Medieval Art of Western Europe: Pre-Romanesque and Romanesque Styles

Formation of National States (V-VIII centuries)

  • Occurred in the territories of the destroyed Western Roman Empire.
  • Included:
    • Ostrogoths (Lombards) in Italy.
    • Visigoths in Spain.
    • Franks in Gaul (modern Germany and France).
    • Anglo-Saxons in Britain.

Antiquity and Medieval Art

  • Destruction by Barbarians: Roman cities, temples, and art monuments were destroyed.
  • Cultural Differences: The culture brought by the conquerors was inferior to the Roman culture.
  • Skills: Barbarians lacked the skills to build stone buildings as skillfully as the Romans and had primitive depictions of humans.

Loss of Dome Construction Art

  • Roman Expertise: Romans were excellent dome builders; the Pantheon in Rome (diameter of 43 m.) exemplifies this.
  • Medieval Imitation: Medieval masters tried to imitate Roman dome construction, such as with the Mausoleum of Theodoric in Ravenna (diameter of dome 10 m.).
    • They lacked the knowledge and experience which resulted in using a large stone carved in the shape of a dome (thickness 1 m., diameter 10 m.).

Spread of Christianity

  • Influence: Medieval traditions in art were shaped by Christianity.
  • Core Beliefs: People awaited the arrival of the Messiah to liberate humanity from sin and death.
  • Artistic Shift: The spread of Christianity led to art with imagery different from classical antiquity.

Periods of Medieval Art in Western Europe

  1. Pre-Romanesque (V - X centuries)
  2. Romanesque (X - XII centuries)
  3. Gothic (XII - XVII centuries)

Pre-Romanesque Period (V - X centuries)

  • Sub-periods: Includes Merovingian art, Carolingian Renaissance, and the Ottonian period.
  • Nomadic Tribes: Frequent movement of barbarian tribes.
  • Art Forms: Art primarily consisted of weapons, jewelry, and utensils rather than architectural structures.

Decorative and Applied Arts of the Early Middle Ages

  • Dominance: Decorative and applied arts were highly developed.
  • Ornamentation: Intricate ornaments covered metal, wood, bone, and stone objects.
  • Motifs: Often featured zoomorphic images reflecting pagan beliefs.

Romanesque Style

  • First Pan-European Style: Romanesque is the first common European art style.
  • Origin of Name: From Latin "romanus" meaning "Roman," pointing to Rome as the center of Catholic faith.
  • Architectural Revival: Architects rediscovered ancient Roman construction techniques.
  • Building Boom: Construction of stone buildings across Europe.

Romanesque Architecture

  • Dominant Art Form: Architecture became the main art form of the Romanesque period.
  • Defensive Purposes: Stone buildings served as protection during feudal wars.
  • Fortress-like Appearance: Romanesque structures had massive walls, narrow windows, and high towers.
  • Key Structures: Knight's castles, monastic ensembles, and temples were the main types of Romanesque architecture.

Romanesque Basilica

  • Plan: The Basilica floor plan resembles a Latin cross, formed by the intersection of central naves with transverse transepts.
  • Architectural Elements of a Romanesque Basilica:
    • Portal
    • Tympanum
    • Arch
    • Arcade
    • Columns
    • Pilasters
    • Naves
    • Choirs

Romanesque Sculpture

  • Reliefs: Reliefs were common in monumental sculpture.
  • Integration with Architecture: Sculpture was integrated into the exterior design of cathedrals.
  • Themes: Popular themes included decorative and ornamental compositions based on biblical and evangelical subjects.
  • Stylistic Features: Human figures were often disproportionate and depicted with distorted forms.

Romanesque Painting

  • Frescoes: Walls of temples were covered in frescoes.
  • Characteristics: Paintings had a flat style with local tones and contour drawings, which emphasized the massiveness of the walls.
  • Tapestries: Tapestries and embroidered carpets were used as wall decorations, giving the somber medieval interiors a decorative look.
  • Stained Glass: Stained glass emerged as a new art form, which reached its peak during the Gothic period.

Medieval Manuscript Books

  • Monastery Workshops: Books were copied in monastery scriptoria, including both religious and secular texts.
  • Value: Valued highly and meticulously decorated.
  • Decorations: Included miniatures, headpieces, initial letters and ornaments.