medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
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>>[Dave Postles] Putting aside the Renaissance rhetoric, it would be
interesting to me (if not others!) how we now variously consider the
relationship between late-medieval and early-modern: transition or
transformation? in what spheres (social/economic/cultural - the last including
religion, ahem)?
>[fmorgret] In my study of the Lutheran Reformation from 1525 to 1530 I keep
stumbling over so many medieval roots -- not just in theology, although there
surely are enough of them, but also in law, architecture,
hymnody, and agriculture -- that I cannot get the grass stains off my knees.
i think that we will find that Religion is one of the very few areas mentioned
where anything like a clean break (with a more or less specific date, =/- 30
years or so) can be rationally defended.
obviously, whatever specific date for its inception might be chosen (and i'd
suggest choosing one which was not nation-specific), the Reformation was both
a watershed and a tsunami.
there is no such Pivital Moment in the History of Art.
in Italy --which is to say, in particular cities/regions in Italy-- the
"Re-Naissance" [i.e., the "Rebirth" of Classical Forms in both architecture
and the figurative arts] seems to have begun and gotten a good foothold in
Florence and a few other places and, by the end of the 15th c., metasticized
throughout the "country", the New (i.e., Ancient) Style driving out the Old in
a Revolution which was both widespread in geographical scope and
comprehensive.
but, in the North, there is a virtually Seemless Flow in the pictorial arts
from the inception/reception of the "Gothic" style in the 12th/13th cc.
through the 16th c. (at the least).
this is most true in architecture, though in France (and countries under more
or less immediate French influence) we certainly see a strong influence
comming from across the Alps in what we might call the *decorative* elements
of/on buildings which, though very prominent visibly, are actually secondary
to the *essence* of the buildings being built in the reign of Francis I and
his immediate sucessors.
a case in point is the magnificent, cathedral-sized church of St. Eustache in
Paris (long the parish church of Les Halles, now the parish church of the
Utterly Souless and Pathetic "Centre Pomiebourgeois") :
http://www.hberlioz.com/Paris/BPStEustache.html
Begun in the East (apse) end
http://www.hberlioz.com/Paris/St_Eustache1.html
we have round arches, and classical decorative elements rather than Late
Gothic ones, but this is, basically, a "Gothic" building, with flying
butresses,
http://www.hberlioz.com/Paris/St_Eustache4.html
"bar tracery" in the windows (and even a "rose" window)
http://www.hberlioz.com/Paris/St_Eustache7.html
even gargoyles
http://www.hberlioz.com/Paris/St_Eustache1.html
(the clock is a somewhat later addition, i believe).
inside, we have (what else?) *rib* vaults,
http://www.hberlioz.com/Paris/St_Eustache5.html
http://www.hberlioz.com/Paris/St_Eustache6.html
albeit in round rather than pointed arches.
unlike in Italy (where classicism really Took Over), these "medieval" elements
survived in architecture (which is, by its nature, surely the most
Conservative of the Arts) for a very, very long time.
though, by the 17th c., the "Renaissance" had gained a Foothold with a
Vengence
http://www.hberlioz.com/Paris/St_Eustache2.html
with particularly Sterile --if not downright Ugly-- results.
in Politics, each country was different, of course.
i once heard it said that the M.A. didn't really end in Germany until the time
of Napoleon.
> Obviously, I need expert help.
in the interests of List Commity, i will refrain from comment, other than to
fully Concur with your Diagnosis.
c
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