1st part. : “Religious Iconography”,: The Cathedral Tympanum of Atun vs. The Good Shepherd from the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
The decoration of religious structures was a prodigious source of patronage during the medieval period. This assignment asks you to compare a mosaic from the Byzantine Period in Ravenna, Italy, and a sculpture from a Romanesque Cathedral in Autun, France. In this context, the “Romanesque” refers to a medieval work with some basic similarities with Roman style, from 1000-1200 ACE, before the Gothic Period was ascendant in Europe.
Use the comparison images attached
to write a 250+ word essay comparing the “Good Shepherd” mosaic in the chapel of Galla Placidia to the “Last Judgement” sculpture in the tympanum of the cathedral of Autun, France.
Consider these prompts:
- How does the portrayal of the divine differ in each work of art?
- What are some similarities and differences in the compositions of the works?
- What are some of the strengths of the different media that are used in each work?
Do not compare all 4 just the 2 that are uploaded togetherPart 2. “Divine Inspiration”: Saint Matthew in Manuscprits
BACKGROUND:
Manuscript Illumination was one of the most sumptuous and important art forms in the Middle Ages. Before the invention of the printing press in 1453, books largely had to be written, painted, and illuminated by hand. Because the Church controlled much of the economy of Europe, resources were lavished on texts and the books themselves were so important and famous they became relics in their own right. Vellum was an expensive material used for the pages and made of expertly treated animal skins. The painted volumes were often made by monks, who spent years medidating in prayer as they created the ornate details and patterns of books like The Lindisfarne Gospels and The Book of Kells.
DIRECTIONS:
This comparison asks you to consider two manuscript paintings of St. Matthew, and to compare their styles. The Saint Matthew of the Coronation Gospels was commissioned by the royal court of Aachen, descended from Charlemagne, and a St. Matthew page from the Ebbo Gospel. Use the comparison images to write a 150+ word essay considering the following topics:
1. How is line used differently in each manuscript illumination?
2. Which version of St. Matthew do you find more classical, and why?
3. Pick three adjectives to describe each manuscript illumination.