The art and architecture of the Middle Ages are characterized by diverse and dispersed forms of media to relay cultural and societal ideologies and events. Also termed as the Medieval era, European history in this period after the collapse of the Roman empire in the 11th century resulted in a diversified field of art history and architecture dating back to 1000 years ago. Europe, Middle East, and North Africa art forms interact and overlap over seamless movements and periods to create regional and national art styles and revivals of old genres suppressed during the Roman period (McIntosh, 2018). Medieval regions showcased art styles such as Norse, also known as Anglo-Saxon, Early Christian art, Byzantine art, Carolingian art, Gothic art, Migration Period art, Insular art, and Romanesque art. All of the above art styles were renowned for a centralized aesthetic appeal in theme, character, and media, which is why the Middle Ages' art is so valued and prominent up to modern times with influences to contemporary art forms of current artists and architects.
The religion of Islam, originating from Arabia, has worldwide influence in culture, society, and religion. However, the effect continues into other disciplines of life such as education, art, and architecture, where numerous records and archives of Islam art vividly depict the beauty, intensity, and richness of how the Muslims displayed their culture and religion. Early forms of art and architecture in the Middle ages highlight the conversion of churches in Spain into Mosques (Gulru, 2012). Their characteristic media, which was stucco, became apparent in Alhambra's makeover in Spain using Arabesque design. Islam art was influential to western societies as a direct result of interaction through trade, medicine, science, and technology that spread the religion as well as its art and architecture, resulting in great and renowned designs such as the Mecca, Great Mosque of Damascus, Mosque of Cordoba, Laila and Majnun at school and he Courts of the Lions. Islamic art is unique by using stucco relief incorporated in building on walls, floors, and ceilings. This material is easily manipulated into intricate and detailed patterns and designs that Muslim artists carved into their most prominent architectural heritage: the mosque. Other construction incorporated stucco relief and Arabesque designs which includes but is not limited to arches, columns, and vaults. Islamic art is expressed through architecture in forms like minarets and miniatures and the use of calligraphy carved into stucco (Gulru, 2012). Artists in this movement include the Sasanian and Byzantine artists together with the Caliphs.
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Early medieval art illustrates the passion, interest, and expression of ideas Christian in nature and catholic. This movement's artistic expression is vivid in the architectural manifestation of their homes, churches, and social institutions. The interior design also provided a canvas for artist rendition of faith expressions and deep religious culture existing among the communities in Europe in the Middle Ages (Steves, 2020). Early medieval art provided hope for the large masses with the promise of heaven through religion and its artistic and architectural products that people needed. A non-existent political system meant that people existed to survive, and the art offered a form of escape or peace. Early medieval art was an inclusive style as an art form, and architectural projects were undertaken by the people who felt a sense of pride and accomplishment, having been given purpose in the church's service. Early medieval art was directly responsible for establishing structures for schools, museums, galleries, and libraries (Steves, 2020). The art style has gained recognition, later developed into different movements in different areas across Europe at different times, namely, the Byzantine period, the Early Christian period, the Romanesque and Norman period, and the Gothic period.
Similar to Islamic art and architecture, the Romanesque art movement in the Middle Ages is a realization of visual renditions through architecture. The period between the 10th and 12th century was highlighted by economic, social, and educational growth in Europe that gave Romanesque art and architecture the channel and environment to thrive. Basic characteristics of construction in this art style include massive walls, piers, rounded arches with ribbed and barrel vaults (Saxon, 2014). Rebirth of large and expressive human forms was evident, which was artistic architecture in a sculptural form that gave the majestic building and prominent building a fortress-like appeal. Stonework, metalwork, and illuminated manuscripts were part of Romanesque art and architecture which quickly spread across Europe and was adopted into other styles, cultures, and societies to mitigate existing needs, thereby creating an international style with a Romanesque-style basis. The style is also combined with contemporary artists and historians' classical influences to recreate ruins and illuminated manuscripts, mosaics, and calligraphy from the same era (Saxon, 2014). Romanesque facades are used to date in contemporary architecture due to the style's abstractive nature and aesthetic appeal. Romanesque art and architecture are the foundation of all western Christian art and architecture.
Romanesque art and architecture later evolved into Gothic art, which thrived in western and central Europe in prominence and characteristic due to the painting, sculpture, and architecture. The style's success resulted from continued criticism and improvement of Romanesque art coupled with the fall of the Roman empire, with the style being reborn more prominent, better, and more influential (Rudolph, 2019). The movement's name was from the Gothic tribes that brought down the Roman Empire, converting classical culture into Gothic. However, Gothic art and architecture in its element have little to do with the Goths and their barbaric nature but more to do with a revolutionized, intervened, and advanced Romanesque style that appealed to most of Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Medieval masons expressed Gothic architecture through the improvisation of supporting heavy masonry ceiling vaults that spread over wide spans. The collapse of traditional barrel vaults at the groin due to downward and outward pressure from existing Romanesque designs delved masons to incorporate thicker and heavier vertical supporting walls that absorbed the vault's outward thrust. Hence, high ceiling vaults with wide spans that made them look majestic could characterize a Gothic building. The same principle was applied and adjusted accordingly to the other types of vaults in the era, namely the groin vaults, fan vaults, and ribbed vaults. Gothic architecture's other characteristics include Gothic arches, piers, ribs, and flying buttresses (Rudolph, 2019). These characteristic elements allowed the Gothic building to be larger, taller, and broader, allowing detailed and complicated floor plans to exist, creating interior designs with character and aesthetics.
In conclusion, art is an expression of culture and the way people and how it has evolved. Art is expressed in several ways, from abstract, intangible renditions to physical and structural units. Paintings, sculpture, and architecture is the main form of art that a society or culture can use to highlight its mark on the world. Throughout history, art has been categorized and classified into movements and periods that emphasize the specific nature of art during that period and its location. Therefore, we should appreciate all art styles, movements, periods, and revivals and learn how art has evolved over generations, regions, and cultures, which will purport a sense of prominence, growth, and value.
References
Gulru, N. (2012, Jun 22). The Concept of Islamic Art: Inherited Discourses and New Approaches. Journal of Art Historiography, Glasgow , Issue 6, pp 1-26. Doi: https://search.proquest.com/openview/0c413c3f6f545a21ccac3f47175d3a19/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=646362
McIntosh, M. (2018, April 29). The Art and Architecture of Early Medieval Europe. Retrieved from Brewminate : https://brewminate.com/the-art-and-architecture-of-early-medieval-europe/
Rudolph, C. (2019, Feb 1). A Sense of Loss: AN Overview of the Historiography of Romanesque and Gothic Architecture. A Companion to Medieval Art: Romanesque and Gothic in Northern Europe , 2nd Edition. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119077756.ch1
Saxon, E. (2014, Jun 7). Carolingian, Ottonian and Romanesque Art in the Eucharist. A Companion to the Eucharist in the Middle Ages , pp 251-324. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004221727_008
Steves, R. (2020, Sep 11). Medieval Art and Architecture: Ancient Artforms of the Middle Ages. Retrieved from Owlcation : https://owlcation.com/humanities/medieval-art-history-ancient-art-forms-of-the-middle-ages
