In the art world, the medieval periods were traditionally though to be the unproductive phase of Europe between the decline of Rome and the Renaissance. Our modern feelings toward medieval art are far more appreciative. The main intent of Medieval art was to express Christianity which was also a common bond between a wide spread and diverse Europe. For this reason most of the art found from medieval times originated in monasteries and churches. European art during the Middle Ages can be divided into four periods. These four periods include Celto-Germanic art which ranged from 400 to 800 A.D. and was important in metal work. Carolingian art ranged from 750 to 987 A.D. overlapping 50 years of the Celto-Germanic period. The period of …show more content…

It was during this same period that central France became an extremely active center of metalwork production, specializing in enamelwork. Fresco painting, a technique where murals are painted onto wet plaster on the ceilings of buildings was popularized during the Romanesque period. Manuscript illumination during this period seemed to become more relaxed. Although the works of art still proved to be amazing, detail became less intricate. The Romanesque period also produced many versions of the Bible, characterized by elaborate and highly inventive initial letters, on which the artists of this period lavished for rich ornamental display.
Gothic
The fundamental character of the Gothic period was the predominance of architecture; all the other arts were determined by it. The character of the Gothic visual was one of immense liveliness. Gothic style was the dominant structural and aesthetic mode in Europe for a period of up to 400 years. It is generally agreed that Gothic architecture made its initial appearance in the Île-de-France, the royal domain of the Capetian kings. However, "the start of the style seems to build off of several generations of prior experimentation, mostly in Normandy"