Art of the Middle Ages

a concise, accessible survey of European art from the fall of the Roman Empire (c. 300 CE) to the early Renaissance (c. 1400 CE), spanning over 1,000 years. Benton, an art historian and professor at Pace University, organizes the book chronologically and thematically, covering architecture, sculpture, painting, and decorative arts across various medieval styles—Early Christian, Byzantine, Carolingian, Ottonian, Romanesque, and Gothic.

Highlights the shift from Roman to Christian art, with basilicas like Old St. Peter’s and mosaics in Ravenna (e.g., San Vitale). Byzantine art, centered in Constantinople, is noted for its gold-ground icons and the Hagia Sophia’s domed architecture.

Describes Charlemagne’s cultural revival, with illuminated manuscripts like the Godscalc Evangelistary and palace chapels (e.g., Aachen). Ottonian art under the Holy Roman Emperors features bronze works like the Gero Crucifix.

Focuses on the “pilgrimage churches” like Santiago de Compostela, with rounded arches, barrel vaults, and sculpted portals (e.g., Moissac’s tympanum), emphasizing monastic patronage.

Explores the era’s architectural pinnacle—cathedrals like Chartres and Amiens—with pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and stained glass. Sculpture becomes more naturalistic (e.g., Reims’ smiling angels), and manuscripts like the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry flourish.