Showing posts with label Medieval Art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Medieval Art. Show all posts

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Muiredach's High Cross


We just learned about the Aberlemno Sculptured Stones.

Another ancient sculpture is the Muiredach's High Cross in County Louth, Ireland.

This is 19 foot tall sandstone cross, with many carvings on it of biblical scenes like David and Goliath or Moses.

It was made to honor either an old king or monk named Muiredach.


(from: wikipedia - muiredach's high cross)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Black Square - Malevich

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Aberlemno Sculptured Stones


We just learned about the Stenkvista Runestone.

Another ancient sculpture is the group of sculptured stones in Scotland, called the Aberlemno Sculptured Stones.

This is a group of 5 stones, all carved hundreds of years ago and placed as markers in important areas.


(from: wikipedia - aberlemno sculptured stones)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Dynamic Hieroglyph of the Bal Tabarin - Severini

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Stenkvista Runestone


We just learned about the Gero Cross.

Another ancient sculpture from the same time, was the Stenkvista Runestone.

This was made in Sweden, and it was a large stone carved near a grave to honor someone who had passed.
In the northern countries of Europe, they believed in the mythical Norse gods like Thor.

On the rune stone, you can see what looks like an upside down capital letter T.
That is Thor's hammer Mjölnir.

The words carved in the stone are in old letters called runes, and the words mean:
Helgi and Freygeirr and Þorgautr raised the rune-decorated landmark in memory of Þjóðmundr, their father.


(from: wikipedia - stenkvista runestone)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: The City Rises - Boccioni

Saturday, November 5, 2016

Gero Cross


We just learned about the Golden Madonna of Essen.

Another ancient sculpture is the Gero Cross, carved around 965 AD.

This crucifix is over six feet tall, and is made out of oak wood, painted, and gilded with some gems.
The oval and sun rays behind the crucifix were added about 700 years later.

It is different from other sculptures of the time, because other crucifixes showed Christ alive with his eyes open looking out.
This crucifix shows him after he died on the cross, looking sad.
Many other crucifixes made after this one copied the same style.


(from: wikipedia - gero cross)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash - Balla

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Golden Madonna of Essen


We just learned about the Archangel Ivory.

Another ancient statue is the Golden Madonna of Essen.

This is a statue of the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus.
The Virgin Mary is sometimes called the Madonna.

It has a wooden sculpture inside, and is wrapped in gold leaf, which is thin sheets of gold.
The eyes are made from a type of colored glass.

It was made around the year 980, so it is over 2,000 years old.
It is the oldest known sculpture of the the Madonna.


(from: wikipedia - golden madonna of essen)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Le Bal élégant, La Danse à la campagne - Laurencin

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Archangel Ivory


We just learned about the Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus.

Another famous sculpture is the Archangel Ivory.

This is a carving in ivory of a powerful angel called an archangel holding a scepter, which is like a staff that rulers use, and an imperial orb, which is a ball with a cross on top.

This carving is the right half of something called a diptych, which is almost like the front and back covers of a book that opens, and the carving is on the inside.

Some people think the other half of the diptych was a carving of the emperor, and the archangel was giving him those gifts.


(from: wikipedia - archangel ivory)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Personnage Écrivant - Marcoussis