The medieval world

The medieval world
Celtic art

·         Extreme northern parts of Europe
Ireland, Scotland, Iceland and northern Scandinavia
·         Preserve of the indigenous pre historic style
·         Originated in the middle rhine area
·         Brought to british isles by retreating celtic tribes 
-Preserved characteristics -
-then swept across rest of Europe
·         Dark Ages 400-1000 AD
·         Not much celtic art survived from this period
·         Early celtic art of the pre roman period survived as a continuous tradition in Ireland until  the influence of Christianity
·         Took 200 years for Christianity to be introduced to Britain
·         Very little evidence of celtic art during roman occupation
·         Truly arrived with the mission of St Ninian 
- disciple of St Martin of tours
·         Built a church  - whithorn, Wigtownshire  412 ad
·         Not long after Ireland was converted by st Patrick
·         During 6^th cent  process of conversion spread to wales, the picts in north of Scotland and the Saxons in England
·         6^th&7^th cent the northern church became the shelter of Christianity in Europe
·         Direct contact was made by the east and the north
·         The church that became the church of Scotland was also made familiar , from the beginning with the scriptures, eastern forms of prayer and praise as well as eastern missionary methods
·         the whole range of celtic art divides into two periods
- early pre Christian period  - style deriving from Neolithic age 
- late post Christian period – stylistic influence from the east
FIND PICTURES:
·         1 the vernacular style from 7^th cent till 850 ish

·         2 the hiberno- Viking style  from 850- 1000

the  of period Viking domination in Ireland-
·         3 the last animal style, from 1000 to 1125

·         4 the hiberno- Romanesque style 1125- anglo saxon conquest

·         Ornamentation of early celtic period:
linear- geometric- abstract
·         Book of kells 8^th cent manuscript 

·         Non organic yet super organic
·         Life defying qualities
·         Completely abstract characters
·         A reflection of spiritual life of northern people
“the heavily oppressed inner life of northern humanity” worringer