new_early_medieval

Early Medieval Art in Europe

• Timeframe: c. 500-1100 CE

• Key Regions: Scandinavia, Hiberno/Saxon Britain, The Holy Roman Empire

The Middle Ages

• Definition: A roughly 1000-year period from the fall of the Western Roman Empire (5th century) to the Renaissance (15th century).

• Historical Context: Earlier historians viewed this era as a "dark age"; modern historians recognize complexities and innovations that contributed to modern Europe.

• Division: The Middle Ages are divided into three periods: Early Medieval, Romanesque, and Gothic.

Europe After the Fall of Rome

• Leadership Transition: As Roman authority declined, local leaders known as Warrior Lords emerged.

• Tribes: Northern tribes (Germanic Franks, Visigoths, Saxons, Celts, Norse) invaded or settled Roman territories.

• The Church's Role: The Church, remaining centered in Rome, gained influence and stability.

  • Key Changes:

    1. Breakdown of centralized power

    2. Fusion of tribal cultures with Roman culture

    3. The rise of Christianity created new political, cultural, and social forms.

Northern Peoples: Warrior Lords

• Post-Roman Empire, Western territories were overrun by indigenous and migrating tribes.

• Cultural Blending: Art from this period reflects the merging of Antique Roman and native tribal styles.

  • Styles:

    • Anglo Saxons: Abstract animal and figure representation

    • Celts: Use of animal and ribbon interlacing patterns

Early Medieval Period

• Timeframe: c. 600-900 CE

Animal Art Style

• Description: Prevalent by the 5th century CE, showcasing various animal forms.

• Character: Symmetrical works displaying animals from multiple perspectives, often in a stylized manner, as if x-rayed.

Scandinavia: The Vikings

• Description: Viking seafaring bands invaded Europe, arriving in large flotillas (up to 350 ships).

• Activities: Explored, plundered, traded, and colonized regions including Iceland, Greenland, the British Isles, and parts of France.

• Viking Group: The Rus established colonies in areas that would become Russia.

Artifacts and Monuments

Animal Head Post

• Location: Oseberg, Norway, ship burial, ca. 825

• Details: Wooden head ornament, representative of Viking art's curvilinear movement of the Interlace Style, designed to intimidate enemy seafarers.

Memorial Stone

• Location: Sweden, 8th century.

• Features: Rune stones with inscriptions and Picture stones with figural decorations; themes of heroic deaths and journeys to Valhalla depicted.

Burial Ship

• Description: Norway, 815-820, a 75-foot burial ship containing the remains of two women, with treasure looted upon discovery.

Fibulae and the Barbarians

Fibulae Description

• Type: Brooches popularized by Roman military campaigns.

• Structure: Composed of body, pin, and catch; commonly found in grave sites; important for understanding literacy in barbarian groups.

Merovingian Fibulae

• Origin: Merovingian-Frankish, seen as examples of cloisonné techniques using semi-precious stones.

Example: Merovingian Looped Fibula

• Mid-6th century CE, silver gilt with garnet inlays; functional yet decorative, worn to denote status, often found in wealthy graves.

The British Isles

• Pre-Roman Era: Well-populated agricultural land of Celts.

• Roman Conquest: Conquered in 43 CE; experienced wealth and prospered up to 370 CE when Christianity began spreading.

Britain after Roman Occupation

• Timeline: Roman army withdrawal in 406 led to power struggles among Germanic tribes.

• Cultural Recovery: By the beginning of the 7th century, Anglo-Saxon kingdoms emerged, reviving art through diverse influences.

North Meets South

• As Christianity spread north, Northern artistic traditions influenced southern styles, creating innovative artistic expressions.

Anglo-Saxon Literature

• Content: Descriptions of jewelry, military equipment, and hero burials, notably in the epic 'Beowulf'.

• Discovery: Sutton Hoo burial site revealed treasures, suggesting the grandeur of the buried warrior.

Sutton Hoo Artifacts

Purse Cover

• Details: Found in the Sutton Hoo ship, c. 615-630, combining motifs of different origins, showcasing Hiberno-Saxon style elements.

Influence of the Roman Catholic Church

• Emergence: The Church became a critical source of patronage for education and the arts, intertwining its influence with that of the nobility.

Patronage of the Arts

• Churches commissioned various artworks for liturgical purposes, leading to developments in the artistic scene.

Christianization of Britain

• Initially pagan, Christianity spread through the efforts of missionaries, notably Augustine.

Hiberno/Saxon Monasteries

• Characterized by unique artistic traditions linked to the Church, including illuminated manuscripts and reliquaries.

Lindisfarne

• Origin: A notable monastery established in 635 C.E., key in preserving Christian art and literature.

Illuminated Manuscripts

• Highlight of medieval art, epitomized by the Lindisfarne Gospels, elaborate in design and craftsmanship.

Amalgamation and Adaptation

• Fusion of pagan animal motifs and Christian themes, reflecting the stylistic interplay of cultures.

The Evangelists

• Symbolism: Each Evangelist represented by specific animals correlating to concepts of Christ's nature and mission.

The Vikings and the Early Middle Ages

• Reference to Viking raids and their impact on Britain, particularly in relation to the destruction of the church on Lindisfarne.

The Holy Roman Empire

• Emergence led by Charlemagne (crowned in 800) aimed to revive Roman glory and enforce Christianity across his empire.

Carolingian Europe

• Charlemagne's empire was a significant geographical and cultural entity, promoting Church reforms and artistic revival.

Architecture of Charlemagne's Era

San Vitale & Carolingian Influence

• Charlemagne's Palace Chapel draws inspiration from San Vitale, characterized by its octagonal structure and stability.

Gero Crucifix

• A significant work of monumental sculpture depicting a humanized suffering Christ, marking a shift from early Christian representations.

Summary

• The period marked political migrations and the unifying force of Christianity, giving rise to centers of learning in regions untouched by Roman rule, alongside a blending of Germanic and Roman styles in art.