Art of the warrior lords

This study is about the art and culture of various lords in different eras, the symbols of their
architecture, paintings, sculptures, their traditions, their art works, wood works, and metal works.
It tells us about their eras, their rules, and cultures. And the author shows us how their artwork
survived and moved to their predecessors.
The medieval art appeared as a result of blending of three cultures, Rome’s northwestern
provinces, non-Roman people, and Christianity. The non-romans were called Barbarians by
Romans but then later on they gradually struggled to high positions. Over many years Romans
power became weaker and non-romans emerged who replaced the Roman Empire, and they are
now known as European nations. Historians are not well-aware of the art which the non-romans
produced because they are just small symbols and are not completely illustrative. Early
philosophers disregarded these arts due to their minimal scale but the people of early middle ages
considered them as treasures.
Among the early medieval art the most esteemed thing discovered was a Fibula, an embellished
pin used by romans. The artwork on it consist of animal forms like fish and eagle’s head and it is
so beautifully integrated that the animal forms are unidentifiable. Archeologists discovered a
Sutton Hoo Ship burial in 1939 loaded with treasures. The ship represents the medieval tradition
of burying lords with their adornments. Among them the prestigious findings include a purse
cover, belt buckle, silver bowls, silver plates, and gold coins. The artwork on purse cover
represents the period in which heroes defeat dreadful beasts.
The Vikings landed on British Isles in 793, they destructed Christian community, then attacked
Jarrow monastery, Iona Island and many more. They not only followed the hit-and-run strategy
but also the colonization of lands. The most remarkable Viking art consists of embellished wooden
ships like the Oserberg ship burial which consist of animal head which is a strong representation
of two warrior lord’s artwork fusion. Most of the Scandinavian people became Christians in 11th
century but the Vikings culture continued. The wooden decoration of Urnes’s stave church was
the remains of Vikings traditions.
Saint Colombia discovered a monastery on the Iona Island in 563. The Iona monks formed a
monastery and produced remarkable Books of Kells. These books are the exceptional
representation of the style art which was named as Hiberno-Saxon by historians. The unique part
of them are the illuminated Christian books. Among these illuminated books is the Book of
Durrow. This gospel book consist of fully decorated pages, bold initial letters of important
messages, carpet pages, and interlace designs. Lindisfarne Gospels book is another representation
of Hiberno-saxon art. It consist of embellished ornamental pages, carpet pages, rich in design and
colors and the detailing is more complex as compared to book of durrow. In the world of Hiberno-
Saxon high crosses have an exceptional position. The high cross and south cross are the two
massive, unattached and freestanding medieval crosses.
Now comes to Visigothic and Mosarabia art. The churches built by them are still present. Major
example is church of San Juan Bautista. Muslim caliphs although conquer the visigoths but their
mozarabic culture continued to expand. The Colophone in Tabara is a representation of medieval
art in which the painter painted the windows with horseshoe arches, which is a depiction of
visigothic culture.
Another one is Carolingian art which is an exceptional representation of early Christian rome’s
culture. Like Equestrian portrait of Carolingian art consist of emperor wearing crown, holding a
globe representing world dominion. Coronation gospels which got high place in Charlemagne era
is written in gold letters, colors, designs. Then the Ebbo gospels replaced the coronation gospels.
This book is a compilation of face,hands, pen ,book of Saint Matthew. Other exceptional examples
of medieval manuscripts include utrecht psalter, landau gospels. Charlemagne not only focused on
art but also focused on using the roman architecture techniques. Like Aachen chapel is an example
of medieval structure. Charlemagne also encouraged the construction of monasteries. Like Saint
Gall in Switzerland is a depiction of Carolingian designs. The Carolingian architecture designs
also include the towers. Example of it is Abbey church in corvey, which consist of two towers.
The Ottonians ruled in the mid-10th century. They continued their Carolingian predecessors. Their
architecture includes church of Saint Cyriakus, Hildesheim of Saint Michael. They are the
extraordinary examples of ottonian designs. Among their sculpture and paintings wooden carvings
are extraordinary like the Hildesheim doors. Otto I married his son to theophano who was
byzantine princess. This marriage made the art and culture between Germany and byzantine
strongest. The freestanding art got important in Ottonian period like the crucifix sculpture. Henry
II was the last Ottonian ruler. His artworks include lectionary of Henry II and UTA CODEX.
This article gives us huge insights about the warrior lords and their artworks. The author has
beautifully depicted the whole history of various warriors in one frame. The study is rich in
information about the artworks in various centuries. This article would be beneficial for those
searching for history of artworks, students, researchers, scholars and many more.
So it is concluded that art was given a significant importance in every era by every emperors. And
it is due to their efforts to preserve the art to high places that it is still surviving in today’s century.