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A portable and devotional piece, believed to be used for prayer and personal contemplation. It illustrates the reward of salvation, contrasting with the punishment of damnation.
The left panel shows the coronation of the virgin, while the right one shows Christ seemingly judging the dead. With angels carrying instruments of passion like the cross and devils dragging the sinners to Hell. -
Not much is known about the exact purpose or origin, but the lack of weathering or other sources of damage can suggest that it may have been an altarpiece of some kind or an indoor sculpture, similar to other Gothic angel sculptures. -
A French stained glass window that is only part of a larger ensemble, depicting the martyrdom of St. Vincent of Saragossa by throwing his body into the sea. Reflected by all the different shades of blue that can be seen throughout. -
The Gothic art movement was known for its pointed arches, flying buttresses, stained glass. It moved away from the massive heavy features of the Romanesque movement to taller, almost dainty-looking architecture.
It was deeply tied to the Catholic Church, which meant it had a heavy focus on divinity light, with large stained glass windows, especially in churches, filling buildings with color light, something that was believed to represent God’s presence. -
Depicting a post-resurrection appearance of Jesus and the disciples, where Mary Magdalene mistakes him for a gardener. The phrase in the middle can be translated to “Do not touch me.”
It's believed to have once been part of some bigger devotional piece, like a shrine. -
An illuminated manuscript, which was considered one of the highest forms of art in ancient Greece. Especially by the highly literate and elite of Byzantium. This specific manuscript was made for the church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. -
Depicting the Virgin Mary with the Christ child, surrounded by archangels. Its purpose is to teach Christian obedience. The drapery, bold colors, and symbolic figures all tie back to the main Romanesque characteristics. -
The Romanesque movement can be characterized by large-scale architecture, like its massive churches. Some key characteristics include fortress-like buildings, thick walls, round arches.
As for the paintings, they often featured bright bold primary colors, intricate manuscripts, large murals covering church interiors.
It had a very large religious focus, teaching complex biblical narratives to a largely illiterate population by simplifying symbolic figures narratives. -
A type of elaborate plate or dish used for display at banquets, they conveyed wealth, social status, and learning.
The scene on this particular plate, which is the smallest in the set, shows David's account to King Saul of how he killed a lion to protect his flock. -
This collection of chalices and other treasures belonged to a Christian church in Syria; they were used for Divine Liturgy, or Eucharist.
According to their inscriptions, many of them were offerings from local citizens to the major church of the town, which was dedicated to Saint Stephen, and a smaller church that was dedicated to Saint John. -
Byzantine art includes artwork created from the fourth century to the fifteenth century. It can be divided into three distinct periods: early, middle, and late Byzantine. It can also be considered somewhat of a continuation of ancient Roman art that has been entirely Christianized, with how much of Byzantine art revolves so heavily around religion.