Thanks to Charlemagne, religious reform and cultural revival swept 9th-century Europe. We call this period “Carolingian.”
Dr. Nancy Ross
From the Annunciation to the Last Judgment, this handy guide explains key moments in Christian art.
The life of Christ in medieval and ...
Can artists be Christians? Are images lies? The use of art has been debated throughout the history of Christianity.
A new pictorial language: the image in ...
A luxury reserved for royals, moralized bibles paired image and text. Their commentary compared 13th-century bad guys to biblical villains.
Bible moralisée (moralized bibles)
A family outing begins with a river crossing and ends with Jacob wrestling an angel. This story twists and turns.
The Story of Jacob from the Vienna ...
These monumental medieval doors look back to ancient models. Read the biblical narrative down and up, or left to right.
Bronze doors, Saint Michael’s, Hildesheim (Germany)
This expressive illumination depicts St. Matthew at work. He juggles a stylus in one hand and an ink horn in the other.
Saint Matthew from the Ebbo Gospels
Straight from the monster’s mouth! Christ leads the way as Adam and Eve escape the jaws of Hell.
The Harrowing of Hell
Few medieval book covers survive. This bejeweled example depicts the crucified Christ and comes from Charlemagne’s workshop.
Lindau Gospels cover
Taut skin, exposed ribs, a bleeding wound—this Christ suffered in both life and death. Medieval viewers took solace in his pain.
Röttgen Pietà
One image, two episodes—and three cultures. This narrative of Rebecca contains multitudes.
Rebecca and Eliezer at the Well, Vienna ...
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The Bestiary
From the Annunciation to the Last Judgment, this handy guide explains key moments in Christian art.
The life of Christ in medieval and ...
Jesus is the central figure of this religion, but there are many sects—and great diversity of belief and practice.
Browse Smarthistory images for teaching & learning!