Medieval Art, an overview.

When: c.200 A.D. to c.1430 A.D.

Where: Europe, the Middle East, North Africa.

Major Movements:
-Early Christian Art
-Migration Period Art
-Celtic Art
-Byzantine Art
-Islamic Art
-Pre-Romanesque
-Romanesque
-Gothic Art

It is important to note that each national culture, and often-times regional culture had their own unique style of artmaking, the mediums used varied greatly with each culture, as did the genre of the art. All of these factors makes Medieval art an expansive subject, as it not only covers a large period of time, but is also multifaceted in its execution, subject and style. Medieval art often performed a functional role in the culture and spirituality of the time, and was used to convey the stories, beliefs and customs of the society it pertained to.

European Medieval Art is considered the result of the union of the classical culture of the Roman Empire, the emerging influences of the early Christian Church, and the "Barbarian/Pagan" Style. The resulting art culture is one that is blended and has a variety of symbolism "borrowed" from many previous cultures, merging into a new form.