8 Western Art in the Melting Pot: Europe sixth to eleventh centuries Flashcards
“Dark ages” approximate dates?
500-1000AD
What did Norwegian Viking captains have to do to their ships before arriving in their home port?
Remove the carved figures of dragons and monsters from the ships, so as not to frighten the spirits of the land.
High point of Saxon and Celtic art?
Illuminated manuscripts such as the Lindisfarne Gospels (698 AD)
What influences do Saxon and Celtic art embody?
Knowledge of classical technique –foreshortening, shadows –mixed with highly patterned and ornate native forms.
Medieval artists were not out to create a convincing likeness of nature or make beautiful things, rather to convey the _____________ of the ___________ story.
Medieval artists were not out to create a convincing likeness of nature or make beautiful things, rather to convey the message of the sacred story.
Dates of Charlemagne
747-814
One reason why medieval art tends to be religious?
Non-religious art was more likely to go out of fashion or be destroyed
What is a mandorla?
A mandorla is an almond-shaped aureola, i.e., a frame that surrounds the totality of an iconographic figure. It is usually synonymous with vesica, a lens shape. Mandorlas often surround the figures of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary in traditional Christian iconography.
What is a chancel?
Space around the altar, including the choir, at the liturgical east end of church. May terminate in an apse.
Identify, date, describe
Church of All Saints, Earls Barton, Northamptonshire, c1000.
Imitates timber structures in vertical limestone pilaster strips and strapwork.
At the corners of the tower, the walls are strengthened by long vertical quoin stones bedded on horizontal slabs, and hence is termed long and short work.
Roman influence seen in doors and windows of the tower.
Storeys divided by projecting stone string courses.
Church of All Saints, Earls Barton, Northamptonshire, c1000.
What early structures are imitated and how?
Timber structures are imitated in vertical limestone pilaster strips and strapwork.
Church of All Saints, Earls Barton, Northamptonshire, c1000.
How are corners of towers strengthened?
Long vertical quoin stones bedded on horizontal slabs –termed “long and short work” in Anglo-Saxon churches.
Church of All Saints, Earls Barton, Northamptonshire, c1000.
How are the storeys divided?
Storeys divided by projecting stone string courses.
Church of All Saints, Earls Barton, Northamptonshire, c1000.
What influence is seen in doors and windows of tower?
Roman influence seen in doors and windows of the tower.
Identify, date, describe
Dragon’s head, c820AD, Norway.
Interlacing patterns reminiscent of those of Maori.
These figures had to be removed from ships when returning home so as not to frighten spirits of the land.
Identify, date, describe
Carpet page from Lindisfarne Gospels, c698AD
Carpet pages are feature of Insular manuscripts, and typically placed at the beginning of a Gospel Book.
One of the finest works of Hiberno-Saxon or Insular art (period 500-900AD), combining Mediterranean, Anglo-Saxon and Celtic elements.
Work of a single hand.
Associated with Cult of St. Cuthbert, ascetic member of a monastic community in Lindisfarne, died in 687.
Identify, date, describe
St Luke, from Gospel manuscript, c750AD
Hiberno-Saxon or Insular style.
Primacy of pattern –even figures look not like humans but patterns made of humans form.
What styles are represented here in the Lindisfarne Gospels?
Celtic style –spiral forms and knotwork
Germanic zoomorphic style
What is this symbol and where does it come from?
Triskelion
Found 5,000 years ago in Ireland
Mycenae c1400
Triskeles of Sicily –three legs
What kind of vault is this?
A cloister vault
Two barrel vaults that cross at right angles to each other.
Any horizontal cross-section is a square.
Identify, date, describe
Aachen cathedral, 805AD
Built under Charlemagne (747-814)
Carolingian Renaissance style, in which traditions of Roman craftsmanship were revived.
Based on San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy (547AD).
What does the difference between these two 9th century illustrations of St Matthew demonstrate?
First demonstrates faithful copy of venerated model.
Second wanted to convey fervour of man transcribing the word of god.
Invention of medieval art –expressing what the artist FEELS about the subject.
Identify, date, describe
Christ washing the apostles’ feet, c1000
From Gospel book of Otto III.
Ottonian art a departure from forms of Carolingian period – greater emphasis on elongated figures, rich colors, and religious symbolism.
Total focus on central scene.
Importance of conveying sacred message, rather than realism.
Identify, date, describe
Adam and Eve after the Fall, c1015
Bernward Doors –on Hildesheim Cathedral in Saxony.
Ottonian renaissance.
Shifting of blame –lord pointing at Eve, etc.
Identify, date, describe
Bayeux Tapestry, c1080
King Harold swears oath to Duke William of Normandy, then returns to England.
Rare example of non-religious art preserved, because was in church.
Picture chronicle of type of Trajan’s column.
