The main form of art during that time was Byzantine art produced by artists from the Eastern Roman Empire, also called Byzantium.īyzantine art was characterized by its lack of realism. This is the period of time from 500 to 1000 AD. The start of the Middle Ages is often called the Dark Ages. The end of the Middle Ages is often signaled by a great change in art with the start of the Renaissance Period. The different types of art included painting, sculpture, metal work, engraving, stained glass windows, and manuscripts. Much of the art in Europe during the Middle Ages was religious art with Catholic subjects and themes. However, in general, Middle Age art can be divided up into three main periods and styles: Byzantine Art, Romanesque Art, and Gothic Art. Acceptance notifications will be delivered shortly afterwards.Art during the Middle Ages was different based on the location in Europe as well as the period of time. Titles and abstracts, of no more than 300 words, should be received by March 15, 2018. We would also be delighted to host any posters during the conference. Sections or summaries of current and recent PhD projects are particularly welcome. Papers should ideally be no more than 20 minutes long. Digitising and curating the medieval manuscript.Early medieval libraries, scriptoria, and manuscript collections.The decoration of Classical works of literature.Illustrated maps and astronomical treatises.The early medieval manuscript and its material components.Manuscript patronage, donation, and authorship.The performative book and ritualistic practices.

Iconographies, cults, and theological debates.Papers, in either English or French, may address any of the following topics: Even though the geographical focus is put on the Latin West, comparative approaches to manuscript visual cultures and knowledge transmission in other cultural areas (roughly in the same chronological period), such as Byzantium or the Islamic world, are naturally welcomed. From a variety of perspectives, this conference intends to shed light on how and why manuscripts were decorated in the early medieval period, from lavishly illuminated religious cycles to illustrations of written works of Classical literature. “Illuminating the Dark Ages” has been conceived as a bilingual (English-French) conference that aims to bring together researchers of all levels, including postgraduate students, working on the wider Early Middle Ages and the decorated manuscript as a cultural medium. Only in recent decades has the study of this era begun to emerge from the lasting shadow of pejorative Gibbonian assumptions. Early medieval illuminated manuscripts were mostly tools of liturgy and prayer, but also patronage statements and transmission agents for science, music, and literature in a historical period. However, unlike the late centuries of the medieval millennium, the study of the Early Middle Ages is not normally backed by abundant documentation, and conjecture and speculation often prevail, particularly in art historical publications. From detailed scenes to sketchy drawings, illuminated manuscripts offer a sometimes overlooked illustration of medieval life. Medieval illuminated scenes and initials today illustrate a myriad of book covers, chosen as the perfect embodiment of a historical episode, idea, or biography.

Early medieval art