Shedding Some Light On The Dark Ages

   After the collapse of the Roman Empire in the 5^th century came what is known as the Medieval Period, or the 'Middle Ages'. It acted as the bridge between Antiquity, and the Modern era. This time in history is also referred to as the 'Dark Ages'. Despite its nomenclature, not everything was doom and gloom, as little rays of light shone through with several unique art styles, with their own distinct forms that shared some subtle connections with the past.

   The Byzantine Period was the earliest, and was based around the remains of the Roman Empire to the east, in countries such as Greece and Turkey, where the new Byzantine Empire was formed. The Empire's capital city of Constantinople (named after Constantine the Great, from its former name of Byzantium), was the heart of the Byzantine Empire, and was a cultured and prosperous trade centre. Built during this era, the Hagia Sofia still retains many of the mosaics of the time, which can be marvelled at and enjoyed by the present day visitor.

Court of Theodora, Apse Mosaic, San Vitale, Ravenna, c. 547

   Starting around the 11^th century, began the artistic period known as 'Romanesque'. The term referred to the influence of older Roman traditions which inspired the style. During the Romanesque period, a strong Byzantine influence could still be seen in the artworks. The growth of monasticism and the building of larger churches to accommodate greater audiences, placed a demand on artists of the time to develop their style and meet the needs for worshipful decoration. The vivid beauty of the artistic translation of many Christian themes would have been as breathtaking then as they are now.

Christ In Majesty, Mural, Seu d'Urgell

   The13^th Century saw the 'Romanesque' give way to the 'Gothic'. Initially, the term 'Gothic' was used to mean 'Barbaric', as many believed the style to be quite crude and not as refined or cultured as the classical art that had gone before. Gothic art is very often associated with the many beautiful cathedrals built during the time, such as the Notre Dame de Paris, which is probably the most well known example. Today, visitors to France can still witness the splendour of many more cathedrals of the Gothic style, in Lyon, Amiens and Bourges to name but a few. The Gothic art movement was also bolstered and allowed to flourish with the commissions received from many wealthy patrons who wished to decorate their domestic environments with this spectacular art.

 

Melencolia I, Engraving, Albrecht Durer, 1514 

   Lastly, we arrive at the art style known as Insular, which we will be looking at in a bit more depth here. Insular art takes its name from the the Latin word 'insula', meaning island. This refers to the fact that the style originated in Ireland (that much loved island to the west of Britain) around the 7^th century. The art form then moved and was developed further in Britain, before moving on to mainland Europe. This pattern of movement was that of the monks and scholars from Ireland and Great Britain who made their missionary journeys, taking their scripts and artwork with them in the form of their Bibles and their manuscripts. Insular art (also known as Hiberno-Saxon art) is quite distinctly different from the other Medieval styles, with Insular art seeming to favour abstraction, intricate patterns and the use of vivid colour. It was undoubtedly influenced by earlier Celtic art, reflected in its use of geometric patterns, knotwork and labyrinthian detail. The Book of Kells is possibly the most famous example of this art form. 
 

The Book Of Kells, Opening Page of the Gospel of Mark

   The Book of Kells is an 'illuminated' manuscript written in Latin, and contains the four Gospels of the new testament. The term 'illuminated' refers to the use of gold and bright colours to decorate the illustrations and script within, giving a sense of brightness and radiance. This amazing book is believed to have been produced by monastic scribes around 800 A.D. (give or take a few years). Legibility of these documents was improved by the inclusion of spacing between letters, which also helped increase the impact of the text. The Book of Kells is such an important and treasured example of Insular art, and it is one of only a few remaining manuscripts in such good condition. The book is a stunning work of art, with every page having been given immense care and meticulous attention to detail. The pages are made of vellum (calfskin), and six hundred and eighty of the original pages have survived to this day. Of these, only two lack any decoration, with all the others having several illustrations and designs worked into them. These designs are complex and highly detailed, with many requiring magnification to see clearly. Throughout the book, ten different dyes are used to colour the decoration. Some of these dyes were very expensive and hard to come by at the time. One such example is the blue pigment obtained from Lapis Lazuli, which had to come all the way from Afghanistan

 

The Book Of Kells, Chi Ro Monogram

   The Book of Kells is thought to have been created by the monastic community on the Isle of Iona, off the west coast of Scotland. Some believe it was made to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Saint Columba's death (circa 597). During Viking raids on the island and the surrounding isles which took place at the end of the 8th century, many (if not all) of the monks fled for safety to Ireland, taking the Book with them along with any other treasured items for safekeeping. They settled in Kells, county Meath, Ireland, where an abbey had been founded by Saint Columba (circa 554 A.D.). In the relative safety of their new home, work continued on the Book of Kells. The Book then remained at Kells until the 1650's, thereby cementing its title through association with the area. Upon arrival of Oliver Cromwell's troops to the area at that time it was felt necessary to move the Book to Dublin for safekeeping. In 1661, the Book of Kells ended its journey at Trinity College, Dublin where it has remained ever since.

The Book Of Kells, Illustration

   In conclusion, the Middle Ages was a period rich with distinctive art and artistic styles, spanning hundreds of years. Whilst dubbed by some as the 'Dark Ages', the Medieval era was anything but 'dark', producing many spectacular and extraordinary works of art and architecture during this time. The varied styles coming out of this period, continued to influence later forms which followed, and the many artefacts that have survived since, are seen as being truly significant in both the historical and aesthetical sense.

As usual, here are some useful links: 

 The Book Of Kells Online

 Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic Art

 History of the Byzantine Empire 

 Medieval Art 

 

(All pictures used are the copyright of the relevant owners. No copyright infringement intended.)