1. The Early Middle Ages
7th
to the 10th
Century
Roman Empire Decline
German Invasions Affecting Artistic
Development and Other
Radical Changes in Social &
Political Organizations
In addition to the German invasions were those from Islam.
2. Islamic Art
Idolatry forbidden
Consisted mainly of abstracts, floral patterns,
or other geometric objects
Sculpture almost nonexistent
Abundance of monumental architecture &
architectural decorations
3. Islamic Art Expressions
Mosque:
A place to pray and face
towards Mecca
Sahn: enclosed
courtyard that all
mosques have.
Qibla: prayer wall
Mihrab: small nitche to
indicate the direction of
Mecca.
Exterior:
Tall minarets
Large and elaborate
Hagia Sophia changed into a mosque
4. Islam
Islam means “submission to God’s will”
Founded by the prophet Muhammed
Message is “brotherhood of Man” & equality before
God (Allah)
Differs from Christianity
No priesthood, no religious hierarchy, sacraments or
requirements of literagy
Does include rulers and leaders in prayer
5. Islamic Instruction
Faithfully conduct their daily lives
Circumcise male infants
Pray to Allah five times a day facing Mecca.
Worship in the mosque on Fridays
Give to the poor, Fast and practice
abstinence in the daylight during Ramaden
Allowed multiple wives
6. The Great Mosque, Cordoba
Mosque built in capital city
Striking example of Islamic art
Double arches first used here
were duplicated in additions.
(11.1,11.2, 11.3 & 11.4)
Christians later turned this into a
cathedral but it still conveys the
original orientation of Islam.
7. Northern European Art
Influenced by the Germanic tribes
New focus on artistic and political activities
No monumental structure, paintings or
sculpture was done to the constant invasions
Invaders stimulated a new craft. . .
Metalwork designs and techniques
8. Anglo-Saxon Metalwork
Purse cover from the 17th
century.
Found among a pagan ship
wreckage treasures
suggesting royalty
Is of gold decoration;
cloisonne enamel
originally on ivory or bone
& dark red garnets.
Early Christian intelace
designs and Near Eastern
motifs
SuttonHoo purse cover from East
Anglia, England, 630 AD
Merging animal forms suggest invasion
9. Beowulf
Earliest surviving
European epic
German folklore with
strong Christian
morality.
A strange king child
found adrift Denmark
“Scyld Scefing”
Famed was this Beowulf:
far flew the boast of him,
son of Scyld, in the Scandian lands.
So becomes it a youth
to quit him well
with his father's friends,
by fee and gift,
that to aid him, aged, in after days,
come warriors willing,
should war draw nigh,
liegemen loyal: by lauded deeds
shall an earl have honor
in every clan.
10. Hiberno-Saxon Art
Ireland escaped invasions at this time
St. Patrick spread Christianity throughout
Ireland and for years later it became a haven
for scholars, missionaries, monasteries, . .
Christian art also prevailed across Ireland.
Style has been called Insular and Hiberno-Saxon
(Hiberno is Latin for “Ireland”)
11. Manuscript Illumination
Illuminated manuscripts
produced by monks in
monasteries.
Illustrated the Word of
God; Visual pleasures
Used a strict unity of color
and form.
Crisp, clear sometines
contrasting colors; flat
surfaces; patterning
Lion Symbol of St. John, from the Book of
Durrow, After AD650. Represents St. John,
Evangelist as a lion . . . .later an eagle.
12. Carolingian Period
Book of Kells
Corresponds with the crowning of
Charles the Great-Roman empr.
Charlemagne ruled over the
Holy Roman Empire and
surrounding territories and
revived culture.
Network of learning was created
Latin manuscript texts. . .7LibArts
11.7 Tunc Crucifixerant XPI,
from the Book of Kells
(Matthew 27:38) Then
they crucified Christ & with
him two thieves
13. Manuscripts
Charlemagne’s rule involved the Roman revival of
culture with manuscripts
Manuscripts worked towards development of a
practical form of portable artistic and educational
communication
They continued after Charlemagne’s death but more
apocalyptic approach
Flatter space, figures connected by geometric design
rather than landscapes.
14. Revelation &
the Four Symbols of Evangelsits
Revelation-last book of the New
Testament
Written by St. John
John’s account of Christ’s word
in his appearance to him.
Visionary work with scripture,
literary tradition and symbols: lion,
bull, man, eagle.
Lion: St. Mark; Bull: St. Luke; Man:
St. Matthew, Eagle: St. John.
11.8 Four Evangelists, from a
Carolingian Gospel Book
15. Monasteries
Each monastery:
School
Network for artists and
scholars to
communicate.
Religious and
Administrative Center
for economic functions
Communal living
quarters for Monks
Plans for monstery of St.Gall,
Switzerland; plan placed church in the
center; building around in order of
importance of education
16. Ottonian Period
Charlemagne’s grandsons were ineffective
rulers of the European reign & fell to invaders.
After the Vikings takeover, the Saxons crowned
Otto I as Otto the Great, emperor.
Ottonian refers to rulers named Otto who
worked to continue Charlemagne’s revival of
Classical antiquity.
17. Major Works of the
Ottonian Period
Architectural work:
Benedictine abbey
church of St. Michael’s
Metalwork at
Hildesheim