1. Compare the manuscript styles that developed in this period. All of the images of Mathew, for instance, had the same function, to illustrate the opening page of the Gospel of Mathew as both an aid to religious contemplation as well as to provide an aesthetic experience. Do you believe that one of these is more effective than the others? What elements do you feel support your opinion?
2. The Carolingian Renaissance ended with Charlemagne. Why do you think his successors did not pursue the same vision of a “New Rome”? In what ways did medieval European art and architecture depart from classical Roman art and architecture? Did any of the civilizations retain characteristics of Roman art and architecture?
3. The Christian Church was the one unifying authority during this period. To what extent did the church preserve Western Culture and in what ways did they invent something entirely new? Use St. Michael’s Hildesheim as one of your examples
4. Why do you think there was such a strong positive reception of the concept of relics in Romanesque society? Are there modern religious and secular pilgrimage sites? Identify one and explain how its architecture or setting accommodates large numbers of pilgrims.
5. In light of the regional differences found in the art and architecture produced between 1050 and 1200, do you believe that it is accurate to apply a single stylistic label–Romanesque–to all of the objects and monuments? Why or why not?
6. Identify key elements of Romanesque architecture.
Travel back in time to the Romanesque Village of Baraigne in France. Search for info on the Romanesque Village of Baraigne in France
Explore the Romanesque church there and explain what makes it a typical Romanesque church and the similarities it has with at least one of the examples in your text.
7. Contrast the focus of life in the early Early Medieval period with the focus during the Romanesque period. What factors sparked the increase in building of churches in Western Europe? What were the various roles of figurative art, both two-dimensional and sculptural, during the Romanesque period?
8. The Bayeux Tapestry & Propaganda- The telling of events both leading up to and the subsequent invasion and victory of the Normans is clearly from the Norman perspective. Is it too strong to label this as propaganda? What is propaganda and do you think this is an appropriate term to describe the tapestry? How much information can we glean from the tapestry regarding social/political/military customs of the time? Visual representations are documents of a culture but how valid are they in giving us an accurate perspective? Think of some representations of our culture that might go down in history as accurate reflections of how we live and what biases they may present to future people.
HOMEWORK! Islamic Art
1.Search for “islamic art paradise found” in youtube and watch youtube video . Feel free to start after the third minute as the introductory part of the first three minutes is irrelevant to the homework questions.
Paradise is a concept that is closely connected to Islamic architecture. What are the most important similarities and diferences between the concept of heavan on earth within Christian and Islamic conceptions of the role for architecture?
Consider the geometric motif and the use of calligraphy (the word) as art. How does the use of the word as art difer in creating a visual spectacle than the Byzantine use of mosaics?
2. Trace the Birth of Islam http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/isla/hd_isla.htm through the Nature of Islamic Art (http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/orna/hd_orna.htm) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Web site. Summarize how the aspects discussed in the Nature of Islamic Art (http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/orna/hd_orna.htm) section, specifically the calligraphy section helps you to understand why this artform was so significant to Muslims.
3. Describe the cultural contributions made by Islam to Western Europe.
4. How does the Great Mosque of Damascus “owe much to the architecture of the Greco-Roman and Early Christian East”?
5. MOSQUE OF SELIM II- Sinan the Great was responsible for some of the masterworks of Ottoman architecture. His greatest work, the Mosque of Selim II in Edirne, Turkey was constructed to glorify his patron. It was also intended to surpass the Christian Hagia Sophia. What is your opinion of this strategy? Can you think of any other structures that pursued similar ends?
6. RELIGION AND ART- Discuss the effects that the religious beliefs and practices of Islam have on Islamic art. What do you think is the most important religious belief affecting Islamic art? Cite specific examples to support your answer.