Medieval Art

Transition from Greek, to Roman, to Middle Ages

Greek

IdealismRoman

RealismMiddle Ages

Religious

General Notes on Medieval Art

From the 13th Century to the 15th Century almost all art was paid for by the Church.

Generalizations: Lacks depth or perspective Figures are stiff and elongated Facial expressions lack emotion Background frequently a solid color

Madonna EnthronedGiovanni Cimabue 1280-90

Madonna EnthronedDuccioc. 1285

Giotto Student of Cimabue Breaks with medieval style

New volume and vitality for figures

Drapery falls naturally Throne more believable

space Some medieval

characteristics Gold haloes Inconsistent scale

Madonna Enthroned

Duccio Annunciation of the Death of the Virgin, Maestra Altar 1308-11

Giotto di Bondone

Giotto was the most important Italian painter of the 14th century

Father of European painting First of the great Italian masters from

Florence

Giotto Arena Chapel in Padua Frescoes Life of the Virgin, Life of

Christ, Passion of Christ

Giotto

Giotto, Lamentation 1305-06

Giotto Eyes rest on

action, they do not move around

3-dimensional reality

Figures, rather than architecture, create the space

Giotto Christ Entering JerusalemDuccio Christ Entering Jerusalem

Giotto vs. Duccio

AnnunciationSimon Martini, 1333

Les Tres Riches Heures

Limbourg Brothers (Paul, Hermann & Jean) Painted 1413 – 1416 Example of a Medieval Book of Hours Shows differences between peasants and

aristocracy

February Winter in a peasant

village. The inhabitants of a farm are shown warming themselves by the fire, while in the background daily life - cutting wood, taking cattle to the market - goes on as normal.

Earliest snow scene in the history of western art

August The month of hawking;

the nobles, carrying falcons, are going hunting while in the background peasants are harvesting and swimming in the river.

Behind them is the Chateau d'Etampes.

September Probably the most

famous of the calendar images.

The grapes are being harvested by the peasants and carried into the beautifully detailed Chateau de Saumur.

October Tilling and sowing are

being carried out by the peasants, in the shadow of the Louvre - Charles V's royal palace in Paris.

The first cast shadows since ancient Greek art

November This is the only

calendar image executed by Colombe (an apprentice)

The picture shows the autumn acorn harvest, with a peasant throwing sticks to knock down the acorns on which his pigs are feeding.

Jesus Morph