Mikele Ray

Research guide Medieval Europe

a. What is an Illuminated Manuscript ?
It is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of
decoration, such as decorated initials, borders and illustration.
b. Describe the main differences between Romanesque and Gothic manuscripts.
(List in point form).
their style, content, and date Late Medieval, or
Gothic art, has a real background, not a flat surface, more depth
Romanesque figures are very similar to Byzantine art being produced in the Eastern
Empire. It is flat, with extremely distorted, flat perspective
b. What writing instruments were used?
Illuminated Manuscripts were generally written in ink on parchment or vellum.
d. What writing surfaces were used? Parchment was made by brushing,
stretching and drying calf, sheep, or goat skin. The best quality of parchment
was called vellum and traditionally made of unsplit calf skin.
e. Who produced the illuminated manuscripts?
the earliest surviving substantive illuminated manuscripts are from the period AD
400 to 600, initially produced in Italy and the Eastern Roman Empire
f. Who were their clients and what purpose did these manuscripts serve?
Manuscripts were for the high-class people or to those who could afford it.
g. What was the connection between the manuscripts of Timbuktu and
the
manuscripts of Medieval Europe?
They used the same language. Latin was used for European medieval manuscripts \.
Arabic was the 'African Latin' and was used in Timbuktu manuscripts
2. Research the following Medieval Graphic Arts landmarks:
a. The Lindisfarne Gospel
The legacy of of an artist monk living in Northumbria in the early eight century is a
precious testament to the tenacity of Christian belief during one of the most
turbulent periods in Brtish history.
b. The Book of Kells.
The book of Kells, of which out copy is a replica, was written more than 1200 years
ago by monks in medieval Ireland. It is one of the most famous and valuable
illuminated manuscript to have survived to modern times.

c.The Toledo Bible

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The Bible of St. Louis, also called the Rich Bible of Toledo. It is generally believed
that the first reference to the bible of St. Louis can be found in the second will and
testament of Alfonso the Wise, of January 10, 1282.

d. Book of Hours. (a type of book)

The book of hours is a Christian devotional book popular in the Middle Ages it is the
most common type of surving medieval illuminated manuscript.

e. The Klosterneuburg Altar

Verdun Altar, an important work of romanesque enamel art on gilded copplates,
made in 1181 by order of provost Wernher of Klosterneuburg.
f. The Unicorn in Captivity (Tapestry) The seven individual hangings collectively
known as The Unicorn Tapestries, are among the most beautiful and complex works
of art from the late Middle Ages the surrvive.

g. The book of Durrow

According to Bernard Meehan the Book of Durrow is the earliest surviving fully
decorated insular Gosple manuscript. It is considered to represent a new
essentially medieval concept of embellishing the sacred text as though with
precious jewels and textiles.
Investigate the building methods, design and decoration of the Medieval Cathedrals.
a. Describe the main features of the following styles. Name one example of each.
a. Romanesque.
Stone was cut accurately, he stone used was extremely heavy. The weight of the
ceilings would tend to buckle the walls outward and large piles of stone would be
stacked along the wall in intervals to buttress, The window openings of Romanesque
Architecture castles had to be small to keep the strength of the walls strong

b. Early Gothic.
This style of Gothic is a transition from Romanesque to High Gothic and hence had
some of the same appearances as Romanesque. A series of four discrete horizontal
levels or stories in the cathedral's interior were evolved, beginning with a ground-

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level arcade, over which ran one or two galleries to support outward thrust from
arches, over which in turn ran an upper, windowed story called a clerestory.

c. High Gothic
The High Gothic style is similar to the earlier Gothic style, but is a more heavier,
more substantial version of the style. High Gothic buildings are distinguished by the
use of polychrome bands of decorative masonry. Stone quoins, pressed brick, and
terra cotta panels were commonly used. Windows and doors were accented with
brick or stone trim, often in contrasting colors. The Gothic pointed arch may be
present at windows, entrances, and decorative dormers and cross gables. Round
turrets with corbelled brickwork and conical roofs are common to this style as well.

d. Late Gothic.
By the late Gothic period, the buildings' flying buttresses enabled the cathedral
walls to contain more and more stained glass windows, which became exquisitely
detailed images of the life of Christ and other Biblical themes.

Discuss the relevance of the Medieval Cathedral and illumination to modern

graphic design.
http://zofiamorris.weebly.com/medieval-europe.html
The Medieval Cathedrals date from between 1040 and 1540 which are a group of
twenty six buildings that constitute a major aspect of the countrys artistic heritage.
There are also among the most significant material symbols of Christianity. These
cathedrals were far larger than castles which were symbolic of their huge
importance to medieval society where religion dominated the lives of all - rich or
peasants.
The use of graphics for creating a visual representation of a certain idea or message
is what is considered to be graphic design. This type of design had a recent history
as discipline where the graphics have been used to communicate desires,
information or events for thousands of years for example: the illuminated
manuscripts in the medieval times. Another example is the Chauvet Cave located in
the south of France shelters where hundreds of graphics of at least 13 species of
different animals, dating from 30.000B.C.

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The religious books from the Middle Age are also rich in various graphic designs with
decorative geometric elements which are also illustrated in religious books today.

http://www.pixel77.com/the-influence-of-art-history-on-modern-design-gothic-style/
When and where appeared the Gothic Style?
The Gothic Style is a Medieval Art movement that was outspreaded in medieval
Europe beginning with 1140 until the 1500s. The actual term of Gothic was
introduced in 1500 by Georgio Vasari, who referred to it in comparison to the
German tribe of the Goths, as a prototype of an inferior, barbarian culture. He called
Gothic art a monstrous and barbarous disorder. Nevertheless, late Gothic art
continued well into the 16th century, after that being subsumed into Renaissance
art.
Which are the most important characteristics of the Gothic style?
The Gothic Art is characterized by weight of forms, ascending lines tendency,
balance in stability of the weight, narrow, pointed arches, the buttress, the flying
buttress, the pilgrims, ribbed vaulting, towers (usually on the West end) and stained
glass windows.
Flying buttresses from the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France.

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Elements of the Gothic Style still used by artists today

As elements of the Gothic Style, artists still use as inspiration in their present design
work the gargoyles, the architectural and religious features that were found in
churches beginning with the 1200s (the rose, the stained glass, the ribbed
vaulting), Gothic text (typography), Gothic floral elements (like the Fleur de lys
Gothic symbol), the pilgrims, the Gothic cathedrals with pointed arches and high
towers, the Gothic religious paintings and much more.
In some design works, the Gothic style is mainly used as inspiration to create
masculine, forceful, tough, gloomy, sinister, mysterious, unnatural creatures.
Gothic typography.

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. Compare design, message and method. ( How were the designs and
building methods used to illustrate and reinforce the political and religious
narratives of their time) (2)
Arts and culture strategies help to reveal and enhance the underlying identity the
unique meaning, value, and character of the physical and social form of a
community. This identity is reflected through the community's character or sense of
place. A community's sense of place is not a static concept; rather, it evolves and

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develops over time, reflecting the spectrum of social values within and around the
community.
https://www.planning.org/research/arts/briefingpapers/character.htm
In this way, the community character of a city, county, town, or neighborhood can
be seen as a story or narrative of a place. Planners and community members can
come together to reveal and burnish this narrative through:

an articulation of the historic, cultural, economic, and cultural context of the

community;
a commitment to the reinforcement and enhancement of the community's identity;
and
the implementation of policies, regulations, and incentives that support and
enhance this evolving identity.

Explore continuity. ( Which elements of medieval design are still in use? Why
do you think they are still relevant?) (2)
Characteristics
Arches
The pointed arch, taken from Gothic architectural examples, is the most
recognisable characteristic of the Medieval Revivals style. Rounded arches of 11thcentury Norman architecture are also used occasionally.
Tracery
The tracery, or ornamental openwork patterns, found on the windows of Medieval
buildings provided an important stylistic element of Medieval Revivals.
Columns
Many architectural features of Medieval buildings were used in decorative objects of
the Regency period. The clustered columns of Gothic cathedrals, for example, were
transformed into candle stands.

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Quatrefoils
Quatrefoils, flower-like ornamentations with four lobes, are a popular decorative
feature of the style.
Twisted and turned forms
In the late 18th century Medieval Revivals encompassed Jacobean and Baroque
styles as well as those of the Middle Ages. This influence can be seen in furniture,
where the wood is elaborately turned or carved into spiral-twist forms.

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DESCRIPTION FOR INTERIOR DESIGN IMAGE BEAUTIFUL BAROQUE & MEDIEVAL

STYLE BEDROOMS WITH MODERN FLAIR INTERIOR DESIGN