English Art & Architecture Middle Ages  CLICK on each slide at the left. SCROLL in this section of each slide to read more specific notes. | V

Characteristics of Medieval Art Disproportionate (body parts wrong) All faces the same, unrealistic Important figures larger Perspective wrong or absent (no depth/distance) 2 dimensional, flat and dull Religious & military themes Illuminated manuscripts 180 degree relief statues Bright colors Artists are craftsmen, work for guild

Both relief sculptures from cathedrals No proportion or perspective Right shows the weighing of souls.

Book of Kells, Book of Luke Illuminated manuscripts Monastic scholars, skilled in the art of illuminating manuscripts

Military theme No perspective, no proportion Tents as large as the castle Flat, not three dimensional

St Francis of Assisi, 1235 Bright colors Religious theme Most important figure is largest Same faces Hands out of proportion

Madonna Enthroned By Giovanni Cimabue 1280-90 12’ x 7’ 1280-1290 A little bit of 3-D in throne, but that’s about it Bright colors Religious theme Most important figure is largest Hands out of proportion Faces all the same Baby Jesus looks like little man Madonna Enthroned By Giovanni Cimabue 1280-90

Detail Ears are not in perspective

Madonna Enthroned, Duccio 1308-1311 A little bit of 3-D in throne, but that’s about it Bright colors Religious theme Most important figure is largest Hands out of proportion Faces all the same Baby Jesus looks like little man Madonna Entroned, by Duccio 1308-11 7’ x 13’ Madonna amidst angels and saints Figures softened Some perspective in throne Madonna Enthroned, Duccio 1308-1311

Annunciation Simon Martini, 1333 Simon Martini, Annunication 1333 Elegant shapes and radiant colors Angel Gabriel has golden wings Angel almost royalty - Madonna shies away - in presence of royalty Puts down her book of devotion Annunciation Simon Martini, 1333

Bright colors, no depth (2 dimensional)

Medieval Architecture

Romanesque Barrel Vaults Blind Arcade Arcade Rounded arches Thick, massive walls Small windows and door openings Examples of Romanesque architecture can be found across the continent. Many castles were built during this period, but they are greatly outnumbered by churches. The Romanesque style in England is traditionally referred to as Norman architecture. The term Norman architecture is used to categorize styles of Romanesque architecture developed by the Normans in the various lands under their dominion or influence in the 11th and 12th centuries. The term is traditionally used for English Romanesque architecture. The Normans introduced large numbers of castles and fortifications including Norman keeps, and at the same time monasteries, abbeys, churches and cathedrals, in a style characterized by the usual Romanesque rounded arches (particularly over windows and doorways) and especially massive proportions compared to other regional variations of the style. Romanesque architecture is known by its massive quality, its thick walls, round arches, sturdy piers, groin vaults, large towers and decorative arcading. The overall appearance is one of simplicity when compared with the Gothic buildings that were to follow. Walls The walls of Romanesque buildings are often of massive thickness with few and comparatively small openings. Arches The arches used in Romanesque architecture are nearly always semicircular Arcades An arcade is a row of arches, supported on piers or columns. They occur in the interior of large churches, separating the nave from the aisles, and in large secular interiors spaces, such as the great hall of a castle. Arcading on a large scale generally fulfils a structural purpose, but it is also used, generally on a smaller scale, as a decorative feature, both internally and externally where it is frequently "blind arcading" with only a wall or a narrow passage behind it. Narrow doors and small windows Barrel vaults Large “thick” towers

Gothic Lacy look Windows / light Tall spires Pointed arches Flying buttress Ribbed vaults Gothic architecture is most familiar as the architecture of many of the great cathedrals, abbeys and churches of Europe. It is also the architecture of many castles, palaces, town halls, guild halls, universities and to a less prominent extent, private dwellings. Gothic cathedrals represented the universe in microcosm, and each part of the structure was intended to convey the great glory of God. Its characteristic features include the pointed arch, the ribbed vault and the flying buttress. In Gothic architecture a new building style with new technologies emerged. Those technologies were the pointed arch, the ribbed vault, and the flying buttress. The Gothic style emphasizes vertical lines and light. Light One of the most distinctive characteristics of Gothic architecture is the expansive area of the windows The simplest shape is the long opening with a pointed arch known in England as the lancet.