CHAPTER 9 - Medieval Art

Abstract

During the centuries of the early Christian and early medieval times that followed—the Dark Ages—Europe and the Mediterranean were in a turmoil as the barbarian races fought each other in the bid for security and power. With the disappearance of law, order, and practical facilities, which had been maintained under the Romans, trade dropped considerably and with it, prosperity. Until much later, in the 11th century, when the races had settled to form the basis of modern nations, life was harsh and uncertain. Feudalism, derived from a combination of Roman and barbarian customs, arose out of the need of ordinary men for protection against the rigors of the times. Because one of the main functions of this form of society was to provide fighting men to protect the land, it enabled people to live in comparative security, though only by giving up their liberty in return. The Dark Ages and the medieval periods that followed were marked by a series of minor renaissances. At intervals, manuscripts or works of art from the classical eras would be discovered and inspire a new enthusiasm for Greek and Roman culture, and resulted in a short phase of more naturalistic art. When this occurred, figure proportions became related to those of nature.