Architecture and Art of the Middle Ages

The Middle Ages is a period of European history that lasted from the 5th until the 15th centuries. It began with the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, and concludes at the start of the Renaissance During the High Middle Ages, which began after AD 1000, the population of Europe increased greatly as technological and agricultural innovations allowed trade to flourish and crop yields to increase.

Romanesque Architecture Style dominated the early to middle middle ages Based on architecture of Roman public buildings, the basilica - a large roofed hall erected for transacting business and disposing of legal matters Consisted of a large interior space divided by colonnades (rows of columns), and walls punctured by small clearstory windows

The Roman Basilica clerestory colonnade narthex or entry lobby

Instead of re-inventing the wheel, early Christians in need of places to worship looked to basilicas for inspiration. Addition of transepts – floor plan based on Latin cross. St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City. 320 – 350AD.

Christian basilicas were built of stone but had wooden roofs to lighten the load Thick walls with small arched windows Dimly lit interiors Narthex or entry lobby on the west side and apse in the east.

While Early Christian churches typically featured plain exteriors, interiors were often richly decorated. The best-preserved Early Christian church may be Santa Sabina (Rome), whose fifth-century appearance remains little changed today.

The Gothic Style Begins with architecture Name assigned to describe this style during the Renaissance by Italian artist and historian, Giorgio Vasari. It was meant as an insult. He appreciated Greek and Roman styles, not this style influenced by invaders from Germany, the Goths.

During the Gothic (medieval/ 500 – 1500AD) period, Europe’s economy was on the rise following the sacking of the Roman Empire. Population emerged from dark ages and looked to the Christian God for salvation People gathered into small towns and built churches as a point of pride. Distinguishing features:  the pointed arch  the ribbed vault and  the flying buttress  large stained glass windows, rose windows.

St. Denis Abbot Suger, friend and confidant of the French Kings, Louis VI and Louis VII, decided in about 1137, to rebuild the great Church of Saint-Denis, originally a Romanesque church. Looked to new technologies and is credited with directing the building of the first Gothic style church.

Saint-Denis

St Denis, Interior

The Gothic Arch a pointed arch that is more structurally sound than the rounded Roman arch – with widths being equal, it can be built twice as high as the Roman arch. Allowed the building of much taller churches,

The Ribbed Vault Adding stones ribs to the vaults helped support the weight of vaults (sections of the ceiling where arches move in different directions intersect

Flying Buttress Architectural device used to support a building’s walls from the outside – attached to the building like a bridge.

Stained Glass Because new methods support the walls, stone was replaced by large areas of coloured glass meant to invoke awe in church goers. Contributed to the creation of a piece of heaven on Earth

The Western (Royal) Portal at Chartres Cathedral (ca. 1145). Chartres Cathedral (ca. 1145). These architectural statues are the earliest Gothic sculptures and were a revolution in style and the model for a generation of sculptThese architectural statues are the earliest Gothic sculptures and were a revolution in style and the model for a generation of sculptors.

Illuminated Manuscripts The term ‘manuscript’ comes from the Latin for ‘handwritten’: before the invention of printing all books had to be written out by hand. This was a time-consuming and labour-intensive process, and could take months or years. Some manuscripts were made even more precious by ‘illumination’. This term comes from the Latin word for ‘lit up’ or ‘enlightened’ and refers to the use of bright colours and gold to embellish initial letters or to portray entire scenes.

Illuminated Manuscripts Is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented with such decoration as initials, borders (marginalia) and miniature illustrations.

Lindisfarne Gospel - 715AD Pages of the Lindisfarne gospels are vellum, made from the skins of sheep or calves The pens used for the manuscript cut from either quills or reeds Lavish jewellery was added to the binding of the manuscript, now lost The colours are derived from animal, vegetable and mineral sources The opening words of the Gospel (the incipits) are highly decorated, revealing Roman capitals, Greek and Germanic letters, filled with interlaced birds and beasts

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