Medieval Art and Architecture

Questions

What is art?

What is architecture?

Art

Medieval art reflected many religious themes.

Paintings and sculptures of Christ and Christian saints were used to help people worship.

Madonna and Child, Giotto

Reims Cathedral, Reims, France

Gothic Cathedrals

Designed to look as though “rising to heaven”

They were expressions of Christian devotion

Took between 50 and 200 years to complete

Stained glass was often decorated with images from the Bible

Notre Dame, Paris, France

Notre Dame, Paris, France

Laon Cathedral, Laon, France

Inside a Cathedral

Gargoyles

Waterspouts to keep water away from the walls of buildings

Usually carved as beasts

People believed they were warnings that devils and evil spirits would catch you if you did not attend church

Illuminated Manuscripts

Decorated with ornate details, gold and silver

Manuscripts were often religious documents

Monasteries had large collections of manuscripts and books

REVIEW

1) ________ were built to look as though they were “rising to heaven.”

2) Gargoyles were believed to be _________ and _________ .

3) Medieval paintings often told the story of Christ’s life. This suggests that many people could not _________.

4) ________ is the design and style of a building.

Let’s see how much you remember!

Check Your Answers

1) Cathedrals were built to look as though they were “rising to heaven.”

2) Gargoyles were believed to be devils and evil spirits.

3) Medieval paintings often told the story of Christ’s life. This suggests that many people could not read.

4) Architecture is the design and style of a building.