Medieval art, like every single aspect of life, changed and evolved during the very long medieval period. In a sense there is no such thing as "medieval art", since the art produced in the 11th century is totally unlike that of the 13th or the 15th centuries, any more than the art of the Old Masters resembles the art of today (although both are historically classed as "modern").
Taking just one particular period: in the 12th century in Anglo-Norman England, manuscript art was at first characterized by plain blocks of color for backgrounds, often with elaborate patterned borders; by distinctive black outlines of all elements, simple but effective drapery of clothing, very naive facial features, "posed" postures, symbolic hand gestures, the omission of unnecessary detail, flat coloring and stylized plants, trees and buildings. The range of colors used was limited to muted reds, yellows, blues and greens.
In the most precious manuscripts backgrounds were entirely of gold leaf.
Towards the end of the 12th century things had evolved: coloring began to show definite of hands, faces and other elements; drapery became much more elaborate; more detail was included and the range of colors increased. Gold was still used for backgrounds, particularly in religious scenes.
Wall painting in the 12th century is an entirely different matter, with different techniques and method of application.
To emphasize the developments that took place in art in the Middle Ages, the links below take you to English manuscript pictures from the 12th and 14th centuries:
signs and symbols describing places in midevil times
its art... nuf said
faith and religion
His paintings showed emotional intensity and his figures seemed to have volume.
Church wall paintings covered a wide range of religious subjects: Heaven and hell, the lives of the Saints, Bible stories, the life and crucifixion of Christ, the Virtues overcoming the Vices and so on. The point of all of these was to illustrate these subjects for people who could not read; paintings of the Last Judgement helped the priest to communicate the Bible message to an audience who could not read about it for themselves. Very few original medieval wall paintings survive today, but thanks to the work of E W Tristram a large number have been recorded and published in his three books on the subject.
Well, Catalhoyuk has art or wall paintings, religion, a certain lifestyle, and farming.
The terms medieval and Middle Ages refer to the same time and place, which was Europe of the time between when the West Roman Empire was active and the Renaissance. The terms are used for other times in other places by analogy when they had similar characteristics, such as a feudal pyramid and decentralized authority.
Antoine Watteau demonstrated characteristics of rococo art in his paintings by incorporating curving lines and decorative nature. He painted with the ornate elegance attributed to the rococo art seen in architecture, furniture, and sculpture.
Renaissance paintings show figures in earthly settings; figures in medieval paintings have heavenly gold backgrounds.
religious themes
religious themes
Symbolic meaning
No. The earliest paintings of Jews are from Medieval times.
Mostly, they are very old.
His paintings showed emotional intensity and his figures seemed to have volume.
You would find a Doom painting in a Medieval church
because of the serfs
As clothing fabrics
Yes.
it's a true story