Medieval and Renaissance Period

Overview
The history of Medieval art covered almost ten centuries between the Sack of Rome (c. 450 C.E.)
and the Early Italian Renaissance (1400). Only one institution survived: the Christian Church- centered in
Rome and Constantinople. Art differences between medieval and renaissance will be point out as you go
along the lesson as well as the different famous artists and their artworks.

Let us determine how much you know about this period. Simply write MEDIEVAL if it belongs
to the Medieval period, and write REBIRTH if it belongs to the Renaissance period.

_________1. Fresco wall-paintings _____________6. Donatello

_________2. Michelangelo _____________7. David
_________3. Notre Dame de Paris _____________8. Stained glass
_________4. Ambrogio Lorenzetti _____________9. Pieta
_________5. Mona Lisa _____________10. Dome of Florence Cathedral

Let’s get started!

Medieval period Also known as Middle Age, the Medieval era is the period in European
history that took place between 350 AD to 1450 AD.
• Medieval art is an account of history of an integration of technique between the elements of
classical, early Christian and “barbarian” that were produced in different media and style.
- Art historians have difficulty in classifying medieval art into major periods and styles:
✓ Early Christian
✓ Byzantine
✓ Romanesque
✓ Gothic
• Each of this style was expressed distinctly in different countries, and covers a vast scope of time
and place.
• Islamic art was also developed in the Middle Ages in a form of illustrated manuscripts, textiles,
ceramics, metalwork and glass. Muslim artists worked in the early formative stage of the period
and then diverged in a variety of styles depending on the region in which the artist worked.
Early Christian Period
• Early Christian art marks an important transition
between the Greco-Roman heritage and the emerging art
and architecture of the Middle Ages. Students identify the
catacombs, list characteristic features of Early Christian
basilicas such as Old Saint Peter’s, and be able to discuss
the Classical and Early
Christian styles exhibited in a
work of art.
• The Romanesque style
flourished in Western Europe
between 1000 and 1150. the
design of churches during a period was a practical response to the
phenomenon of pilgrimages because pilgrims journeyed to visit
sacred relics at holy sites, churches were built to house relics and
accommodate pilgrims as well as to provide space for workshop.
During what has been called the age of pilgrimages the form of the
church was primarily cruciform, or cross shaped, continuing the
tradition established by architects of basilicas built in the Carolingian
period of the ninth century. Architects incorporated ambulatories in
their design. An ambulatory is a semicircular passageway that
 surrounds the apes. It enabled pilgrims to walk around the apse without disturbing the daily
rituals of the priest.
• The Gothic period continued the trend of church building set by the
Romanesque period before it. Under the influence of abbot slugger's
treatises. Gothic architect strove to create building of ever greater height
and light. Pointed arches ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses made the
greater height possible. The architects included space for large and
extensive stained, glass windows that filter light in a manner intended to
pre figure the new Jerusalem. The gothic style grew in popularity during
the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries spreading, from France to England
and other European countries where architects blended gothic elements
with their regional styles.
• Sculpture in the gothic period began to move toward greater naturalism
and became independent of the architecture, instead of functioning solely
as decoration for a church sculpture, was artwork itself. German gothic sculptors followed this
trend and also added great emotion to the characters. Late gothic sculptors used the S-curve to
heighten naturalism but they did not return completely to contrapposto. The return of
contrapposto and the values of classical art would reemerge in the fifteenth century during the
Italian renaissance.
• Types of Arts Produced in the Medieval Period
1. Ceramic art- Early medieval ceramics were hand shaped, rather than wheel-turned producing
cooking pots and jars, jugs and pitchers and crucible.
2. Heraldy – is the practice of designing and recording coats of arms and badges. Warriors
often decorated their shield with patterns and mythological motifs.
3. Illuminated manuscripts – were religious texts embellished with rich colors which often
featured the use of gold and silver.
4. Ivory carving – is the carving of ivory by using sharp cutting tools, either mechanically or
manually.
5. Mosaic – is the art of creating images with small pieces of colored glass, stone or other
material.
6. Sculpture – Gothic sculpture evolved from the early stiff and elongated style of statues used
in Romanesque art.
7. Stained glass – small pieces of glass arranged to form patterns or pictures which are held
together by strips of lead and supported by a rigid frame.
8. Tapestry – is a form of textile art, traditionally woven on a vertical loom with rich colored
designs or scenes usually hung on walls for decoration
9. Fresco wall-paintings – Fresco is a painting type which is executed in plaster on walls or
ceilings. Frescos are paintings made directly onto a wall or ceiling while the plaster is still wet
Plaster and with this setting, the painting becomes an integral part of the wall.
10. Panel painting – a painting on a panel made of a single or several pieces of wood joined
together. Panel painting was the normal form of support for painting until canvas became
popular in the 16the century.
What is the
• Renaissance Period -a period from the 14th to the 17th century RENAISSANCE
- The word ‘renaissance’ is a French word which means PERIOD?
‘REBIRTH’ or ‘REVIVAL’.
- It started as a cultural movement in Italy in the Late Medieval period
and later spread to the rest of Europe. It was a time of great Music, Literature,
Philosophy, Science and Technology, Architecture, Religion and Fine Arts.
 - Evolution of Renaissance art took place in 3 stages:
✓ Early Renaissance (1400-1475 AD)
✓ High Renaissance (1475-1525 AD)
✓ Late Renaissance or Mannerism (1525-1600 AD)
Mona Lisa Vitruvian Man
Artist: Leonardo da Vinci Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Dimensions: 77 cm x 53 cm Dimensions: 35 cm x 26 cm
Created: 1503 Location: The Louvre (since 1797)
Period: Renaissance Created: 1490
Genre: Portrait Period: High Renaissance
Genre: Ink
• Early Renaissance – began in Florence towards the end of the 14the century.
During this period, a revolution in philosophy, science and mathematics dramatically
changed composition and representation in the arts. While the subject matter remained primarily
Christian, a variety of additional symbols and themes were introduced along with ideas from
classical mythology.
• High Renaissance – produces the most, the best, and the art that epitomizes the movement. It
includes the big names like Da Vince, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Many artists during this time
were excelled in many different things, the origin of the phrase “renaissance man”. Artists such
as Michelangelo and Brunelleschi reached their peak during this era. Thus, there was such
concentration of talent in Italy at the time and people were so interested in cultivating these
talents.
• Late Renaissance/ Mannerism – While technically masterful, mannerist compositions were full of
clashing colors, disquieting figures with abnormally elongated limbs, emotion and bizarre themes
that combined Classicism, Christianity, and mythology.
Mannerist Painting Characteristics
- Elongation of the neck and torso
- Cropping of figures towards the edges
- Very little breathing room
- Subjects – unrealistic figures, artificial
- Use of color – very acidic, skin colors –extremely pale

Renaissance VS Medieval The Madonna with the Long

Neck, also known as Madonna and
- Compared to the art of the middle ages, Child with Angels and St. Jerome, is
the art of the renaissance is more visually an Italian Mannerist oil painting by
accurate. Parmigianino, dating from c. 1535-
- In Renaissance art, human emotions 1540 and depicting Madonna and
Child with angels.
were depicted liberally. Medieval art
made lesser use of emotion.
- Humans were very natural and lifelike. They had realistic expressions unlike the humans depicted in
medieval art.
- In the Medieval period, the art was simple and mono dimensional. While the renaissance painting was
complicated and had more depth due to the use of linear perspective.
- During medieval period, artworks had religious themes and were inspired by gothic culture. While
renaissance artists preferred to paint Greek Mythology characters and Greek philosophers.
- Objects further away were smaller, less distinct and less sharp colored compared to medieval art.