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Appreciation Basics - Early Art Period - MEDIEVAL - 500 to 1500
Medieval art can seem even more
primitive than its predecessors; it's as if they were starting over from scratch
(and in a sense they were, what with the Black Plague and all). Most of the
stuff is religious, and that should factor into your (faked)
appreciation. These relics were not just meant to be beautiful -- To the people
of the Middle Ages, they held sacred power. Many of the artistic works of this
period were created purely for religious purposes.
What not to say: On the
little placard next to the painting, look for "egg tempera on panel" in the
media category and "Madonna" in the title. A flat, 2-dimensional perspective
also abounded in this period.
What to say: "Images of
Hell gave the usually reserved monk-like artists an opportunity to explore their
subconscious fears."
