3 Southern Medieval Europe Flashcards
where and when are mosaics from?
Mosaics originated from classical Greek & Roman times.
Mosaics were used to decorate public buildings & villas.
how are medieval mosaics different from ancient ones?
Medieval mosaics differ from ancient mosaics because they use more colours and more valuable materials—like gold, silver—which were used to emphasize the luminosity of Jesus.
how much was a mosaic and why?
Mosaics because of the increase in value of the materials used they could cost 4x more than a Fresco. Sometimes pieces would be for cost reasons made out of gilded/ gold ‘leafed’ glass rather than actual gold.
Apse Mosaic
Christ (in the middle) is perched above the globe. The markings on Christ’s garments are common in mosaics of the time. Christ is handing a crown to Saint Vitale (showing divine right to rule).
Directly next to Christ are the two angels Gabriel and Micheal. They are presenting Bishop Ecclesius and Saint Vitalis, identified by the inscriptions above their heads.
The mosaic of Emperor Justinian and his retinue.
Empress Theodora and attendants.
Head of State is denoted by halo and crown
Justinian and Theodora are marked in regal purple with shields contains the Chi-Rho, which is a symbol of Christ
Theodora is holding the liturgical item of a chalice
In Theodora’s mural, there is a sense of movement made by the man holding the curtain back
In Justinian’s mural, there is a censor, which held incense and was held by a chain.
These Mosaics are highly political as they were meant to act as the physical presence of Justinian and Theodora, as even though they had power over Ravenna they never visited. This mosaic testifies their relationship to their recently conquered.
The church, in general, was meant to show that the emperor cares about the city and help to make it prosper.
Apse Mosaic, late 13th c., Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
Shows many famous Christian images/stories– annunciation, nativity, coronation of the virgin, dormition of the virgin, adoration of the kings, and presentation in the temple
The mosaic is meant to endorse franciscan values while also being a manifestation of Mary’s spirituality.
(the artist was likely a Franciscan friar)
what’s spolia?
Reuse of old materials or sculptures in new monuments/artworks. It compromises for the scarcity of materials like Marble and Medieval Gems. Spoila could also be used to emphasize a connection to the past (appropriate roman past).
Reliquary for a Tooth of St John the Baptist, Carolingian, 9th c., Museo del Duomo, Monza (Italy).
An example of Spolia.
Arch of Constantine, Rome (315 A.D.)
The Arch of Constantine (315 A.D.) was the earliest building employing Spolia on a monumental scale. The constituent elements of the arch date from different periods: - the roundels date from the period of emperor Hadrian (117-138 A.D.); -
the rectangular panels decorating the attico date from Marcus Aurelius (161- 180 A.D.); - the Dacian prisoners, also in the attico, date from Trajan (95-118 A.D.); - the long frieze that surrounds the arch is an original Constantinian work.
Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
late 13th c., Rome. Early christian– ‘Paleo-Christian’
Enshrines the venerated image of Salus Populi Romani, depicting Mary as the health and protectress of the Roman people, which was granted a Canonical coronation by Pope Gregory XVI in 1838
Odo of Metz, Charlemagne’s Palatine Chapel in Aachen, ca. 792-805.
This church was built over an early chapel, which was on top of a roman building. Charlemagne wanted to celebrate early Christian Rome– ex. he took columns and marble from Rome and Ravenna .
Lothair Cross (ca. 1000), Aachen, Germany, 50 cm height, 38.5 cm width, 2.3 cm depth. Two-sided processional cross named after Carolingian ruler.
A strong example of metal work, cross which included portraits, and inclusion of ancient gems.
The Medieval Artist?
The medieval artist was mainly anonymous. Signatures are rare, especially when it comes to early-medieval artworks . Documents and sources about art are often laconic .
Historia Anglorum, London, British Library, MS Royal 14.C.VII, folio 6 recto
The red arrow is pointing to the artist Matthew Paris. He drew himself and signed his name.
He depicts himself as a monk in a subservient posture exemplifies the physical and metaphysical distance between himself and the Holy Child and Mary. Yet his praying is an attempt to reduce this distance.
(this is just one example there are other signed on the ppt)
IOHANNA OF BEVERLY, EMBROIDERED ALTAR FRONTAL, CA. 1290-1320, DETAIL, VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, LONDON
one of the only surviving textiles– its a signed embroidered altarpiece and is singed by a woman.
Rufillus, self-portrait, Weissenau passionary, Weissenau, ca. 1200.
a)Santa Maria Novella.
b) Ognissanti.
both crucifixes christ is portrayed as a dying man, surrounded by highly detailed portraits and patterning
Giotto, Virgin and Child (Maestà) formerly in the church of ognissanti, Florence, no displayed in Uffizi. this is considered one of Giotto’s most prominent Florence works.
not signed, identified by stylistic analysis.
The cycle of St. Francis. the nave: Giotto and his workshop, The Legend of St Francis, ca. 1288/89 – 1297. different scenes which show st Francis life. The upper church from the apse was designed to be a place for the pope to reside during the summer months when Rome was too hot.
Crucifix of st Damien- Giotto .
12th c.
uses an interesting composition by taking away one of the walls so we can see inside the house.
The crib at greccio- Giotto
12th c.
another interesting composition shows us the back of the crucifix which is very interestingly rendered in an accurate way.
Lamentation Giotto
buddhist stupa, devotees around wheel, Sanchi stupa, india, c.100bce-100 ce.
(a stupa is an architectural reliquary) the bhuddas human form was not originally shown he was earlier represented as a wheel surrounded by his devotees.
Kushan coin with Kanishka and Buddha.
Put the ruler on one side and on the reverse the holy figure, from whom they derive their earthly authority Looking at the Buddhist reliquaries there are a lot of Hellenistic influences from Hellenistic cultures, this could make you think that these western pieces are actually Christian. This links to what Foucher said, as in his argument he claimed that all of the representations of the Buddha in Gundara were made by the greeks .
coin of Augustus with Diana
Seated Buddha with Andantes, c.2nd ce, Gandhara.
It is only in Gandhara that we see the really strong Hellenistic influence. Perhaps in Gandhara, they looked to their neighbours outside the Buddhist belief who were also influenced by Hellenistic culture.
