The Early Middle Ages

Erica NessMoreno Valley High School

AP Art History

Christian Imagery

• Creation• Virgin• Jesus Christ• 12 Disciples• 4 Evangelists (Gospels)• Crucifixtion• Resurrection• Old Testament and Two Testament

Chronology

• Three Main periods:–5th – Early 11th Century CE: Early

Midieval• Early Midieval (Visigoths, Lombards,

Norse, Celts, Saxons) -> Carolingian -> Vikings -> Ottonian

–11th – 12th Century CE: Romanesque–Mid 12th – 10th Century CE: Gothic

Important Dates

• Events Described in Beowulf (6th Century CE)• Death of Muhammad (632 CE)• Moors Conquer Spain (711 – 715 CE)• Charlemagne Crowned Holy Roman Emperor

(800 CE)• Viking Invade England (866 CE)• Beginning of Ottonian Rule (936 CE)

Northern European

Anglo-SaxonVikings c. 800-1000 C.E.

Beowulf

• Earliest surviving manuscript of a European epic composed in Vernacular.

• Strong sense of Christian morality.

• 2 parts; One he saves the king of Denmark by destroying Grendel, Second he becomes a king.

• Epic ends with the story of his funeral rites and burial.

Sutton Hoo Purse CoverDate: c. 630 C.E.Location: East Angllia, EnglandMedium: Gold with Garnets and Cloisonne originally on ivory or bone.Period: Saxon

Animal-Head PostDate: 800-850 Location: Oseberg, NorwayMedium: HardwoodPeriod: Viking

The Rok StoneDate: Early 9th CenturyLocation: Ostergotland, SwedenPeriod: Viking

Hiberno-Saxon Art

Stone CrossesIlluminated Manuscripts

Lion Symbol of Saint John, From the Book of Durrow, fol. 191v.

Date: 650-700 Medium: Illuminated Manuscript on Vellum

Tunc Crucifixerant XPI, from the book of Kells, fol. 124r.

Date: Late 8th or Early 9th CenturyMedium: Illuminated Manuscript on Vellum

Celtic CrossDate: Late 8th CenturyLocation: Ahenny, Tipperary, Ireland

Carolingian Period

December 25th, 800 Carlemagne crowned Holy Roman Emperor

Court School of Charlemagne, Christ Blessing, from the Godescalc Gospels

Date: 781-783Medium: Text Written in Gold and Silver on Vellum

Saint John, From the Coroniation Gospels, fol 178v

Date: Late 8th CenturyMedium: Parchment

Four Evangelists, From a Carolingian Gospel Book

Date: Early 9th CenturyLocation: Palace Chapel School, Aachen

Christ in Majesty, Vivian Bible, Frontispiece, fol. 329v

Date: 845-846 Medium: Tempera on Vellum.

Interior of Charlemagne’s Palace Chapel

Architect: Odo of MetzDate: 792-805 Location: Aachen

Plan and Reconstruction of Charlemagne’s Palace Chapel

Plan of the Monastery of St. Gall, Switzerland

Date: 820

Reconstruction Model of the Monastery of St. Gall, SwitzerlandDate: c. 820 C.E.

Lorsch GatehouseDate: c. 760Location: Lorsch, Germany

Ottonian Period

Three Rulers named Otto who stabilized the Holy Roman

Empire

St. Luke, From the Gospel book of Otto III

Date: C. 1000Medium: Tempera on Vellum

Abbey Church of St. Michael’s, HildesheimDate: c. 1001-1031

Plan of St. Michael’s

Interior of St. Michael’s

Bronze Doors, St. Michael’sDate: 1015Location: Hildesheim, GermanyMedium: Bronze

Bronze Doors, St. Michael’sAdam and Eve