Insular Art

Examples of Insular Art in the following topics:

• Illustrated Books in the Early Middle Ages

  • Insular art is often characterized by detailed geometric designs, interlace, and stylized animal decorations in illuminated manuscripts.
  • One illuminated manuscript that represents the pinnacle of Insular Art is the Book of Kells (Irish: Leabhar Cheanannais), created by Celtic monks in 800, or slightly earlier.
  • The Book of Kells's decoration combines traditional Christian iconography with the ornate swirling motifs typical of Insular art.
  • Mozarabic art features a combination of (Hispano) Visigothic and Islamic art styles, as in the Beatus manuscripts, which combine Insular art illumination forms with Arabic-influenced geometric designs.
  • Describe the history and characteristics of illuminated manuscripts in Insular art.

• Anglo-Saxon and Irish Art

  • Insular art is characterized by detailed geometric designs, interlace, and stylized animal decoration.
  • With the arrival of Christianity, Celtic art was influenced by both Mediterranean and Germanic traditions, primarily through Irish contact with Anglo-Saxons, which resulted in the Insular style.
  • Specific examples of Celtic Insular art include the Tara Brooch and the Ardagh Chalice.
  • The forms on the top row feature interlace typical of Insular art, while the bottom row features stylized humans and mythical animals either devouring or being devoured.
  • The Ardagh Chalice reflects the interlace styles introduced into the Celtic Insular Art form from the Mediterranean.

• Carolingian Illustrated Books in the Early European Middle Ages

  • The most numerous surviving works of the Carolingian era are illuminated manuscripts, which further developed the Insular book style.
  • They are decorated with a relatively small number of full-page miniatures, often including evangelist portraits and lavish canon tables, following the precedent of Insular art in Britain and Ireland.
  • Carolingian illustrators adopted the over-sized and heavily decorated initials of Insular art and further developed the historiated decorated initial to produce small narrative scenes seen for the first time towards the end of the period, most notably in the Drogo Sacramentary (850-855).
  • Carolingian luxury manuscripts were given treasure bindings or rich covers with jewels set in gold and carved ivory panels, and, as in Insular art, were prestige objects kept in the church or treasury.
  • This vibrant emotionalism was new to Caroligian art, as well.

• Beatus Manuscripts

  • Mozarabic art refers to art of Mozarabs, Iberian Christians living in Al-Andalus who adopted Arab customs without converting to Islam during the Islamic invasion of the Iberian peninsula (from the eighth through the eleventh century).
  • Mozarabic art features a combination of (Hispano) Visigothic and Islamic art styles, as in the Beatus manuscripts, which combine Insular art illumination forms with Arabic-influenced geometric designs .

• The Early Middle Ages

  • It includes major art movements and periods, national and regional art, genres, and revivals.
  • Art historians attempt to classify medieval art into major periods and styles, often with some difficulty, as medieval regions frequently featured distinct artistic styles, such as Anglo-Saxon art or Norse art.
  • However, a generally accepted scheme includes Early Christian art, Migration Period art, Byzantine art, Insular art, Carolingian art, Ottonian art, Romanesque art, and Gothic art, as well as many other periods within these central aesthetic styles.
  • Early medieval art exists in many media.
  • The history of medieval art can be seen as an ongoing interplay between the elements of classical, early Christian, and "barbarian" art.

• Romanesque Art

  • Romanesque art refers to the art of Europe from the late 10th century to the rise of the Gothic style in the 13th century.
  • Romanesque art refers to the art of Europe from the late 10th century to the rise of the Gothic style in the 13th century or later, depending on region.
  • Romanesque art was also greatly influenced by Byzantine art, especially in painting, and by the anti-classical energy of the decoration of the Insular art of the British Isles.
  • Aside from Romanesque architecture, the art of the period was characterized by a vigorous style in both painting and sculpture.
  • The tension between a tightly enclosing frame and the composition which sometimes escapes its designated space is a recurrent theme in Romanesque art.

• Romanesque Sculpture

  • Romanesque art is the art of Europe from approximately 1000 CE to the rise of the Gothic style in the 13th century or later, depending on region.
  • The term was invented by 19th-century art historians specifically to refer to Romanesque architecture, which retained many basic features of Roman architectural style (most notably round-headed arches, barrel vaults, apses, and acanthus-leaf decoration) while also developing many very different characteristics.
  • Romanesque art was also greatly influenced by Byzantine art, especially in painting, and by the anti-classical energy of the decoration of the Insular art of the British Isles.

• Romanesque Painting and Stained Glass

  • Romanesque painting and other forms of art were greatly influenced by Byzantine art, as well as by the anti-classical energy of the decoration of the Insular art of the British Isles.
  • In Catalonia (Spain), there was a national campaign to save such murals in the early 20th century by removing them and transferring them to safekeeping in Barcelona, resulting in the spectacular collection at the National Art Museum of Catalonia.
  • Give examples of Romanesque painting and art in France and Spain.

• Illuminated Manuscripts

  • Art historians classify illuminated manuscripts into their historic periods and types, including, but not limited to, Late Antique, Insular, Carolingian manuscripts, Ottonian manuscripts, Romanesque manuscripts, Gothic manuscripts, and Renaissance manuscripts.

• Introduction to Ancient Greece

  • Greek society was insular, and loyalties were focused around one's polis (city-state).
  • Greek culture is focused on their government, art, architecture, philosophy, and sport.
  • The Geometric period (c. 900-700 BCE), which derives its name from the proliferation of geometric designs and rendering of figures in art, witnessed the emergence of a new culture on the Greek mainland.
  • Art from this period reflects contact with locations such as Egypt, Syria, Assyria, Phoenicia, and Israel.
  • While marred by war, the Classical period saw the height of Greek culture and the creation of some of Greece's most famous art and architecture.