art appreciation: middle ages
DESCRIPTION
An introduction to art in the medieval period, from the fall of the Roman Empire, through Byzantine, Romanesque, and Gothic. Includes architecture, religion, illuminated manuscripts, and more!TRANSCRIPT
Art in the Middle Ages
Art Appreciation 1301.51005T, R, 9:30-10:50AM
Professor Paige Prater
Introduction
• Middle Ages/Medieval/ “Dark Ages”• Approximately 1,000 year period: 5th century
end of the Roman Empire to Renaissance (1500)
• “Barbarians” • Church power/architecture– Romanesque (11th century)– Gothic (1150-1500)
Three Major Religions
Jewish Art: Dura Europos (Roman Empire border-
town in Syria), 244-245 CE
Detail of synagogue at Dura-Europos: Exodus and Crossing of the Red Sea
Rome: Catacombs of Saints Peter and Marcellinus, 3rd-early 4th century
Typology: Christ and Jonah stories
5th Century: Rome
Roman army abandons Britain (Hadrian’s Wall)◦Germanic allies of Rome◦410 Rome sacked by Visigoths
◦ Galla Placidia
◦455 Rome sacked by Vandals ◦476 Ostrogoths deposed the last Roman
Emperor Ravenna – capital until Byzantine defeat in
540 CE
Mapping “Barbarians”
Byzantine: Mausoleum of Galla Placidia 425-426 CE– Good Shepherd Mosaic
Lunette and tesserae395 – Emperor Theodosius I split Roman Empire between his sons
Rome to Constantinople: Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Art/Culture
• Early Byzantine (5th century – 726 CE)– End of Western Roman Empire – 476CE– Iconoclastic Controversy 726-843CE
• Middle Byzantine (843-1204 CE)– Catholic vs. Orthodox 1054 CE– Crusades begin 1095 CE
• Late Byzantine (1261-1453CE)– Fall of Constantinople to Turks 1453 CE
Constantinople: Emperor Justinian I • Hagia Sophia, 532-537 CE
Icons
• Emperor Justinian I (483-565)
• Constantinople• More than
2,000 icons• Meditation
and prayer
6th century icon of Christ, St. Catherine Monastery, Mount Sinai, Egypt
San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy
• 526 CE Bishop Ecclesius commissions this church
• Not finished until Justinian I takes over Ravenna in 540 CE
• Justinian and Theodora may never have visited.
San Vitale, Ravenna – MOSAICS – Christ Enthroned, 547 CE
San Vitale, Ravenna: Emperor Justinian I (north wall of apse)
San Vitale, Ravenna: Empress Theodora (south wall of apse)
San Vitale, Ravenna, View facing apse
Central Plan vs. Basilica
Central Plan vs. Basilica
Illuminated Manuscripts in the Middle Ages
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aDHJu9J10o
• Koran• Lindisfarne gospels • Book of Kells
Page from the Koran, late 12th century
• vellum• Kufic script on
headings• Maghribi script
on the rest of the text• Right to left• Arabesque
quality
Lindisfarne Gospels, Cross-carpet page introducing the Gospel of Matthew
• Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
• lines>tiny animal heads
• contemplation
Detail of carpet page
Book of Kells, Chi Rho Iota page, late 8th or early 9th century
• Cats and mice• Chi rho symbol
Celts & Anglo-Saxons: Sutton Hoo• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWxcQZBM3eQ• Purse cover, Suffolk, England, first half of 7th century
Later Islamic Manuscript Page, 1539-1543
• The Ascent of the Prophet Muhammad on his Steed, Buraq, Guided by Jibra’il and Escorted by Angels
• Miniature painting from Nizami’s Khamsa (five poems)
Pilgrimage in the Middle Ages
• Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, 688-691 CE
Mosques
• Mihrab = special prayer niche
• Mihrab from the Madrasa Imami, Isfahan, Iran, c. 1354. Mosaic of polychrome-glazed cut tiles on stonepaste body, set into plaster, 11’ 3” x 9’ 5 ¾” . Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXNFjOhrihI&index=2&list=PL3DA7CE9E3C8EC115
Kaaba, Mecca
• Surrounded by large mosque• Allegedly built by Abraham for God• Muhammad born in Mecca around 570 CE
Reliquaries
• Reliquary of Head of St. Alexander, 1145
• Silver repousse, gilt bronze, gems, pearls, and enamel
• 7 ½” high
• Vézelay video: pilgrimage, crusades: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dnxm4UQPDTo&list=PLEEA1BAEC5B2F7654&index=43
Symbolism
St. Trophime, west portal with tympanum, 12th century, Arles, France
Romanesque: St. Sernin, 1070-1120, Toulouse, France
Gothic: Chartres Cathedral, 1260
Transitioning to the Renaissance: 2 Painters
• Cimabue, Virgin and Child Enthroned, c. 1280 (L). Tempera and gold on wood, 12’ 7 ½” x 7’ 4” Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy
• Giotto, Virgin and Child Enthroned, c. 1310 (R). Tempera on wood, 10’ 7” x 6’ 9”. Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9s3YA-glNk&index=18&list=PLEEA1BAEC5B2F7654