Medieval Art

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The Middle Ages cover about a thousand years, from the break-up of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century to the Renaissance, and their art varies enormously. Byzantium kept Roman craft alive in gold-ground mosaics such as those of San Vitale in Ravenna (540s). In Ireland and Britain monks painted dense interlace into manuscripts such as the Book of Kells (around 800), while Charlemagne's court revived classical forms.

From about 1000 Romanesque churches with thick walls and round arches spread along pilgrimage routes, their portals carved with scenes of the Last Judgement. Gothic followed in the 12th century, with pointed arches, stained glass and more naturalistic sculpture. In Italy painting moved from the Byzantine manner of Coppo di Marcovaldo's panels towards the weight and feeling of Giotto's frescoes in the Arena Chapel, Padua (around 1305). Ivory carvings, enamels, metalwork and embroidered vestments were valued as highly as painting.