This chapter explores Early Medieval Art, a time period that begins what is commonly
called The Middle Ages or, erroneously, The Dark Ages. This is the general name given
to the time period after the last fall of Rome and before the Renaissance. The Middle
Ages are comprised of three periods: Early Medieval, Romanesque and Gothic.
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH TOPIC:
(Be prepared to demonstrate your knowledge on the Chapter Test):
Define “insular”.
Be able to properly use it in a sentence.
NOTE: Be prepared for some
REVIEW QUESTIONS on the Chapter Test.
TOPIC:
ART OF THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST
REVIEW YOUR NOTES AND READING QUIZZES FROM THIS CHAPTER
We will be studying Romanesque Art as our next topic. Feel free to scan the pages in
that section and take some notes in order to get a head start.
CONCEPTS TO KNOW:
Map Identification for READING QUIZ 36 (424):
Regions:
Islands:
Waterways:
Cities:
Countries:
TERMS:
Normandy, Burgundy, Lombardy, Iberian Peninsula
Lindisfarne, Iona
North Sea, English Channel
Borgund, Oseberg, Sutton Hoo, Kells, Aachen
Scotland, Ireland, Denmark, Norway
Reliquaries (425), vestments (425), illuminated (425), millefiori (428), scriptoria (429),
colophon (432), bosses (432), Mozarabic (433), Valhalla (435), rune (436), wattle-anddaub (436), staves (436), westwork (439), cloister (442), repoussé (444)
Pontificate:
Canonize:
Time in which a pope reigns (used as Americans would use “presidency”)
The process in which a person is elected into Christian Sainthood
CONCEPTS TO KNOW:
Understand the text: Defining the Middle Ages (425)
Know the artistic conventions of Animal Style, especially how animals are displayed (427)
Know the origins of the term Hiberno-Saxon/Anglo-Saxon (427)
Know the major achievement of Alcuin of York (442)
Know the three major purposes of illustrated book production in the Carolingian Empire (442)
Know the symbols and message of Otto I Presenting Magdeburg Cathedral to Christ (446)
Know a brief history of the following groups:
Merovingian (425-427), Norse (427), Anglo-Saxons (427-428), Vikings (435-437),
Carolingians (438-446), Ottonians (446-451)
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS:
Discuss Charlemagne and his major accomplishments and influences. What sort of relationship
did he have with pope Leo III and the Benedictine monks? (438)
Compare and contrast the style of book production between the Carolingian period (442-443)
and the Ottonian Empire (450)
LECTURE SLIDES:
TITLE
TIME PERIOD
Europe of the Early Middle Ages
Line Art
YEAR
Chi Rho Iota Page from the Book of Kells*, Iona, Scotlande Celtic
early 9th century
Book of Kells, Iona, Scotland
Celtic
early 9th century
Iona
Modern photograph
Abbey on the island of Iona, Scotland
Modern photograph
REMEMBER: Gallic Chieftain Killing his Wife and Himself
Hellenistic Greek
220 BCE
REMEMBER: Dying Gallic Trumpeter, Epigonos
Hellenistic Greek
220 BCE
REMEMBER: Torc, Soucy, France
Celtic Gaul
3rd to 1st century BCE
REMEMBER: Battle between Romans and Barbarians
High Imperial Roman 250 CE
Jewelry of Queen Arnegunde
Merovingian
580-590
Gummersmark Brooch**
Norse
600
Strickland Brooch
Medieval
900
Hinged Clasp, Sutton Hoo Burial Ship*, Suffolk, England
Anglo-Saxon
7th century
Shoulder Strap, Sutton Hoo Burial Ship, Suffolk, England
Anglo-Saxon
7th century
Purse Cover, Sutton Hoo Burial Ship*, Suffolk, England
Anglo-Saxon
7th century
Golden Helmet, Sutton Hoo Burial Ship, Suffolk, England
Anglo-Saxon
7th century
Gold Belt Buckle, Sutton Hoo Burial Ship, Suffolk, England Anglo-Saxon
7th century
Page with Man, Gospel Book of Durrow
Anglo-Saxon
7th century
Chi Rho Iota Page from the Book of Kells (detail)
Celtic
early 9th century
Page with text of Matthew’s Gospel, Lindisfarne Gospels* Anglo-Saxon
715-720
Matthew Writing his Gospel, Lindisfarne Gospels*
Anglo-Saxon
715-720
Ezra Restoring the Sacred Scriptures, The Codex Amiatinus Anglo-Saxon
700-715
COMPARE: Matthew Writing and Ezra Restoring
South Cross, Ahenny
Irish (Tipperary Co.) 8th century
Cross of Muiredach
Irish (Louth Co.)
923
Woman Clothed with the Sun, The Morgan Beatus
Mozarabic
940-945
REMEMBER: Court of the Lions, Granada, Spain
Late Islamic
1354-1391
Colophon Page, Emeterius and Senior
Spanish Medieval
July 27, 970
Battle of the Bird and Serpent*, Emeterius, Ende, Senior
Spanish Medieval
July 6, 975
Viken=people of the coves
Line Art
Minnesota Vikings
Modern insignia
Gripping Beasts, detail of Queen’s Ship, Oseburg, Norway Viking
815-820
Queen’s Ship, Oseburg, Norway*
Viking
burial in 834
Animal Post Head, detail of Queen’s Ship, Oseburg
Viking
815-820
Royal Rune Stones, Jelling, Denmark*
Viking
983-985
Burial Mounds at Jelling, Denmark
Viking
10th century
Cutaway Drawing of Stave Church, Borgund, Norway
Viking Line Art
1125-1150
Stave Church, Borgund, Norway*
Viking
1125-1150
Portal, Stave Church at Urnes, Norway
Viking
11th century
Equestrian Portrait of Charles the Bald(?)*
Carolingian
9th century
Carolingian realm under Charlemagne (ruled 768-814)
Line Art
Palace Chapel of Charlemagne, Aachen, Germany*
Carolingian
792-805
Section Drawing of Palace Chapel of Charlemagne
Carolingian Line Art
792-805
Rune stone in Västra Ledinge
REMEMBER: Plan/cutaway drawing, San Vitale, Ravenna Byzantine Line Art
520-547
Reconstruction Drawing of Palace Chapel of Charlemagne* Carolingian Line Art
792-805
Palace Chapel of Charlemagne, Aachen (interior)
Carolingian
792-805
Palace Chapel of Charlemagne, Aachen (exterior)
Carolingian
792-805
Westwork, Abbey Church of Corvey, Germany
Carolingian
9th century
Saint Gall Plan (original), Switzerland
Carolingian
817
Saint Gall Plan (redrawn with captions), Switzerland
Carolingian
817
Abbey Church of Saint Riquier, France
Carolingian
799
CLOISTER: enclosed courtyard linking the church with the living quarters of the monastery
Page with Saint Matthew, Coronation Gospels**
Carolingian
814
Page with Mark the Evangelist, Godescalc Gospel
Carolingian
781-783
Page with Matthew the Evangelist, Ebbo Gospels*
Carolingian
9th century
Page with Mark, Ebbo Gospels
Carolingian
9th century
Utrecht Psalter
Carolingian
9th century
Crucifixion with Angels and Figures, Lindau Gospels*
Carolingian
870-880
REMEMBER: Vapheio Cup, Sparta, Greece
Mycenaean
1,450 BCE
Otto I Presenting Magdeburg Cathedral to Christ**
Ottonian
968
Saint Maurice (Magdeburg Cathedral)
Gothic
1240-1250
Magdeburg Cathedral, Germany (rebuilt interior)
Gothic
1240-1250
Healing of Man Possessed by Demons (Magdeburg Ivories) Ottonian
962-968
The Lord Gives us the Law (Magdeburg Ivories)
962-968
Ottonian
Page with Otto III Enthroned, Aachen Gospels of Otto III* Ottonian
1000
Plan of Church of Saint Cyriakus, Gernrode, Germany
Ottonian Line Art
961-973
Church of Saint Cyriakus, (interior)*
Ottonian
961-973
Church of Saint Cyriakus, (exterior)*
Ottonian
961-973
Gero Crucifix, Cologne Cathedral, Germany*
Ottonian
970
Doors of Bishop Bernward, Abbey Church of St. Michael* Ottonian
1015
Doors of Bishop Bernward, Abbey Church of St. Michael
Ottonian Line Art
1015
REMEMBER: The Ascent of Elijah, Santa Sabina, Rome
Early Christian
422-432
Abel Murdered by Cain, Doors of Bishop Bernward
Ottonian
1015
Adam and Eve, Doors of Bishop Bernward
Ottonian
1015
Abbey Church of St. Michael (exterior)
Ottonian
1015
Abbey Church of St. Michael (interior)
Ottonian
1015
Abbey Church of St. Michael (plan)
Ottonian
1015
Abbey Church of St. Michael (column)
Ottonian
1015
Presentation Page with Abbess Hitda and St. Walpurga
Ottonian
11th century
Page with Christ Washing the Feet of His Disciples*
Ottonian
Bernward of Hildesheim (960-1022)
*Possibly a slide-identification question. Know the title and time period.
**Know the title, time period and YEAR.