Medieval Art Styles: Early Christian, Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic

Early Christian Art Characteristics

Painting

Graffiti on the walls of the catacombs, primarily religious in nature.

Christian Iconography and Symbols

• The Good Shepherd
• Dove of Peace
• Peacock
• Lamb
• Christ the Redeemer
• The Ship (Church)
• The Anchor Fish (Ichthys)

Colors and Materials

Colors: Vivid, highlighted in decoration on roofs, domes, and walls.

Sculpture: Images usually represented: The Good Shepherd and Virgins.

Topics/Materials: Sarcophagi and funerary urns made of wood and marble.

Architecture

Construction of the Basilica, consisting of:

1. Atrium
2. Rectangular room

Byzantine Art

Architecture

1. Grandeur and scale.
2. Introduction of the dome on pendentives; pyramidal capitals.
3. Greek cross basilica plan.
4. Mosaic decoration (musuvaria).

Themes: Christian themes. Materials: Marble, stone. Major Work: Church of Hagia Sophia.

Sculpture

Symbolic and spiritual art.

1. Most notable figures: Virgins, Saints, and the Good Shepherd (all fully dressed).
2. Used the classical orders (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian) but disregarded Greek perfection.
3. Highly decorative, often incorporating mosaic elements.

Materials: Gold, ivory, precious stones.

Painting

Almost disappears; uses color.

Romanesque Art

Architecture

1. Solid, severe, and mysterious religious construction.
2. Building elements: Columns, arches, classical orders, barrel vault, and groin vault (arista).
3. Employs a Greek cross plan with 3 to 5 naves.
4. Typical buildings: Castles, monasteries, and churches.

Sculpture

1. Integrated into architecture.
2. Evolution from anti-naturalistic to naturalistic styles.
3. Figures often hidden in heavy drapery (dressed).

Topics: Religious, monstrous, fantastic (fantasy), and liturgical.

Painting

1. Inspired by Byzantine mosaics.
2. Vivid colors.
3. Serves primarily as architectural decoration.

Gothic Art

Architecture

Manifested in palaces and castles, but the pinnacle of this art was the cathedral.

1. Extraordinary height of naves and towers, and vast extent of the area.
2. Perfect balance and harmony.
3. Used the pointed arch and the ribbed vault as essential building blocks.

Sculpture

1. Integrated into architecture.
2. Mostly used on portals, altarpieces, capitals, and tombs.
3. Shows remarkable realism and flexibility in the human figure.

Painting

Characterized by realism.

1. Loses importance as broad walls suitable for frescoes disappear, replaced by large polychromatic stained-glass windows.
2. Red and blue dominate, sometimes creating notable artistic value.
3. Figures are generally inspired by stained glass and are highlighted by precision in form and drawing.