Medieval Art

Byzantine Art (600 C.E. to 1400 C.E.)

• Developed out of art of the Roman Empire

• seems to have abandoned this attempt in favor of a more symbolic approach

• primarily religious and imperial

- the two themes are often combined

• primarily used as décor of churches

• Icons dominated the art

- More religious than aesthetic in nature

- Images of Christ, the Virgin or a saint

• Had a great influence on Islamic art

 

Romanesque Art (c. 1000 C.E. to 1200 C.E.)

• retained many basic features of Roman architectural style

- round-headed arches, but also barrel vaults, apses, and acanthus-leaf decoration

• greatly influenced by Byzantine art

• sculpture

- metalwork, ivory and enamel became important in décor

- stucco or plaster life-sized sculptural

- pictorial and Biblical in subject

• murals

- covered the walls of churches and cathedral

- many destroyed, damaged or covered over and repainted

• Bayeux Tapestry

- commissioned and created by William the Conqueror’s wife

- made it to commemorate William the Conqueror’s conquest of England

• Stained glass

- earliest examples date to the 10th century

- most date to the 13th century

 

Gothic Art (c. 1200 C.E. to 1400 C.E.)

• developed in Northern France

• spread through Western Europe except in Italy

• Beginning of secular art – not as much has survived as religious art

• Painting during the Gothic period was practiced in five primary media: sculpture, frescos, panel paintings, manuscript illumination and stained glass

• Rose window - a circular window, especially used for those found in churches, divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery

 

Medieval Music

Music of this time period varies greatly from monophony (accapella music consisting of a single voice or line) in the 6th and 7th centuries to intricate polophony (multiple voices or lines that are equally important to the piece) in the 13th and 14th centuries.

 

Gregorian Chant

• also called plainchant

• originated in early Christian liturgy and masses as 

• thought to be named after Pope Gregory I

• sung/chanted prayers, hymns, psalms, pasages of scripture

• used as part of the mass

• mainly sung/used by monks and priests

• example of monophony

 

Secular Chant

• similar stylistically to plainchant

• not considered divine gifts

• love songs, laments, pastorals, dialogues etc.

• no records exist pre-dating the 9th century

 

Polyphony to 1300

• emerged in the 8th and 9th centuries

• one of the most important stylistic developments in music history

• composer mostly anonymous

• organum- an original plainchant with another voice above or below

• Notre Dame organum - most elaborate form of organum that happened in Paris

           - Leonin - prototype composer 

   

Music in 14th Century

• composers became less anonymous

    - Phillipe de Vitry

    - Guillaume de Machaut

    - Baude Cordier

    - Jacob de Senleches

    - Anthonella de Caserta

    - Francesco Landini

    - Jacopo da Bologna

    - Lorenzo da Firenze

    - Johannes Ciconia

• France:The Ars Nova

     - ars nova - "new art"

     - condemned by Pope John XXII as decadent and dangerous

 

Secular music

•  developed in France

•  three forms: ballade, virelai, rondeau

 

Instrumental Music

•  used as entertainment at banquets, accompianment for dancers, signaling troops in battle

•  not used much in church services, seen as too transparent 

•  very little written, instead used tradition and improvisation