MIDDLE AGES ART

MIDDLE AGES ART

Art during the Middle Ages was different based on the location in Europe as well as the period of time. However, in general, Middle Age art can be divided up into four main periods and styles: Byzantine Art, Romanesque Art, Gothic Art, and Arabic Art. Much of the art in Europe during the Middle Ages was religious art with Catholic subjects and themes. The different types of art included painting, sculpture, metal work, engraving, stained glass windows, and manuscripts. The end of the Middle Ages is often signaled by a great change in art with the start of the Renaissance Period.

ARABIC

GOTHIC

ROMANESQUE

BIZANTINE

ARCHITECTURE

SCULPTURE

PAINTING

The start of the Middle Ages is often called the Dark Ages. The main form of art during that time was Byzantine art produced by artists from the Eastern Roman Empire, also called Byzantium. Byzantine art was characterized by its lack of realism. The artists did not try to make their paintings realistic, but focused on the symbolism of their art. Paintings were flat with no shadows and the subjects were generally very serious and somber. The subjects of the paintings were almost entirely religious with many paintings being of Christ and the Virgin Mary.

ARCHITECTURE

SCULPTURE

PAINTING

The period of Romanesque Art started around 1000 AD and lasted to around 1300 with the beginning of the Gothic Art period. Art prior to that is called pre-Romanesque. Romanesque art was influenced by both the Romans and Byzantine Art. Its focus was on religion and Christianity. It included architectural details like stained glass art, large murals on walls and domed ceilings, and carvings on buildings and columns. It also included illuminated manuscript art and sculpture.

ARCHITECTURE

SCULPTURE

PAINTING

Gothic art grew out of Romanesque art. Gothic artists began to use brighter colors, dimensions and perspective, and moved toward more realism. They also began to use more shadows and light in their art and tried out new subject matters beyond just religion including animals in mythic scenes.

ARCHITECTURE

SCULPTURE

PAINTING

Encompasses the visual arts produced in the Islamic world. It comprises both religious and secular art forms. Religious art is represented by calligraphy, architecture and furnishings of religious buildings, such as mosque fittings, woodwork and carpets. Geometry and patterns are important and people do not appear in specifically religious art.

SOURCE: https://www.ducksters.com/history/middle_ages_art_literature.php