Medieval Art

Question 1

Define cloisonne.

Answer 1

metalworking technique in which a cell made of a metal strip/wire is soldered to a base and then filled with enamel or glass paste and fired until jewel-like in appearance.

Question 2

Define animal style.

Answer 2

art is characterized by its emphasis on animal motifs, the term describing an approach to decoration from China to Northern Europe in the early Iron Age, and the barbarian art of the Migration Period.

Question 3

Define interfacing.

Answer 3

a moderately stiff material, especially buckram, typically used between two layers of fabric in collars and facings.

Question 4

Define illuminated manuscript.

Answer 4

handwritten book that has been decorated with gold or silver, brilliant colors, or elaborate designs or miniature pictures. Copied on alabaster slates (formed into triangle) that let in diffused light = old light-box. Perspective of paintings were slightly skewed = not realistic.

Question 5

Define parchment.

Answer 5

a stiff, flat, thin material made from the prepared skin of an animal and used as a durable writing surface in ancient and medieval times.

Question 6

Medieval Europe: Lindisfarne Gospels, ca. 700 [England]: Saint Matthew.

Answer 6

stylized and abstracted form. Associated with angels. Steuthbert or god is behind the curtain.

Question 7

Medieval Europe: Lindisfarne Gospels, ca. 700 [England]: Cross and Carpet Page.

Answer 7

On manuscript twisting complex mass. Symmetrical arrangements with bright colors.

Question 8

Medieval Europe: Book of Kells, early ninth century [Ireland]: Chi Rho Iota page.

Answer 8

Text has Matthew’s head. Animal images in detail. Symbolic things. Spiraling knots = celtic style. Chi (x) = letter of Christ.

Question 9

Were the Hiberno-Saxon metal-smithing arts related to the illuminated manuscript tradition? If so, how?

Answer 9

Insular art are manly illuminated manuscripts which are metalwork and carvings in stone, especially stone crosses.
Example: Book of Kells