art

• Subject matter was religion

• Byzantine Art was totally flat - one dimensional. There was no perspective (depth)

• There were no shadows

• Byzantine Art featured long, narrow and solemn faces

• There was no attempt to portray realism in sombre Byzantine Art

During this time period, the most popular types of art were

• illuminated manuscripts

• Mosaics

• fresco paintings(The art of painting on fresh, moist plaster with pigments dissolved in water)

All of these types of art were done for the Church or nobility

Illuminated (decorated) manuscripts were hand made and very valuable.

Illuminated letters

Multi-media: watercolor and colored pencil.

The verse goes well with the letter:

You may decorate the letter itself or the inside of the letter…

Eventually Medieval Art became more realistic as there were advances in drawing perspective

Read over the Illuminated Letters Guidelines sheet

• Objectives:

• Learn even more art history!

• Express yourself by illustrating writing that has meaning to you

• Continue to develop your drawing and design skills