Summary:
A comparison of the art of the early Medieval era and early Christian art and an analysis of art's transition into the Middle Ages and its desent into the schematic.
During the Migration Period in Early Medieval times people were doing exactly that- migrating. The art of this period reflects that transition. Art is scaled down once more. Most of the things created are tiny so as to be easily transported. Hiberno-Saxon art featured jewelry but also books and within them, art that reflected the times. St. Matthew features an old man laboring over a book, recording God's words. St. Matthew is depicted schematically. His features are very animated- almost cartoonish. The drapery is no longer understood and there is no shading in the color. The background is plain with text inserted into it. It is very obvious that this is simply meant to convey the story. The concept of spending time to create detail in a piece of artwork (especially through observation) is completely gone.....
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