Early Medieval Art

The art during the years of 500-1100 AD went through several stages of representation. Beginning with the Warrior Lords, the art that survives from this period includes small-scale status symbols such as the Merovingian fibulae and other pieces of personal adornment. Here the artisans employed cloisonné and interwoven and interlaced patterns of abstract animals. Their metal and jewel work was breathtaking. Christian art jumped headlong into the illuminated manuscripts produced in the monastery scriptorias. With their carpet pages comprised of decorative panels of abstract and zoomorphic motifs helped to solidify the power of the church and it’s center of all things political and religious. These manuscripts helped the illiterate understand the teachings of the bible through imagery. Charlemagne desired to revive the classicism of Ancient Greece and Rome. He set out to build basilicas to rival those of Byzantine and the Empire—thus emphasizing his absolute power of church and state. The sculpture of this time period also revived the imperial Roman tradition. Finally, in the mid-10^th century the Ottonians consolidated the Eastern part of the empire and looked to preserve and enrich the culture and traditions of Charlemagne. They built towering basilicas and added spires and imposing westworks. They revived monumental sculpture exemplified in the Gero crucifix and the colossal bronze doors of the St. Michael’s at Hildesheim.

Monastic life took a foothold in Western Europe in Early Christian times. The monks who built these monasteries managed them as well. To keep with Saint Benedict’s thinking, the monasteries were designed to encourage communal living in an abbey under the control of one either an abbot or abbess. He or she had absolute control over all monks and nuns. Under their management the monks and nuns would pursue a life of devotion which included spending each of the day in useful work and in sacred reading. This concentration of work and study raised both to the dignity of religion. The ideal monastery provided all the facilities necessary for the conduct of daily life—a mill, bakery, infirmary, vegetable garden, and a brewery.

These monasteries revived learning. Monks excelled in writing and teaching and served as the literate class. The libraries and scriptorias became the centers of study. This literacy separated the monks from the laypeople and set the standards for the generations to come.

I posted this link earlier today. The British Library has most of its ancient illuminated books, manuscripts and codex online virtually so you can see it page by page.

http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/virtualbooks/index.html#

Ivory plaque with Nativity scenes

Carolingian, around AD 800
Probably from Aachen, Germany

The Annunciation, Nativity and Adoration of the Magi

This fine panel embodies the artistic trends of the early Carolingian Renaissance.

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/pe_mla/i/ivory_plaque_with_nativity_sce.aspx

Magdeburg Panel

Ottonian, AD 962-68
From Milan, Italy

The raising of the widow's son from the dead (Luke 7:11-15)

This panel is one of a group of sixteen ivory plaques depicting a cycle of scenes from the Life of Christ. The original set, numbering forty or fifty, decorated a large piece of church furniture in Magdeburg Cathedral.

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/pe_mla/m/magdeburg_panel.aspx