Part 1
Question 1
Bible from Paris ca 1250-1275
Illuminated manuscripts are some of the best known objects from the Middle Ages. Made and illustrated by hand, they are truly works of art. Monks and nuns were often the creators of these books as monasteries were centers of learning. Manuscripts were used by the monks or churches during liturgies (Department of Medieval Art and the Cloisters, 2001). Other manuscripts were commissioned and used by royals and aristocrats or by universities that started to emerge during that time. In a world where the printing press that made books widespread had not yet been invented, illuminated manuscripts were the only way to disseminate the Christian message. The combination of word and image meant that everyone could get something out of these books and it is known that preachers like St Augustine carried them along to the different areas they visited (Ross, n.d.).
During the Romanesque period the reverence of Saints and relics became an important feature in the creation and dissemination of art. Worshippers from around Europe travelled to different town to visit churches and monasteries New, bigger, greater and richly decorated churches were built to house the relics of the Saints. Frescoes with the lives of Christ and Saints decorated their walls, while textiles and objects from precious materials were created to accompany the liturgies (Chapuis, 2002). Some Christians however saw the worshipping of relics and of painted images of Saints as heretical, and in the Byzantium this led to the iconoclasm.
Question 2
Salisbury Cathedral
Gothic churches are impressive buildings created at a time when people did not have the technological advances of our age. During the Gothic period, churches grew higher and bigger. A series of innovations made this possible. To begin with, the pointed arch was created, which could better adapt to different heights. At the same time a series of stone ribs helped distribute the weight more equally and make the building more stable. Even more important for the stability of the building were the flying buttresses, which were connected to the exterior walls (Chapuis, 2002). Stained glass windows were among the most fascinating features of Gothic churches. These were expensive to create, as glass was not as widely available as today. Stained glass refers to a silver stain that was added to one of the window and would turn yellowish after the window was fired. This helped to create a shiny effect as light passed through. Often painting would be applied to clear glass with great attention as to create detailed representations (‘Gothic’, n.d.)
The architecture of Gothic churches had both practical and symbolic meaning. The elevation of the interior aims at drawing the eye to the highest point of the building, closer to Christ and heaven. The light entering through the stained glass windows helped create a mystical atmosphere and would make the worshipper feel closer to God (Chapuis, 2002). The architectural elements of the Gothic were soon applied to other forms of art both religious and secular, like objects for private devotion, illuminated manuscripts, furniture and even combs (Chapuis, 2002).
Part 2
The Middle Ages cover a period from approximately 500 CE to 1400 CE (Ross). Although often referred to as the Dark Ages, recent studies have showed that literature and the arts flourished during that time and distinct artistic styles emerged (Ross, n.d.).
Early Middle Ages
The Plaque with Saint John the Evangelist was created in Aachen (now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art) in the early 9th century. It was made during the Carolingian period, during the reign of Charlemagne. The work is made of elephant ivory and depicts John the Evangelist holding the gospel. He is identified by the eagle above his head which was his symbol. Looking at the image one learns about a period in the Early Middle Ages where artists looked to the past and especially the Classical past for influence. This is evident by the classically inspired architecture that frames the plaque (‘Plaque with Saint John the Evangelist’, 2006). As the Middle Ages is considered an age where the Classical past was completely forgotten, it is good to remember that this is not really accurate and this work proves it.
The Franks Casket, an Anglo-Saxon work of art originally from Northumbria, England was created in ca 700. Made from whalebone, its sides are decorated by high reliefs. When found, it was used as a tool box by a family in the town of Auzon (‘The Franks Casket’, n.d.). The great detail in its carving makes this a great example of early medieval artworks and the skill the individual artists possessed. The choice of diverse subjects (from Christianity, Roman, Jewish and Germanic traditions and legends) can help the viewer understand the profound influence these diverse traditions had on the culture of the Early Middle Ages.
Romanesque
This Initial V, from an illuminated Bible comes from the French Abbey of Pontigny and was created in ca 1175-1195, a period which coincides with the Romanesque style in art. The manuscript was part of a big Bible that had five volumes and was richly decorated. The medium used for its creation is tempera on parchment and the artist who created it paid particular attention to color and detail (‘Initial V from a Bible’, 2006). Monasteries were important artistic and learning centers during the Middle Ages and the work produced by monks and nuns were of exceptional quality. By looking at this beautiful work the viewer can understand that and this is the main reason why I chose it.
The Plaque with the Journey to Emmaus and the Noli Me Tangere comes from the Spanish town of Leon and was created during the Romanesque period in around 1115-1120. The plaque is separated into two panels each of which is depicting an episode from after the resurrection of Christ. Although made of ivory, there are traces of gilding, while the plaque was probably part of a larger composition which is now lost (‘Plaque with the Journey to Emmaus and the Noli Me Tangere’, 2006). The viewer looking at the work will soon realize that both incidents in the plaque are presented theatrically something that suggests that the artist had the intention of depicting realistically the scenes. This shows that the art of the Middle Ages was not unsophisticated as it has long be believed. The work is beautifully executed and this is the reason I chose to include it.
Gothic
The Cathedral of Notre Dame situated in the French town of Reims was built in 1211 and is a great example of the Gothic style. The church is magnificent in size and scale of decorative programme. It took years for the completion of all the sculptural details on the façade and interior of the church. It is believed that sculptors, who worked on Reims Cathedral, later undertook work in the Bamberg Cathedral situated several miles away. This was common practice and contributed to the creation of a distinct Gothic style (Chapuis, 2002). Looking at the Cathedral and visiting its interior, one could understand the basic components of the Gothic architecture and see its magnificence. This is one of the most beautiful Gothic churches.
Scenes from the Passion of Saint Vincent of Saragossa and the History of his Relics was originally part of the St Germain des Pres church in Paris and was created in ca 1244-1247. This work was originally part of a large window, one of the two that narrated the story of the Saint. The church owned a relic of the Saint, so his life was particularly important in this context. The medium used for the creation of the work is pot metal glass with vitreous paint (‘Scenes from the Passion of Saint Vincent of Saragossa and the History of his Relics’, 2006). Stained glass windows are among the best known works of art of the Gothic period and their inclusion in any survey of the art of the period is necessary. Looking at it, the viewer could learn about the skill of medieval artists and understand the great effect these would have in the interior of a church as light passed through.
These works show the great skills of the medieval artists and prove beyond any doubt that the Middle Ages were not a dark age, but a period when art and architecture flourished.
REFERENCES
Chapuis, J. (2002). Gothic art. In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Retrieved from: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/mgot/hd_mgot.htm
‘Gothic’(n.d.). In KhanAcademy. Retrieved from: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/medieval-world/latin-western-europe/gothic1/v/birth-of-the-gothic-abbot-suger-and-the-ambulatory-in-the-basilica-of-st-denis-1140-44
‘Initial V from a Bible’. (2006). In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Retrieved from: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1999.364.2
‘Plaque with the Journey to Emmaus and Noli Me Tangere’. (2006). In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Retrieved from: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/17.190.47
‘Plaque with Saint John the Evangelist’. (2006). In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Retrieved from: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1977.421
Ross, N. (n.d.) A beginners guide to Medieval Europe. In KhanAcademy. Retrieved from: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/medieval-world/medieval-europe/a/introduction-to-the-middle-ages
‘Scenes from the passion of Saint Vincent of Saragossa and the history of his relics’. (2006) In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Retrieved from: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/24.167a-k
‘The Franks Casket’ (n.d.) In KhanAcademy. Retrieved from: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/medieval-world/latin-western-europe/early-medieval/a/the-franks-casket
