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7 Famous Medieval Paintings

Dive into the intriguing world of medieval art and seven of its most renowned paintings. Famed for their complexity, symbolism, and religious themes, these 7 famous medieval paintings exemplify the painters’ remarkable ability and vision. 
These works of art, from illuminated manuscripts to enormous altarpieces, offer a peek into an ancient and eternal world.

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History of Famous Medieval Paintings

Western Europe witnessed the rise of medieval painting throughout the Middle Ages (5th to 15th centuries). The fall of the Roman Empire, followed by invasions by Germanic tribes, resulted in a period of instability and anarchy. During this period, Christianity emerged as Europe’s dominant religion, and the Church had an important role in defining cultural and creative expression.
Byzantine art impacted medieval painting, which was distinguished by its use of rich colours, flat, two-dimensional figures, and concentration on religious symbolism. When Christianity expanded over Europe, local painters sought to adapt Byzantine techniques into their work, resulting in a distinct style that combined Eastern and Western elements.
Medieval painting was crucial in the evolution of Western European art, establishing the framework for the Renaissance and beyond. Its impact may still be evident in the works of current artists who draw inspiration from this rich and complicated history.

Most Famous Medieval Paintings

Here are the 7 most famous medieval paintings:

1. The Crucifixion 

The Crucifixion 
The Crucifixion, by Library for Wales is licensed under CC0 1.0

The Crucifixion is a well-known painting by Italian artist Giotto di Bondone in the early 14th century. The painting shows Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, a pivotal event in Christian theology.
Giotto was a prominent Gothic artist whose work profoundly impacted the development of Renaissance art.The fresco method was used to produce the painting, which included painting on new plaster. Giotto created a striking and vibrant painting of the crucifixion by combining brilliant colours and lifelike characters.
The painting’s themes revolve around the key event of the crucifixion and its relevance in Christian theology.
The artwork serves as a strong reminder of Christ’s sacrifice, and the melancholy looks of the individuals encircling the cross convey the profound emotions involved with the event.

2. Wilton Diptych

Wilton Diptych
Wilton Diptych, by Jean Louis Mazieres is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

The Wilton Diptych is a well-known late 14th-century painting by an unknown artist. The artwork is a portable diptych, which means it comprises two panels connected by hinges and is tiny enough to be carried about. The Wilton Diptych is one of the greatest examples of International Gothic art, a late 14th-century style. The tempera and gold leaf painting on oak panels portrays the Virgin Mary with the child Jesus surrounded by a group of angels. Each character is meticulously drawn in vibrant colours and elaborately embroidered clothes in the composition, which is very detailed and complicated. 
The artwork was most likely painted as a private devotional for King Richard II, known for his devotion to Mary.

3. The Ghent Altarpiece

The Ghent Altarpiece
The Ghent Altarpiece, by Ghirlandajo is licensed under CC BY 4.0

The Ghent Altarpiece is a huge polyptych painting made in the early 15th century for the Saint Bavo Cathedral in Ghent, Belgium, by the Flemish artists Hubert and Jan van Eyck. The painting is regarded as a masterpiece of early Netherlandish painting and one of the most important and influential artworks of the Northern Renaissance.The Ghent Altarpiece is a polyptych that comprises numerous hinged panels that may be opened and closed.
The artwork is distinguished by its extremely detailed and realistic manner, which was made possible by the employment of oil painting by the Van Eyck brothers.
The altarpiece comprises twelve panels, eight portraying incidents from Christ’s life and four featuring saints and donors.

4. The Trinity

The Trinity
The Trinity, by Steven Zucker is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Masaccio’s fresco masterpiece, The Trinity, was completed in the early 15th century. The painting is housed at the Dominican church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, Italy, and is considered one of the most important early Renaissance paintings. The artwork was commissioned in memory of his departed family members by a wealthy businessman called Lenzi. It was intended to serve as a visual aid for meditation and prayer.
The use of linear perspective, a groundbreaking technique in Renaissance art, is prominent in this painting. Masaccio pioneered using linear perspective to make three-dimensional space appear on a flat surface. He also employed light and shade to provide depth and realism to the painting.
The painting depicts the Holy Trinity’s Religious belief and the human longing for salvation and redemption.

5. Ognissanti Madonna

Ognissanti Madonna
Ognissanti Madonna, by Sailko is licensed under CC BY 3.0

Sandro Botticelli painted the Ognissanti Madonna in the late 15th century. The artwork is one of Botticelli’s most renowned works at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. The Vespucci family commissioned the painting for the church of Ognissanti in Florence, which was dedicated to All Saints. The artwork depicts the religious and cultural environment of the time when Christianity was Europe’s dominant religion, and religious art played an important part in the lives of the devout.
Botticelli employed the sfumato technique, combining colours and tones to get a soft, hazy impression. This technique is especially visible in Madonna’s veil and the angels’ and saints’ features.
The painting depicts Christian belief in Mary’s supernatural character and the significance of the Madonna and Child in Christian imagery.

6. Paradiesgartleins 

Paradiesgärtleins is a 1410 painting by an anonymous artist, the Upper Rhenish Master. The painting is a late Gothic work in the Wallraf-Richartz Museum in Cologne, Germany.
The painting portrays a garden surrounded by a fence, with four persons placed within it. The figurines include the Virgin Mary cradling the newborn Jesus, St. John the Baptist, and two masculine figures, probably Adam and an unknown saint. The garden is lush and full of flowers and trees, all painstakingly represented in the painting.
The painting’s topic is the Garden of Paradise, a popular motif in Christian art that portrays the concept of a beautiful paradise before the Fall of Man.
The Upper Rhenish Master employed a method known as reverse perspective, which entails representing objects as they would look in a mirror rather than as they do in real life. This approach provides depth and distance to the painting and a sense of otherworldliness and beauty.
The artwork is famous for using reverse perspective, realistic manner, and representation of the Garden of Paradise motif. It also represents the religious and cultural environment of the time.

7. Christ Rescuing Peter from Drowning

Christ Rescuing Peter from Drowning is a 17th-century artwork by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. The painting is presently on display in Seville’s Museum of Fine Arts.The painting represents a New Testament event where Jesus saves Peter from drowning in the Sea of Galilee. The painting depicts a turbulent scenario with waves crashing and winds howling as Jesus reaches out and takes Peter from the ocean. The people are painted lifelike, with the attire and expressions of the figures contributing to the drama of the situation.
Murillo employed tenebrism, which employs great contrasts of light and dark to create a feeling of drama and passion in the painting. The use of light to accentuate the characters’ faces and the dramatic contrasts between the brilliant sky and the dark sea demonstrate this style particularly well.
The painting represents the time’s theological and cultural setting, and it is renowned for its use of tenebrism, realistic technique, and representation of a dramatic New Testament scenario.

Summary

The article then showcases seven great medieval paintings, including Giotto di Bondone’s The Crucifixion, the Wilton Diptych, the Van Eyck brothers’ The Ghent Altarpiece, Masaccio’s The Trinity, Sandro Botticelli’s Ognissanti Madonna, and an unnamed artist’s Paradiesgärtleins. The ideas and relevance of each picture in Christian theology and the artists’ approaches are examined. The essay finishes by claiming that medieval painting laid the groundwork for the Renaissance and beyond and continues inspiring contemporary painters today.

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