Arts High_Middle_Ages

1 arts

1.1 visual arts
1.2 architecture
1.3 literature
1.4 music
1.5 theatre

arts
visual arts

a fresco boyana church depicting emperor constantine tikh asen. murals among finest achievements of bulgarian culture in 13th century.

art in high middle ages includes these important movements:

anglo-saxon art influential on british isles until norman invasion of 1066
romanesque art continued traditions classical world (not confused romanesque architecture)
gothic art developed distinct germanic flavor (not confused gothic architecture).
byzantine art continued earlier byzantine traditions, influencing of eastern europe.
illuminated manuscripts gained prominence both in catholic , orthodox churches

architecture

fan vaulting , glass windows @ bath abbey

gothic architecture superseded romanesque style combining flying buttresses, gothic (or pointed) arches , ribbed vaults. influenced spiritual background of time, being religious in essence: thin horizontal lines , grates made building strive towards sky. architecture made appear light , weightless, opposed dark , bulky forms of previous romanesque style. saint augustine of hippo taught light expression of god. architectural techniques adapted , developed build churches reflected teaching. colorful glass windows enhanced spirit of lightness. color rarer @ medieval times today, can assumed these virtuoso works of art had awe-inspiring impact on common man street. high-rising intricate ribbed, , later fan vaultings demonstrated movement toward heaven. veneration of god expressed relatively large size of these buildings. gothic cathedral therefore not invited visitors elevate spiritually, meant demonstrate greatness of god. floor plan of gothic cathedral corresponded rules of scholasticism: according erwin panofsky s gothic architecture , scholasticism, plan divided sections , uniform subsections. these characteristics exhibited famous sacral building of time: notre dame de paris.

literature


john apostle , marcion of sinope in italian illuminated manuscript, painting on vellum, 11th century

a variety of cultures influenced literature of high middle ages, 1 of strongest among them being christianity. connection christianity greatest in latin literature, influenced vernacular languages in literary cycle of matter of rome. other literary cycles, or interrelated groups of stories, included matter of france (stories charlemagne , court), acritic songs dealing chivalry of byzantium s frontiersmen, , perhaps best known cycle, matter of britain, featured tales king arthur, court, , related stories brittany, cornwall, wales , ireland. anonymous german poet tried bring germanic myths migration period level of french , british epics, producing nibelungenlied. there quantity of poetry , historical writings written during period, such historia regum britanniae geoffrey of monmouth.

despite political decline during late 12th , of 13th centuries, byzantine scholarly tradition remained particularly fruitful on time period. 1 of prominent philosophers of 11th century, michael psellos, reinvigorated neoplatonism on christian foundations , bolstered study of ancient philosophical texts, along contributing history, grammar, , rhetorics. pupil , successor @ head of philosophy @ university of constantinople ioannes italos continued platonic line in byzantine thought , criticized church holding opinions considered heretical, such doctrine of transmigration. 2 orthodox theologians important in dialogue between eastern , western churches nikephoros blemmydes , maximus planudes. byzantine historical tradition flourished works of brothers niketas , michael choniates in beginning of 13th century , george akropolites generation later. dating 12th century byzantine empire timarion, orthodox christian anticipation of divine comedy. around same time so-called byzantine novel rose in popularity synthesis of ancient pagan , contemporaneous christian themes.

at same time southern france gave birth occitan literature, best known troubadours sang of courtly love. included elements latin literature , arab-influenced spain , north africa. later influence spread several cultures in western europe, notably in portugal , minnesänger in germany. provençal literature reached sicily , northern italy laying foundation of sweet new style of dante , later petrarca. indeed, important poem of late middle ages, allegorical divine comedy, large degree product of both theology of thomas aquinas , largely secular occitan literature.

music


musicians playing spanish vihuela, 1 bow, other plucked hand, in cantigas de santa maria of alfonso x of castile, 13th century



men playing organistrum, ourense cathedral, spain, 12th century

the surviving music of high middle ages religious in nature, since music notation developed in religious institutions, , application of notation secular music later development. in period, gregorian chant dominant form of church music; other forms, beginning organum, , later including clausulae, conductus, , motet, developed using chant source material.

during 11th century, guido of arezzo 1 of first develop musical notation, made easier singers remember gregorian chants.

it during 12th , 13th centuries gregorian plainchant gave birth polyphony, appeared in works of french notre dame school (léonin , pérotin). later evolved ars nova (philippe de vitry, guillaume de machaut) , musical genres of late middle ages. important composer during 12th century nun hildegard of bingen.

the significant secular movement of troubadours, arose in occitania (southern france) in late 11th century. troubadours itinerant, came classes of society, , wrote songs on variety of topics, though particular focus on courtly love. style went on influence trouvères of northern france, minnesingers of germany, , composers of secular music of trecento in northern italy.

theatre

economic , political changes in high middle ages led formation of guilds , growth of towns, , lead significant changes theatre starting in time , continuing in late middle ages. trade guilds began perform plays, religiously based, , dealing biblical story referenced profession. instance, baker s guild perform reenactment of last supper. in british isles, plays produced in 127 different towns during middle ages. these vernacular mystery plays written in cycles of large number of plays: york (48 plays), chester (24), wakefield (32) , unknown (42). larger number of plays survive france , germany in period , type of religious dramas performed in every european country in late middle ages. many of these plays contained comedy, devils, villains , clowns.

there number of secular performances staged in middle ages, earliest of play of greenwood adam de la halle in 1276. contains satirical scenes , folk material such faeries , other supernatural occurrences. farces rose dramatically in popularity after 13th century. majority of these plays come france , germany , similar in tone , form, emphasizing sex , bodily excretions.