Chapter Six

Early Medieval and Romanesque Europe

Prepared by Kelly Donahue-Wallace

Randal WallaceUniversity of North Texas

Gardner's Art through the Ages, Concise Edition by Fred Kleiner

Early Medieval: Hiberno-SaxonDates and Places: • 7th-9th century• British Isles

People:• Christians• In monasteries• Working in scriptoria • Living in isolation

Crucifixion, Lindau Gospels, ca. 870. Fig. 6-

1.

Early Medieval: Hiberno-SaxonThemes: • Gospel books• Symbolic images

Forms:• Interlace inherited

from warrior lords• Stylized human and

animal forms• Illuminated Chi-rho-iota page, Book of

Kells, late eighth or early ninth century. Fig. 6-4.

Early Medieval: Hiberno-Saxon

Carpet page, Lindisfarne Gospels,

ca. 698–721. Fig. 6-3.

Early Medieval: Hiberno-SaxonExample:

• Illuminated manuscript

• Carpet page before gospel text

• Interlace with zoomorphic forms

• No narrativeCarpet page, Lindisfarne

Gospels, ca. 698–721. Fig. 6-3.

Early Medieval: CarolingianDates and Places: • 800-900• France

People:• Charlemagne, Holy

Roman Emperor• Revival of Roman

Empire• Importance of

learningSaint Matthew, Coronation Gospels, ca. 800–810. Fig.

6-5.

Early Medieval: CarolingianThemes: • Gospel books• Monastery

Forms:• Illusionism• Local traditions• Monastic

compound with basilica Saint Matthew, Ebbo

Gospels, ca. 816–835. Fig. 6-6.

Early Medieval: Carolingian

Palatine Chapel, 792–805. Fig. 6-8.

Plan of the Palatine Chapel, 792–805. Fig. 6-7.

Early Medieval: CarolingianExample:

• Central plan inspired by Ravenna

• Byzantine style

• Renewal of architecture of Christian Rome

• Charlemagne’s palace chapel Plan of the Palatine Chapel,

792–805. Fig. 6-7.

Early Medieval: OttonianDates and Places: • 900-1000• France

People:• Heirs of Charlemagne• Inspired by Rome

Crucifix, ca. 970. Fig. 6-13.

Early Medieval: OttonianThemes: • Biblical themes• Church

Forms:• Stylized and

conceptual figures• Expressive

exaggeration• Basilica Section and plan Saint

Michael’s, 1001–1031. Fig. 6-11.

Early Medieval: Ottonian

Doors, Saint Michael’s, 1015. Fig. 6-12.

Saint Michael’s,1001–1031. Fig. 6-10.

Early Medieval: Ottonian

Example:

• Basilica

• Towers at both ends

• Alternate-support system

• Modular plan based on crossing

• Two transepts

Saint Michael’s,1001–1031. Fig. 6-10.

Early Medieval: OttonianExample:

• Patron is Bishop Bernward

• Inspired by Early Christian doors

• Old and New Testament in bronze

• Prefiguration• Expressive

exaggerationDoors, Saint Michael’s,

1015. Fig. 6-12.