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 dè(c)cor 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 dè(c)cor 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 dè(c)cor scheme.
Medieval Wall Tapestries Although prints enjoy a privileged position in home dè(c)cor 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 wall 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 dè(c)cor. 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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Southwestern rugs are an easy way to enhance that unique western, rustic or Native American feel in your home decor. Because of their growing popularity, more and more home decorators are choosing to buy southwestern accent rugs online. Used as western rugs and also southwest area rugs in the different rooms in your home or when decorating a log cabin with a rustic or western theme, southwestern rugs give your home warmth and a definite authentic southwestern country look. When purchasing American Indian style rugs, you will find a large selection of southwestern rugs to choose from and will definitely want to include a few of the most popular and sought-after rugs in your home decor. These rugs have a long history that has changed over time and can truly be appreciated as great works of art.
Among the most popular southwestern and western rugs are handmade area rugs, spirit rugs, Mexican Guadalupe rugs, Oaxaca Mexico rugs including Zapotec Indian rugs, Mohair and Navajo rugs. Each of these different rugs uses a combination of a variety of colors and characters, symbolizing spirituality or depictions of historical events. A good example of this is brought to life in the Southwestern Spirit rug which combines a wide variety of colors and designs. The spiritual characters weaved into these rugs are created in a variety of patterns and forms that express the spirituality of the people.
Not only are southwestern rugs admired for their great beauty, but the skill and hard work involved in making Native rugs and runners is also greatly appreciated. The makers of hand woven wool rugs must be very skilled and begin the rug making process by kneeling in front of a vertical wooden-framed loom. The designs are then put into place by using a shuttle to weave a variety of colored yarn together, making large-scale geometric characters and designs. In the beginning, Navajo rugs as well as those of some other Southwest Indian tribes were weaved of hand-spun cotton thread. However, once the wool of domestic sheep was introduced to the region by the Spanish settlers, the people mainly used wool to create their colorful rugs and other traditional weaving.
Today, many of the modern southwestern rugs are woven in areas where Spanish and Native American histories have melded together to create colorful designs. Southwest rugs, with their warm earth tone colors and unique southwestern designs make them a great choice for rustic home decorating. If you are searching for a great southwest rug, you will most likely purchase from American companies or directly from Native American weavers. Buying rugs from Navajo or other American Indian tribes not only allows you the satisfaction of knowing that you have a southwestern rug that is made by Native Americans but also helps to support the Native American heritage of rug weaving, and the people who themselves sell their rugs, blankets, and Native American art.
The rug you choose will certainly depend on what you like and what kind of decorating you have in mind. You will find that southwest rugs are the perfect southwestern accent when combined with rustic or western home decor. Whether you are changing your home decor or decorating an entire house using a southwestern theme, you will find many designs and colors available to choose from. Among these options you will find everything from Zapotec rugs with no two alike, to southwest table runners and southwestern tapestries. Designers love hand woven rugs because of the variety of colors and textures. Whatever your decorating style and whatever your decorating needs, you will no doubt enjoy the warmth and color created by decorating with southwestern rugs.
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Louise Alderson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Improvement, Home Management and Home Improvement. Louise Alderson has a passion for tapestry related subjects including .. Louise Alderson's top article generates over 246000 views. to your Favourites.
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