The+Middle+Ages

The Middle Ages was a fearful time of illiteracy, plague, famine, and violence. Becasue very few people could read, and access to information was very limited, people knew what was taught to them by the church. The art is full of **//symbolism//** and we see it in paintings, sculpture, stained glass, and **//illuminated manuscripts//**.

Artists didn't use real life models for their work, and had no knowledge of perspective...This is because art was dictated by the church and the point was to tell a story, not to simply decorate. However, the Middle Ages spans a long period of time, and by the end of the era, artists were beginning to lok to nature and reality

so we see that the paintings have a similar has many amazing works of art in addition to paintings, Maesta, 1280-1285 Cimabue || || Stained Glass in Chartres Cathedral, France || Rose Window, Notre Dame || Illuminated Manuscript from The Belles Heures of Jean de France, Duc de Berry 1405, French || Reliquary Casket, France || Gargoyle atop Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris || The Unicorn in CaptivityFrom the Unicorn Tapestries ||
 * Early Christian Paintings: as you can see, artists did not have knowledge of perspective or a strong understanding of the human figure. This is because art was dictated by the church, and the goal was to tell a story, not to represent a scene in a realistic way. Notice the use of symbols and gold leaf, common characteristics of Medieval artwork. ||
 * [[image:midsanta.jpg]]
 * Stained Glass: this form of art was truly mastered and perfected by Medieval artists. ||
 * [[image:midchartres.jpg width="360" height="360"]]
 * Illuminated Manuscripts: in a time when few people were literate, illuminated manuscripts were made by highly skilled artists, usually monks. ||
 * [[image:midBernhard_von_Clairvaux_%28Initiale-B%29.jpg]] || [[image:midhuerres.jpg width="300" height="398" link="@http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/collection_database/the_cloisters/the_belles_heures_of_jean_de_france_duc_de_berry_herman_paul_and_jean_de_limbourg/objectview_enlarge.aspx?page=1&sort=5&sortdir=asc&keyword=&fp=1&dd1=7&dd2=28&vw=1&collID=28&OID=70010729&vT=1"]]
 * Medieval Sculpture, including gargoyles and reliquaries were created by highly skilled craftsmen and illustrate the importance of religion in the Middle Ages. ||
 * [[image:midreliquary.jpg width="354" height="460"]]
 * Tapestries: a truly amazing art form, tapestries were created one tiny stitch at a time. The size of an entire wall, tapestries were hung in castles to help keep them warm. Most are faded now, but at one time were as brilliantly colored as paintings. Among the most well known tapestries are the famous Unicorn Tapestries. ||
 * || [[image:midunicorn.jpg width="400" height="566" link="@http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/collection_database/the_cloisters/the_unicorn_in_captivity/objectview.aspx?page=2&sort=5&sortdir=asc&keyword=&fp=1&dd1=7&dd2=28&vw=1&collID=28&OID=70007568&vT=1"]]
 * Objects, such as weapons, armor, clothing, etc. provide other unique examples of the craftsmanship of the Middle Ages ||

Middle Ages [|Overview and symbolism], a ton of info at The Met , Stained Glass in the Middle Ages Stained Glass PBS

Stained Glass in Medieval EuropeHow Medieval Tapestried were Made,

Arms and Armour in Medieval Europe

Gargoyle, Medieval Life and Times, images of Gargoyles, Notre Dame, Gargoyle's and Grotesques,