Duke du Berrys Book of Hours

1
Medieval Odds and Ends Gothic Art
Jesus receives a new job description.
Early Christian Jesus as Good Shepherd
moves to Jesus as King (catacomb painting, 4th
cent.,goats and sheep) (Christ in
mandorla, 1100s)
2
Monasteries act as keepers of books
Book of Kells, Ireland, 700-800s Tempera on
vellum Geometric intricacy and abstraction
Ireland Established early Christian monasteries
independent from the uncertainties of Romanesque
Roman Empire
3
Medieval Conflicts

• Mysticism vs Rationalism
• Contemplative vs Active
• Poverty vs Luxury
• Faith vs Knowledge
• Latin vs Vernacular
• Sacred vs Secular
• Feudal kingdoms vs Emerging Nations

How can these dualities be reconciled? SUMMA a
complex theory of the universe Thomas Aquinas
summa (1273 CE) stated that beauty can only be
seen through order and unity Faith is brought
into a rational system
4
ROMANESQUE Abbey of Cluny, 1000s Largest church
of the time Self contained monastery Benedictine
monks Pilgrimage center Seen as extravagant and
opulent Great monastic empire develops Hugh of
Semur, 1049 CE
GOTHIC Chartres Cathedral, 1200s Bishops church
in an urban environment Shrine to the Virgin
Mary Townspeople heavily taxed Took 65 years to
complete Guilds developed to build church
5

• ROMANESQUE
• ARCHITECTURE
• Rounded arches
• Barrel vaulting
• Thick walls
• Low spires
• Minimal decoration
• Tympanums, capitals
• Inner not outer
• Abbey not urban

• GOTHICARCHITECTURE
• Pointed arches
• Ribbed groin vaulting
• Stained glass
• Gargoyles
• Flying buttresses
• Outer and inner ornamentation
• Urban not abbey

6
GOTHIC
Chartres Cathedral after fire construction
1194-1260 CE
Right spire, 1145 CE Left spire, 1180 CE
Rose window
Exterior Portal sculpture
Pointed arches ribbed groin
vaulting
7
Chartres Cathedral TYMPANUM
JESUS
MARY

• 4 apostles as beasts
• 24 elders of the apocalypse

• Virgin Mary as patron of arts and sciences
• Like Goddess Athena
• 7 liberal arts
• triviumgrammar, speech, logic
• quadriviumarithmatic, geometry,
• astronomy, music

Chartres has over 2,000 sculptures on its
outside walls
8
GOTHIC
Chartres Cathedral
labyrinth
gargoyles
Buttresses
9

• Rose window
• Lancet windows
• Light expresses ecstasy
• Inner blends with outer
• The world dematerializes

Chartres Stained Glass
Bakers signature
Patrons are families, royalty, guilds
Minerals are blended into molten glass Details
are added with metal oxides Lead strips join
pieces
10
NOTRE DAME de PARIS Our Lady 1163-1250 CE
Paris becomes center of education and
culture Statues and stained glass tell holy
stories to the illiterate
UPWARD.VERTICAL Ribbed arches Flying
buttresses Lancet windows Pointed spires Layered
design Rooftop gargoyles
11
England Hefty, ornate masses Main English style
for 500 years
GOTHIC INTERNATIONAL STYLE
Ekkehard and Uta, 1249-55 CE
Germany Gothic becomes art of the
leaders Portraits in stone Single spire replaces
double
Salisbury Cathedral, 1220-58
12
Christine to Her Son I have no great fortune, my
son,To make you rich. In place of one Here are
some lessons I have learned--the finest things
I've ever earned. Before the world has borne you
far, Try to know people as they are. Knowing
that will help you take The path that keeps you
from mistake. Pity anyone who is poor And
stands in rags outside your door Help them when
you hear them cry! Remember that you, too will
die. Love those who have love for you And keep
your enemy in view Of allies none can have too
many, Small enemies there are not any. Never
lose what the good Lord gave To this, our world
too much enslaved The foolish rush to end their
lives. Only the steadfast soul survives.
Christine de Pisan 1364-1430 CE French First
feminist writer Married at 15 widowed at 25 When
her husband died, Christine supported her
children with her writings and poetry
13
Duke du BerrysBook of Hours

• October, 1416
• The Limbourg Brothers
• For the duke, brother of king of France
• Book of prayers, verses and illuminations
• Zodiac appears like a halo
• Rich coloring

January, feast month