Medieval Art
Medieval ages spanned a long period of time,
and new art genres were created. Middle East and African art traditions were
morphed together, and artistic movements included Byzantine, Islamic, Viking,
Romanesque, and Gothic among others. Older pagan ways of life were rejected due
to widespread Christianity. Medieval art reflected this, and it saw the
collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Due to the Bible’s rule against idolatry,
artists were careful to make sure their art wasn’t 3-dimensional, keeping it
one and two-dimensional, unlike the previously popular Roman busts. Churches
featured mosaics and frescoes. Islamic
art reflected the Muslim’s ideas of Heaven as a natural paradise, with many
depictions of floral patterns, tessellations, and geometric forms. The Vikings
specialized in woodwork and metalwork, with animal pictures, and their art was
portable due to their migratory style of living. Their golden brooches were
famous, the most famous being a golden eagle in abstract style made up of gold
and jewels. Charlemagne had many golden crosses made, and he had pictures of
human forms made, which sort of challenged the idea of idolatry and art.
Illuminated manuscripts were very popular with monks. Their covers were covered
in jewels and made of precious metals, and elaborately illustrated. Celtic
artists made the best illuminated manuscripts, and rich families owned their
own illuminated manuscripts. Celtic style was influenced by geometrically patterned
art from Egypt. Cathedrals were made
bigger than they had ever been before, as well as the relief work inside of
them. Artists experimented and sought to separate themselves from the old
Byzantine style, and from this, the Renaissance was born.
Cathedrals
and stained glass windows were the first Gothic characteristics of medieval
art. Gothic art emerged out of France and was referred to as the “new fashion.”
Some had opinions on Gothic art being inferior to the more classic art of
earlier styles, but despite these criticisms, Gothic architecture spread. It
was mainly based around Romanesque architecture. The main difference between
the two is that Romanesque architecture was wider and lower, as well as having
separate, low-lighted areas. Gothic architecture mainly featured very tall
structures, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses. Architecture grew taller and
taller as time went on, as artists and sculptors sought to outdo past cathedrals.
In 1284, the Beauvais Cathedral actually collapsed from being so tall, but it
was reconstructed to the same dimensions, with more flying buttresses added to
provide more support. A French cathedral called Saint Denis served as a burial
place for kings from the 10th to the 18th century. The
Cathedral of Notre Dame, which took more than a hundred years, has two spires
and hundreds of sculpted figures standing on ledges. The pillars were
transformed into saintly figures. Frescoes in churches gave hints to what paintings
were like, but illuminated manuscripts give the most information. Almost all of
these were religious, and they were extremely costly. However, after the
discovery of cheaper printing methods, illuminated manuscripts became more
lightweight and accessible. The Book of Hours was an important book, with
religious illustrations and historical imagery. It also had features of Gothic illuminated
manuscripts. Gothic art was also highly symbolic; Christ was mostly
metaphorically depicted as a lamb.
Renaissance Art
Art
was reborn in the Renaissance period and it religiously expanded. There were
many innovative thinkers and artists that continue to influence the world today.
It was a change from the medieval ideas of obedience and authority, focusing on
innovation and knowledge. Although it was mostly based in Italy, it drew from
many cultural influences from around the world. Linear perspective, realistic
scenery, and depth were highly focused on, with the mix of art, math, and
science together, which helped with the perfecting of perspective in art. The Medici
helped the Renaissance spread even faster than it already was. Leonardo Da
Vinci’s most famous painting is the Last Supper, which portrays Jesus’ last
meal on earth with his disciples. Michelangelo was like Leonardo, but he
focused on the arts, designing exquisite architecture and making one of the most
famous paintings of all time. The Sistine Chapel took Michelangelo four years
to finish. His painting is featured on the ceiling, with “The Creation” in the center
point of the chapel ceiling. Raphael, Michelangelo’s rival painter, decorated
walls in the Catholic pope’s library, and a painting on the wall, the “School
of Athens,” showed Raphael’s specialty in linear perspective, with realistic depictions
of philosophers and buildings, as well as statues. The Renaissance radically
changed the world with its arts and philosophies, exploring styles and
virtuosity.
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