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Medieval Art

By Ayana Garner
  • Period: 1453 BCE to 330 BCE

    Byzantine Art

    Key Features: Strong religious focus, Christ, Mary, and Saints.
    -Frontal, flattened figures, and iconic.
    -Golden backgrounds, Heaven atmosphere
    - Less Naturalism, spiritual symbolism.
    Cultural/Historical Context: Art tied to Eastern Orthodox Church
    -Used to teach theology and inspire devotion.
    -Imperial patronage reinforced power of Byzantine emperors.
  • The Virgin of Jeanne d’Evreux, gilded silver, basse-taille, enamels on gilded silver, stones, and pearls, 68 cm high
    1324 BCE

    The Virgin of Jeanne d’Evreux, gilded silver, basse-taille, enamels on gilded silver, stones, and pearls, 68 cm high

    This Sculpture shows Mary holding infant Jesus. It shows curves and emotional showing refined style of late Gothic art.
  • Chartres Cathedral
    1252 BCE

    Chartres Cathedral

    Chartres are known for soaring architecture and stained glass windows. The building light and height were meant to symbol spirituality towards god.
  • Period: 1150 BCE to 1000 BCE

    Romanesque Art

    Key features: Thick walled, fortress looking churches
    -Rounded Roman Arches
    -Massive Stone Architecture
    -Biblical Narratives carved on portals Cultural/Historical Context:Growth of monasticism
    -Pilgrims demanded for large churches
    -Art was used to teach scripture to the illiterate population.
    -Europe appears more stable
  • Period: 1140 BCE to 1400 BCE

    Gothic Art

    Key Features: Pointed arches, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses
    -Taller, increase open structures
    -Stained glasses for divine light
    -emotional expression, s-curve pose
    -Greater Naturalism
    -illuminated manuscripts.
    Cultural/ Historical Context: Cities grew
    -rise of universities and literacy
    -Focus of Mary increases, more human art
  • Rebuilt Choir of Saint Denis
    1139 BCE

    Rebuilt Choir of Saint Denis

    The Choir at Saint Denis uses pointed arches and stained glass to create bright, uplifting space. This shows the beginning of Gothic architecture focus on heavenly light.
  • ast Judgment, Tympanum, Central Portal on west façade of the Cathedral of Saint Lazare, Autun, France,
    1130 BCE

    ast Judgment, Tympanum, Central Portal on west façade of the Cathedral of Saint Lazare, Autun, France,

    This Shows Christ judging souls, with heaven on one side and hell on the other. Warning people to live morally.
  • Christ Pantocrator
    1080 BCE

    Christ Pantocrator

    Christ is depicted as a powerful ruler watching over the world. The Golden background creates a spiritual, otherworld feeling.
  • Saint-Seurin Basilica
    1080 BCE

    Saint-Seurin Basilica

    Saint Seurin has heavy stone walls and rounded arches depicting Romanesque architecture. Inside the interior aisles were designed to guide big groups of pilgrims visiting relics.
  • Bayeux Tapestry
    1070 BCE

    Bayeux Tapestry

    The Bayeux Tapestry tells the story of the Norman conquest of England through scenes. This goes to show how Romanesque art focused more on storytelling than realism.
  • Hagia Sophia
    537 BCE

    Hagia Sophia

    Designed to make the space feel heavenly. The gold interior showed the power of byzantine empire and church.
  • Virgin (Theotokos) and Child between Saints Theodore and George, 6th or early 7th century, encaustic on wood, 68.5 x 49.5 cm
    500 BCE

    Virgin (Theotokos) and Child between Saints Theodore and George, 6th or early 7th century, encaustic on wood, 68.5 x 49.5 cm

    This shows Mary and Jesus calm, frontal pose meant for praying. The flat style shows less realism.
  • 499 BCE

    Works Cited

    Cormack, Robin. Byzantine Art. Oxford University Press, 2018. Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner’s Art Through the Ages: A Global History. 16th ed., Cengage Learning, 2020. Rudolph, Conrad. Romanesque Art. Oxford University Press, 2006. Stokstad, Marilyn, and Michael W. Cothren. Art History. 6th ed., Pearson, 2018. Williamson, Paul. Gothic Sculpture, 1140–1300. Yale University Press, 1995