Medieval Art: A Different Approach to Home Décor

The Medieval era is the period in European history from the fall of Rome to the Italian Renaissance; from 476AD to 1450AD. During this time Europe went through a series of considerable changes, gradually laying the groundwork for elements of the Renaissance and later periods. During this time Art flourished and came to embrace Christianity.

Medieval art emerged from a blend of Roman art and German art, thrown together during the upheavals of the Middle Ages. Its distinct, gothic look owes much to both its influences, and very quickly developed along distinct lines.

It is this distinct element to it that makes it so striking and, even now, is a serious consideration for anyone looking for something unusual and striking for their home décor and home accent choices.

Medieval Art
During the Middle Ages art often depicted scenes from everyday life, and at times was used to illustrate stories, fables and myths. There are a number of recurring themes seen in work from this time, including mythical beasts, a preoccupation with sense and perception, glorification of battles and the celebration of great dynasties.

Of particular importance was the emergence of religious symbolism; using art as a means to communicate complex metaphysical concepts such as love, redemption and forgiveness. Art rose to the challenge and the sheer breadth of the art produced is one of the main reasons the Gothic style remains an iconic and fundamental pillar of western art.

Now many are looking again at the art of the Middle Ages as an exciting and unusual addition to their home décor options. With many possibilities, from quality prints to wall tapestries, they are being appreciated by more and more people looking for something a little different.

Medieval Prints
A great many famous works from the Middle Ages have been reproduced as prints and posters. Some of the best examples from history are now available, and are a real treasure trove of information as well as a unique piece of wall art.

One of the most popular is Les Vendanges (The Grape Harvest). Woven in the late 15th century it was designed to celebrate the annual wine harvest and it depicts the peasants gathering the grapes for use in wine making. The design includes the distinctive Mille Fleurs decoration typical of Medieval art.

During the Middle Ages art was commissioned by the wealthy and tended to reflect dramatic themes and religious symbolism. More rarely work was commissioned to depict everyday scenes, like Les Vendanges, offering a rare glimpse into life during Medieval times.

Although the original was a wall tapestry high quality prints lose none of the original texture and drama, and make an exceptional addition to any décor scheme.

Medieval Wall Tapestries
Although prints enjoy a privileged position in home décor popular Medieval art is increasingly available as luxury wall tapestries. The woven nature of tapestry art adds depth and texture to these already impressive works and makes a distinct alternative to framed art.

A growing number of Medieval tapestries are now available. A particularly impressive example are wall tapestries inspired by the illustrated Medieval work Les Tres Riches Heures (The book of hours). As the name suggests it was a collection of text for each liturgical hour of the day which often included other supplementary texts such as calendars, prayers, psalms and masses for holy days.

The original manuscript was painted by three brothers, Paul, Hermann and Jean Limbourg from Flanders, believed to have been born between 1370 and 1380. The work was completed between 1412 and 1416. These tapestries depict the illustration from the calendar texts for various months, each related to an event associated with the time of year such as harvesting.

Because wall tapestries are textile based the weave often helps lift the original work making for a quite dramatic piece of décor. The best quality tapestries do an impressive job of not only reproducing the original detail, but add considerably to their charm and people can be quite taken aback at their distinctive nature.

Something for every taste
Nowadays many people are looking to Medieval art to add some charm and history to their home decor. With a vast array of options to choose from, including posters, prints and wall tapestries, there's never been a better time to appreciate these unique works of art.

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