Historical TimelineHiberno-Saxon Art - 6th-8th C - British IslesViking Art - 8th - 11th C. - Scandinavia/NormandyCarolinian Art - 8th-9th C. - France/GermanyOttonian Art - 10th-early 11th C. - Germany

Some Roman technology lost to historyBeginning with Charlemagne, rule is more stable

Patronage and Artistic LifeMonasteries principle centers of learning and book production.Artists were not original and did not say something fresh or newScribes and illustrators had specific jobsCharlemagne specific wanted to correct mis-translationsBook production in scriptoriaIlluminations in the text -Initial capital letter highly decoratedSaxon art - cloisonne

ART HISTORY STUDY GUIDE: Early Medieval

Key Ideas:• Zoomorphic and interlace patterns• Art of Warrior Lords - portable artwork• Court of Charlemagne wants to revive the great Roman Empire and revives those styles• Ottonian empire revives - large scale art and architecture• Middle Ages was formerly thought to be a period of artistic stagnation and void between two great periods -Roman

and Renaissance, but this not the case

ART HISTORY STUDY GUIDE: Early Medieval

Innovations in Architecture

Westworks - towers incorporated into the main structure usually at the entrance.Double transept at St. MichaelsCruciform church structuresAlternating support structure for nave arcade - compound piers (weight bearing structures with pilasters or engaged columns) alternate with columns

Innovations in PaintingManuscript art• Illuminated• Carpet pages• Author portraits• ColophonDifferent types of books (psalters, sacramentaries, brevaries…..)

Innovations in SculptureViking - piercing, and negative voidsMerging of Roman and Byzantine/Early ChristianChrist on Cross - sagging body indicating weight, shows sufferingLarge Bronze doors - positioning of images indicates pre-figuration Genesis juxtaposed with Life of Christ

ART HISTORY STUDY GUIDE: Early Medieval

Major Artistic Characteristics:

H

Hiberno-Saxon - Zoomorphic and interlace; portable, books, stone cross monuments with 4 arcsViking Art - Zoomorphic and interlace; applied or engraved on functional objectsCarolingian art - Westworks on church; cloisters; painting-Roman and Byzantine influenceOttonian - influenced by Roman and Early Christian, Large Stone Churches, large scale sculpture

Vocabulary

• Fibula

• Cloisonné

• Hiberno-Saxon

• Insular art

• Gospel book

• Breviaries

• Sacramentaries

• Benedictionaries

• Psalters

• Carpet page

• Colophon

• Author portrait

• Imago hominis

• Mozarabic

• Carolus Magnus

• Westwork

• Treaty of Verdun

Names you should know • Charlemagne • Benedict of Nursia • Cistercians • Otto I • Otto II • Otto III • Bishop Bernward

Images You Should Know • Book of Durrow • Emeterius, the tower and scriptorium of

San Salvador de Tabara colophon • St. Matthew, Coronation Gospels • Palatine Chapel• St. Matthew, Ebbo Gospels• Chi-Rho-Iota page from Book of Kells• Equestrian Portrait of Charlemagne• Doors with relief panels, St. Michael’s• Christ Blessing Otto II and Theophana• Crucifix commissioned by Archbishop

Gero for Cologne Cathedral

ART HISTORY STUDY GUIDE: Early Medieval

Innovations in Luxury/Alternative Arts:

Cloisonne: Fibula, Purse cover