Chapter 14: Early Medieval Art of Europe

Magister RicardArt History

Questions to Consider

• Who were the Carolingians and what did they leave behind for Western Europe?

• What cultures inspired the Carolingians?• Who were the Ottonians and what did they

instill in Western European culture?• How does the Gero Crucifix differ from earlier

Christian images of Christ?

ART OF THE WARRIOR LORDSChapter 14: 400-600 AD

Art of the Warrior Lords

• The Roman empire dissolved in the West• The capital had shifted to the eastern city of

Constantinople• The administration was left to various tribes, who

began to organize things independently • Warfare spread during this period, roughly 400-600

AD (sack of Rome was in 476 AD)• Most art was small, portable, and of fine metals and

precious stones and jewels• Used animal motifs known as animal style

They laid then the beloved chieftain, giver of rings, on the ship's bosom, glorious by the mast. There were brought many treasures, ornaments from far-off lands. Never have I heard that a vessel was more fairly fitted-out with war-weapons and battle-raiment, swords and coats of mail. On his bosom lay a host of treasures, where were to travel far with him into the power of the flood.“

-Beowulf

Sutton Hoo:Hiberno-Saxon Art

Art of the Warrior Lords: Characteristics

• Interlacing: refers to the ribbon-like interweaving found throughout a design

• Cloisonne: refers to the technique which solders small and thin strips of a metal to a background metal plate; gaps are then filled

• Animal Style – repeated use of animal motifs throughout the artwork, usually fighting

Hiberno-Saxon Art

• Hiberno = Ireland• Saxon = England• Artwork is similar to Art of the Warrior Lords• Christianity begins to spread (St. Patrick 400’s

AD) throughout the British Isles• Monasteries establish scriptoria– Books written by hand - manuscripts– These are illuminated manuscripts – illuminate

Christian concepts

CAROLINGIAN ARTChapter 14: 700-900 AD

Why Carolingian Art?• On Christmas day of the year 800,

Pope Leo III crowned Charles the Great (Charlemagne) as emperor of Rome (r. 800-814). – He ruled as king of the Franks since 768.

• Charlemagne came to be seen as the first Holy (that is, Christian) Roman Emperor– A title his successors in the West did not

formally adopt until the twelfth century.

• The setting for Charlemagne’s coronation was Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome– Built by Constantine.

• He gave his name (Carolus Magnus in Latin) to an entire era, the Carolingian period.

Characteristics of Carolingian Art

• Charlemagne wanted to revive the glory of Rome

• Artwork and architecture reflects imagery of Roman empire

• Charlemagne was fascinated by how past rulers were portrayed publicly– Equestrian statues convey power

• In uniting most of Western Europe, became an heir to the glory of Rome himself

Charlemagne turned to the Church to help stabilize his empire through religion and education. He looked to the Benedictine monks as his “cultural army.”

Although their principal duties were prayer and liturgical services, monks and nuns spent hours producing books.

Palace Chapel, Aachen, Germany, 792-805

clerestory

gallery

ambulatory

The “Three Floor” Elevation

Inside the Medieval Scriptorium

• Workshop for the production of books by monks or nuns

• Found within the complex of a monastery• Books written on pages of vellum or

parchment• Produced by scribes and illustrators– Signature on last page, called colophon

Carolingian Illuminated Manuscripts

St. Matthew, CORONATION GOSPELS, (795-819) St. Matthew, EBBO GOSPELS, (816-835)

OTTONIAN ARTChapter 14: 900-1100 AD

Ottonian Europe• The heirs of Louis the Pious divided the

Carolingian Empire into three parts.

• The western portion eventually became France

• The eastern part of the empire, roughly modern Germany, Switzerland and Austria, passed to a dynasty of rulers known as the Ottonians after three principal rulers named Otto.

• Otto I gained control of Italy in 951 and the pope crowned him emperor in 962.

• Thereafter, Otto and his successors dominated the Papacy and appointments to other high offices.

Questions to Consider

• Who were the Carolingians and what did they leave behind for Western Europe?

• What cultures inspired the Carolingians?• Who were the Ottonians and what did they

instill in Western European culture?• How does the Gero Crucifix differ from earlier

Christian images of Christ?