Art/Power in Middle Ages

gothic period

• beginning of gothic period was marked by reign of Louis IX

• tall buildings (hight = closer to god)

• Arches, stained glass, wider Naves

Charlemagne

1st holy roman emperor/first crowed by pope

• moved capital to Aachen (more central)

• decried that Roman Litergy would be used in latin churches everywhere

Carolingian Artistic Production = manuscripts/ivory carvings

1. master of the Rabbula Gospels → Ascension of Christ

2. Plaque with Saint john the Evangelist

1. St Mark → man who wrote the gospel

2. Coronation gospels → st. john (used purple/gold to represent power/royalty) → symbolized with eagle

Relics → objects that belonged/bones of saints,not to be worshiped but to show a connection between ppl on earth and the divine

1. skull of St. Ivo

2. contains part of Charlemagnes bone

stained glass (gothic style church) - Chartres Cathedral

• life of charlemagne

  • depicts Charlemagne dreaming of Constantine coming to him in his sleep (1st holy emperor connecting with then emperor)

Amiens Cathedral

• shows the last judgement

• when jesus comes back again, and deciding whether those go to heaven or not

• St. Francis seen below weighing peoples souls

St. Mark the Evangelist → lion outside arch is his symbol