Europe

LET’S ORIENT OURSELVES CE So far, we’ve studied how the Roman Empire split in two and it really thrived in the East. This led to the Byzantine Empire. Meanwhile, Western Europe was dealing with many factions striving for power and Rome as we know it is replaced by many groups. The art of this period is varied in terms of medium but mostly focuses on the status of the person who possessed the art.

EARLY MEDIEVAL SITES IN EUROPE 3

Fibulae– a decorative pin Romans wore A symbol of wealth and power 4 PAIR OF MEROVINGIAN LOOPED FIBULAE, FROM JOUY-LE-COMTE, FRANCE, MID-SIXTH CENTURY. SILVER GILT WORKED IN FILIGREE, WITH INLAYS OF GARNETS AND OTHER STONES, 4” HIGH. MUSÉE D’ARCHÉOLOGIE NATIONALE, SAINT-GERMAIN-EN-LAYE.

PURSE COVER, FROM THE SUTTON HOO SHIP BURIAL IN SUFFOLK, ENGLAND, CA GOLD, GLASS, AND CLOISONNÉ GARNETS, 7 1/2” LONG. BRITISH MUSEUM, LONDON. 5

BELT BUCKLE, FROM THE SUTTON HOO SHIP BURIAL IN SUFFOLK, ENGLAND, CA GOLD, 5 1/4" LONG. BRITISH MUSEUM, LONDON. 6

European artistic traditions applied to a variety of media, such as wood, stone, and metal. Notice the imagery includes intertwined ribbon-like designs called interlacing as well as abstract animal imagery. These design features reflect the cultures of pre-Christian Northern Europe. INTERLACED ANIMAL STYLE 7

ANIMAL-HEAD POST, FROM THE VIKING SHIP BURIAL, OSEBERG, NORWAY, CA WOOD, HEAD 5” HIGH. UNIVERSITY MUSEUM OF NATIONAL ANTIQUITIES, OSLO. 8

WOODEN PORTAL OF THE STAVE CHURCH AT URNES, NORWAY, CA. 1050–

Manuscripts are of major importance! HIBERNO-SAXON ART (6 TH TO 10 TH CENTURIES) 10

MAN (SYMBOL OF SAINT MATTHEW), FOLIO 21 VERSO OF THE BOOK OF DURROW, POSSIBLY FROM IONA, SCOTLAND, CA. 660–680. INK AND TEMPERA ON PARCHMENT, 9 5/8” X 6 1/8”. TRINITY COLLEGE LIBRARY, DUBLIN. 11

Starring Matthew, Mark, Luke and John THE LINDISFARNE GOSPELS

CROSS-INSCRIBED CARPET PAGE, FOLIO 26 VERSO OF THE LINDISFARNE GOSPELS, FROM NORTHUMBRIA, ENGLAND, CA. 698–721. TEMPERA ON VELLUM, 1’ 1 1/2” X 9 1/4”. BRITISH LIBRARY, LONDON. 13

SAINT MATTHEW, FOLIO 25 VERSO OF THE LINDISFARNE GOSPELS, FROM NORTHUMBRIA, ENGLAND, CA. 698–721. TEMPERA ON VELLUM, 1’ 1 1/2” X 9 1/4”. BRITISH LIBRARY, LONDON. 14

CHI-RHO-IOTA (XPI) PAGE, FOLIO 34 RECTO OF THE BOOK OF KELLS, PROBABLY FROM IONA, SCOTLAND, LATE EIGHTH OR EARLY NINTH CENTURY. TEMPERA ON VELLUM, 1’ 1” X 9 1/2”. TRINITY COLLEGE LIBRARY, DUBLIN. 15

High Cross of Muiredach (east face), Monasterboice, Ireland, 923. Sandstone, 18’ high. CELTIC CROSSES 16