Medieval Art

What are the characteristics of Medieval Art?

• Disproportionate (body parts wrong) • Perspective absent or wrong• All faces the same, unrealistic• 2 dimensional, flat, and dull• Religious themes• Hieratic Scale• 180 degree relief statues• Storytelling, either about religion or

warfare• Tempera Paint

Madonna EnthronedBy Giovanni Cimabue 1280-90

Madonna Enthroned, Duccio 1308-1311

AnnunciationAnnunciationSimon Martini, 1333Simon Martini, 1333

How did artists show importance?

• Medieval – Hieratic scale

• Hieratic Scale – most important is BIG

• Renaissance – placement of figure

• Placing figure in center makes viewer eye move there

• Medieval• Hieratic Scale• Gold Background

Represents heaven

• Halos represent holinessJacopa di CioneMadonna and Child in Glory1360/65Tempera and gold on panel

• Use of perspective

• Gold still in background

• Halo there but less prominent

• Hieratic Scale?

Franconian SchoolMiraculous Mass of St. Martin of Toursabout 1440Tempera

• Hieratic Scale?

• Background?• People

surrounding Jesus & Mary

• Realistic

Giovanni Agostino da LodiAdoration of the ShepherdsAbout 1505Italian, active about 1467 - about 1524Oil on wood panel

St. Francis in the Desertc. 1480Tempera and oil on panel