Byzantine Art History: Byzantium Empire
Medieval Art History - Byzantine Art
The capitol of the Roman Empire was Byzantium which was renamed as Constantinople. The Roman Empire was spit into two sections - the Eastern and Western part of the Roman Empire. The Western part of the Roman Empire disintegrated but the Eastern, or Byzantium Empire, stayed intact. Early Medieval Art reflect the differences between the development of the Catholic religion in the west and the Byzantium Empire of the east. Byzantine Art was the name given to the style of art used in very early years of this era or period. This period was also known as the Dark Ages ( 410 AD - 1066 AD ). The Dark Ages were followed by the Medieval times of the Middle Ages (1066 - 1485) and changes which saw the emergence …show more content…
of the early Renaissance Art. To appreciate the full extent of the changes in Medieval Art and the Early Renaissance it is helpful to understand its fore-runner - Byzantium Art and its effects on art during the Medieval times.
History - Christian Art and Religious iconography
Christian art and religious iconography began, about two centuries after the death of Jesus Christ. Christian art and religious iconography was originally based on the classical art styles and imagery used by the Ancient Greeks and the Ancient Romans. In the period encompassing Medieval art iconography began to be standardised and to relate more closely to the texts found in the Bible.
Characteristics
The Medieval Era, or Middle Ages, ran from the fall of Rome until the beginning of the Renaissance in Europe, or roughly from the fourth to the early 16th century. Most of the art of this time was created for the church to glorify God more than appeal to aesthetic sensibilities. Art subjects were almost always the holy family and the saints, but sometimes paintings and sculptures depicted war themes or animals and nature. There were some regional influences, with the most striking being the Islamic culture with its mosaics, sculpted arches and Middle Eastern rugs. These elements came into Europe through Spain and the south.
Illuminated Manuscripts – Illumination
Illuminated manuscripts are books that have been decorated, sometimes elaborately, with precious paints and gold leaf. Usually, this work was done by monks in scriptoriums (the library in a monastery) and took months or even years to complete. Before the invention of the printing press, the copying of books was done by hand. The covers of such books were also decorated, sometimes with gold, other precious metals and gemstones. Most of the time, these elaborately decorated books were holy books used in the church service or mass, but sometimes books of hours got this treatment, too. These were a kind of perpetual calendar designed to guide people through the seasons and cycles of life.
The illumination or decoration of manuscripts was one of the most common forms of Medieval Art. The word illuminated comes the Latin word 'illuminare' meaning adorn, enlighten or illuminate and is defined as the embellishment of a manuscript with luminous colors (especially gold). The artist who produced the sumptuous artwork on illuminated manuscripts were called Illuminators. Illuminators could be male or female and were members of monasteries or convents.
Creating Illuminated Manuscripts
Illuminated Manuscripts were generally written in ink on parchment or vellum. Parchment was made by brushing, stretching and drying calf, sheep, or goat skin. The best quality of parchment was called vellum and traditionally made of unsplit calf skin. The text was first written by a scribe and then the gilding, or the application of gold leaf, formed the first stage in the painting process of illumination by the illuminator. The application of color was then added following a planned design.
Illuminated Manuscripts - The Decorations
The decorations found in illuminated manuscripts included the following art work:
Miniature, or small pictures which were incorporated into the text decorating sections of the page or part of the border
Large pictures, which were rarer, which occupied the whole of a page
Initial alphabet letters either containing scenes ( referred to as historiated initials) or with elaborate decoration
An historiated initial is an enlarged letter which contains a picture found usually at the beginning of a paragraph but were also added to other section of text of illuminated manuscripts
Borders can also be historiated
Borders of illuminated manuscripts also contained elements of decoration consisting of illustrative miniatures or decorative motifs. They may enclose the whole of the text space or occupy only a small part of the margin of the page. Some borders were in panelled form whilst others were composed of foliate decorations or bars which often sprouted plant forms and were known as foliate bar borders
Byzantine mosaics
With the rise of the Byzantine Empire from the 5th century onwards, centred on Byzantium (now Istanbul, Turkey), the art form took on new characteristics. These included Eastern influences in style and the use of special glass tesserae called smalti, manufactured in northern Italy. These were made from thick sheets of coloured glass. Smalti have a rough surface and contain tiny air bubbles. They are sometimes backed with reflective silver or gold leaf.
The mosaic below is from the ceiling of the baptistery in Florence, Italy. Other spectacular examples can be found in Ravenna, Venice and Sicily and in Istanbul.
Whereas Roman mosaics were mostly used as floors, the Byzantines specialised in covering walls and ceilings. The smalti were ungrouted, allowing light to reflect and refract within the glass. Also, they were set at slight angles to the wall, so that they caught the light in different ways. The gold tesserae sparkle as the viewer moves around within the building.
Roman images were absorbed into the typical Christian themes of the Byzantine mosaics, although some work is decorative and some incorporates portraits of Emperors and
Medieval Painting
Medieval paintings usually depict religious subjects or topics of war.
The practice of portrait painting did not begin until the end of the medieval era. Human faces in paintings throughout the era were very flat, unrealistic and looked alike. Human and animal body parts are disproportionate and usually elongated. Medieval painters had not yet learned how to handle perspective, so architecture and landscapes are awkward.
Medieval Architecture
Two styles of architecture emerged during the Middle Ages. The first was Romanesque, which was the trend in the 11th and 12th centuries. This style was thick, heavy and closed, and characterized by rounded arches. The other style was the much more open and lighter Gothic style, which is characterized by pointed arches. This style began evolving in the 12th century, especially in cathedral architecture, and was designed to reach high into the sky to help people imagine the heavens. Notre Dame in Paris is a famous example of a Gothic cathedral.
One of the most beautiful architectural designs used in churches is the Gothic style. Intended to raise the spirit towards God, it is built in a vertical style that uplifts the eye and the soul. This style was a celebration of the Catholic Church's triumph over paganism and a declaration of the supremacy of the Catholic …show more content…
religion.
History of Medieval Music
The Medieval saw the emergence of great changes in English society including the music played during the Medieval times and era. The violent times of the Dark Ages had led to a primitive society lacking in elegance or refinement. Medieval music consisted of the religious or secular music of the church, however some pagan rituals relating to music and dancing, such as Maypole dancing, continued throughout Medieval times. The times also saw society changing due to the influence from various foreign cultures. Travel, prompted by theCrusades, led to a new and unprecedented interest in beautiful objects, elegant manners, poetry and music. Medieval Music in Europe was influenced by Arab love songs. The ideals of courtly love were introduced and embellished by the Troubadours, Trouveres and Minstrels further influencing the content and styles of Medieval music.
Medieval Music
In the eleventh and twelfth centuries Troubadours, Trouveres and Minstrels were the poets and musicians who influenced Medieval Music.
The troubadours and minstrels sang songs of courtly love and romance. Noble ladies of the Medieval period were famous for their patronage of Medieval Music. Eleanor of Aquitaine married King Henry II of England in 1152 and brought her love of music and the troubadours to the English court transferring the tradition to England.
Medieval Music and Musicians - The Troubadours
The Troubadours were originally travelling musicians. The early Troubadours travelled from one village to the next and many also travelled abroad. The role of the Troubadours changed to part of an elite society of royalty and nobles. The themes of the songs sung by the Troubadours mainly dealt with Chivalry andCourtly love - romantic ballads. In Germany, the troubadours became Minnesingers, or singers of love songs. The German minnesingers differed from the troubadours in that they accompanied their songs on the viol, instead of employing
Jongleurs.
Medieval Music and Musicians - The Trouveres
The Trouveres were troubadours of nobler birth with finer imagination, including kings and nobles. They were a school of poets who flourished in Northern France and Europe from the 11th to the 14th century.
Medieval Music and Musicians - The Minstrels
The Minstrels earned a living by the arts of poetry and music, and sang verses to the accompaniment of a lute, harp or other instruments. Minstrels often created their own ballads but they were also famous for memorising long poems based on myths and legends which were called 'chansons de geste'.
The Style of Medieval Music
Early Medieval Music was first performed in unison. The notes were usually the same length and song, or played, in the Key of C. Harmony was gradually introduced and by the 12th century a method of music notation developed which indicated the length of each note and the pitch.
Musical Texture During the Middle Ages and Renaissance
During the Middle Ages, musical texture was monophonic, meaning it has a single melodic line. Sacred vocal music such as Gregorian chants were set to Latin text and sung unaccompanied. It was the only type of music allowed in churches, so composers kept the melodies pure and simple. Later on, church choirs added one or more melodic lines to the Gregorian chants. This created polyphonic texture, meaning it has two or more melodic lines.
Medieval Dances - The Carole Dance
The Carole was one of the earliest Saxon Medieval dances. The Carole was a Yule-tide festivity, of which the present-day Christmas carols are a remnant. The carole was the most popular dance which could be danced in a circle, in a chain, or as a processional.
Medieval Dances - The Egg Dance
The Egg dance was one of the earliest Saxon Medieval dances and, like the Carole, was performed during a period of festivity namely the Easter-tide festivities. The egg dance was derived from a traditional Easter game, in the egg dance eggs were laid on the ground or floor and the goal was to dance among them damaging as few eggs as possible.
May Pole Dancing
Facts and interesting information about Medieval Life, specifically, May Pole Dancing
May Pole Dancing - Definition
Definition and description of a May Pole: A May Pole was a tall vertical pole decorated with streamers or ribbons that were held by dancers who performed May Pole dancing to celebrate May Day. The May Pole was erected on the Village Green or a similar open space about which the rustic May-day sports were held.
Description of May Pole Dancing
May Pole dancing featured the young girls perform circle dances around a tall pole, painted in stripes, which was decorated with garlands of flowers and other emblems. The youngest girls danced in the inner circle whilst the older girls danced in the outer circle. The girls each held a ribbon which was attached to the May Pole. May Pole Dancing involved circular steps during which the ribbons were intertwined and plaited. The May pole dancers would then unravel the ribbon by retracing their steps.
The capitol of the Roman Empire was Byzantium which was renamed as Constantinople. The Roman Empire was spit into two sections - the Eastern and Western part of the Roman Empire. The Western part of the Roman Empire disintegrated but the Eastern, or Byzantium Empire, stayed intact. Early Medieval Art reflect the differences between the development of the Catholic religion in the west and the Byzantium Empire of the east. Byzantine Art was the name given to the style of art used in very early years of this era or period. This period was also known as the Dark Ages ( 410 AD - 1066 AD ). The Dark Ages were followed by the Medieval times of the Middle Ages (1066 - 1485) and changes which saw the emergence …show more content…
of the early Renaissance Art. To appreciate the full extent of the changes in Medieval Art and the Early Renaissance it is helpful to understand its fore-runner - Byzantium Art and its effects on art during the Medieval times.
History - Christian Art and Religious iconography
Christian art and religious iconography began, about two centuries after the death of Jesus Christ. Christian art and religious iconography was originally based on the classical art styles and imagery used by the Ancient Greeks and the Ancient Romans. In the period encompassing Medieval art iconography began to be standardised and to relate more closely to the texts found in the Bible.
Characteristics
The Medieval Era, or Middle Ages, ran from the fall of Rome until the beginning of the Renaissance in Europe, or roughly from the fourth to the early 16th century. Most of the art of this time was created for the church to glorify God more than appeal to aesthetic sensibilities. Art subjects were almost always the holy family and the saints, but sometimes paintings and sculptures depicted war themes or animals and nature. There were some regional influences, with the most striking being the Islamic culture with its mosaics, sculpted arches and Middle Eastern rugs. These elements came into Europe through Spain and the south.
Illuminated Manuscripts – Illumination
Illuminated manuscripts are books that have been decorated, sometimes elaborately, with precious paints and gold leaf. Usually, this work was done by monks in scriptoriums (the library in a monastery) and took months or even years to complete. Before the invention of the printing press, the copying of books was done by hand. The covers of such books were also decorated, sometimes with gold, other precious metals and gemstones. Most of the time, these elaborately decorated books were holy books used in the church service or mass, but sometimes books of hours got this treatment, too. These were a kind of perpetual calendar designed to guide people through the seasons and cycles of life.
The illumination or decoration of manuscripts was one of the most common forms of Medieval Art. The word illuminated comes the Latin word 'illuminare' meaning adorn, enlighten or illuminate and is defined as the embellishment of a manuscript with luminous colors (especially gold). The artist who produced the sumptuous artwork on illuminated manuscripts were called Illuminators. Illuminators could be male or female and were members of monasteries or convents.
Creating Illuminated Manuscripts
Illuminated Manuscripts were generally written in ink on parchment or vellum. Parchment was made by brushing, stretching and drying calf, sheep, or goat skin. The best quality of parchment was called vellum and traditionally made of unsplit calf skin. The text was first written by a scribe and then the gilding, or the application of gold leaf, formed the first stage in the painting process of illumination by the illuminator. The application of color was then added following a planned design.
Illuminated Manuscripts - The Decorations
The decorations found in illuminated manuscripts included the following art work:
Miniature, or small pictures which were incorporated into the text decorating sections of the page or part of the border
Large pictures, which were rarer, which occupied the whole of a page
Initial alphabet letters either containing scenes ( referred to as historiated initials) or with elaborate decoration
An historiated initial is an enlarged letter which contains a picture found usually at the beginning of a paragraph but were also added to other section of text of illuminated manuscripts
Borders can also be historiated
Borders of illuminated manuscripts also contained elements of decoration consisting of illustrative miniatures or decorative motifs. They may enclose the whole of the text space or occupy only a small part of the margin of the page. Some borders were in panelled form whilst others were composed of foliate decorations or bars which often sprouted plant forms and were known as foliate bar borders
Byzantine mosaics
With the rise of the Byzantine Empire from the 5th century onwards, centred on Byzantium (now Istanbul, Turkey), the art form took on new characteristics. These included Eastern influences in style and the use of special glass tesserae called smalti, manufactured in northern Italy. These were made from thick sheets of coloured glass. Smalti have a rough surface and contain tiny air bubbles. They are sometimes backed with reflective silver or gold leaf.
The mosaic below is from the ceiling of the baptistery in Florence, Italy. Other spectacular examples can be found in Ravenna, Venice and Sicily and in Istanbul.
Whereas Roman mosaics were mostly used as floors, the Byzantines specialised in covering walls and ceilings. The smalti were ungrouted, allowing light to reflect and refract within the glass. Also, they were set at slight angles to the wall, so that they caught the light in different ways. The gold tesserae sparkle as the viewer moves around within the building.
Roman images were absorbed into the typical Christian themes of the Byzantine mosaics, although some work is decorative and some incorporates portraits of Emperors and
Medieval Painting
Medieval paintings usually depict religious subjects or topics of war.
The practice of portrait painting did not begin until the end of the medieval era. Human faces in paintings throughout the era were very flat, unrealistic and looked alike. Human and animal body parts are disproportionate and usually elongated. Medieval painters had not yet learned how to handle perspective, so architecture and landscapes are awkward.
Medieval Architecture
Two styles of architecture emerged during the Middle Ages. The first was Romanesque, which was the trend in the 11th and 12th centuries. This style was thick, heavy and closed, and characterized by rounded arches. The other style was the much more open and lighter Gothic style, which is characterized by pointed arches. This style began evolving in the 12th century, especially in cathedral architecture, and was designed to reach high into the sky to help people imagine the heavens. Notre Dame in Paris is a famous example of a Gothic cathedral.
One of the most beautiful architectural designs used in churches is the Gothic style. Intended to raise the spirit towards God, it is built in a vertical style that uplifts the eye and the soul. This style was a celebration of the Catholic Church's triumph over paganism and a declaration of the supremacy of the Catholic …show more content…
religion.
History of Medieval Music
The Medieval saw the emergence of great changes in English society including the music played during the Medieval times and era. The violent times of the Dark Ages had led to a primitive society lacking in elegance or refinement. Medieval music consisted of the religious or secular music of the church, however some pagan rituals relating to music and dancing, such as Maypole dancing, continued throughout Medieval times. The times also saw society changing due to the influence from various foreign cultures. Travel, prompted by theCrusades, led to a new and unprecedented interest in beautiful objects, elegant manners, poetry and music. Medieval Music in Europe was influenced by Arab love songs. The ideals of courtly love were introduced and embellished by the Troubadours, Trouveres and Minstrels further influencing the content and styles of Medieval music.
Medieval Music
In the eleventh and twelfth centuries Troubadours, Trouveres and Minstrels were the poets and musicians who influenced Medieval Music.
The troubadours and minstrels sang songs of courtly love and romance. Noble ladies of the Medieval period were famous for their patronage of Medieval Music. Eleanor of Aquitaine married King Henry II of England in 1152 and brought her love of music and the troubadours to the English court transferring the tradition to England.
Medieval Music and Musicians - The Troubadours
The Troubadours were originally travelling musicians. The early Troubadours travelled from one village to the next and many also travelled abroad. The role of the Troubadours changed to part of an elite society of royalty and nobles. The themes of the songs sung by the Troubadours mainly dealt with Chivalry andCourtly love - romantic ballads. In Germany, the troubadours became Minnesingers, or singers of love songs. The German minnesingers differed from the troubadours in that they accompanied their songs on the viol, instead of employing
Jongleurs.
Medieval Music and Musicians - The Trouveres
The Trouveres were troubadours of nobler birth with finer imagination, including kings and nobles. They were a school of poets who flourished in Northern France and Europe from the 11th to the 14th century.
Medieval Music and Musicians - The Minstrels
The Minstrels earned a living by the arts of poetry and music, and sang verses to the accompaniment of a lute, harp or other instruments. Minstrels often created their own ballads but they were also famous for memorising long poems based on myths and legends which were called 'chansons de geste'.
The Style of Medieval Music
Early Medieval Music was first performed in unison. The notes were usually the same length and song, or played, in the Key of C. Harmony was gradually introduced and by the 12th century a method of music notation developed which indicated the length of each note and the pitch.
Musical Texture During the Middle Ages and Renaissance
During the Middle Ages, musical texture was monophonic, meaning it has a single melodic line. Sacred vocal music such as Gregorian chants were set to Latin text and sung unaccompanied. It was the only type of music allowed in churches, so composers kept the melodies pure and simple. Later on, church choirs added one or more melodic lines to the Gregorian chants. This created polyphonic texture, meaning it has two or more melodic lines.
Medieval Dances - The Carole Dance
The Carole was one of the earliest Saxon Medieval dances. The Carole was a Yule-tide festivity, of which the present-day Christmas carols are a remnant. The carole was the most popular dance which could be danced in a circle, in a chain, or as a processional.
Medieval Dances - The Egg Dance
The Egg dance was one of the earliest Saxon Medieval dances and, like the Carole, was performed during a period of festivity namely the Easter-tide festivities. The egg dance was derived from a traditional Easter game, in the egg dance eggs were laid on the ground or floor and the goal was to dance among them damaging as few eggs as possible.
May Pole Dancing
Facts and interesting information about Medieval Life, specifically, May Pole Dancing
May Pole Dancing - Definition
Definition and description of a May Pole: A May Pole was a tall vertical pole decorated with streamers or ribbons that were held by dancers who performed May Pole dancing to celebrate May Day. The May Pole was erected on the Village Green or a similar open space about which the rustic May-day sports were held.
Description of May Pole Dancing
May Pole dancing featured the young girls perform circle dances around a tall pole, painted in stripes, which was decorated with garlands of flowers and other emblems. The youngest girls danced in the inner circle whilst the older girls danced in the outer circle. The girls each held a ribbon which was attached to the May Pole. May Pole Dancing involved circular steps during which the ribbons were intertwined and plaited. The May pole dancers would then unravel the ribbon by retracing their steps.