The miniature

The miniature is maybe the only manifestation of the

Romanesque paintings to spread in Europe with a certain
degree of consistency and persistence.
It was practiced by monks and

consisted in decorate in a very minute way the major

codes in the books preserved in the libraries of
monasteries . In every big monaster there was a
scriptria , places where the monks devoted themselves
to the art of miniatures. The scriptria which could only
be accessed by the monks and their superiors were often
placed next to calefactrium, for the preparetion of the
colors that in extreme cold temperature would have
clotted.
The technique used was that

of guazzo, its a particular tempering in which the colored

pigments were diluted in aqueous solutions usually made
of egg whites, honey or gum arabic by employing very
fine tip. The colors used were of extraordinary vivacity
and once dried have a shiny surface. Depending on the
case the ornamentation may be limited only around the
initials but may also extend along the margins or occupy

the entire page with narratives figurative autonomous.

The technique of miniature painting has spread to Spain,
France, Germany, England, Ireland and Italy were formed
and real schools of miniature.

Christus triumphans
The cross was realized and signed in 1138 by teacher
Guglielmo. It is the oldest painted cross. The eyes are
wide, the head is raised and the face does not reveal any
emotion. Its interessant to see that for the first time the
Christ is naked with a cloth that surrounds the sides. Its
also meant to symbolize the triumph of Christ over death.

Christus patiens

In the age-humanistic Renaissance to the table is

replaced the painted wooden crucifix carved in wood, in
which the hieratic stylized version of the Christus
triumphans expressionistically and the deformed shape of
the Christus patiens are recomposed in the austere
beauty and harmony of classical anatomical forms, in
which the 'Man-God is manifested as a perfect nature
creata.In East prevails representation
the "hanging Christ" suffering and death, represented
with eyes closed and her head thrown on
right shoulder.

Gothic art
Gothic art was a style of Medieval art that developed in
France in the mid-12th century. The earliest Gothic art
was monumental sculpture, on the walls of Cathedrals
and abbeys.
Christian

art was often typological in nature showing the stories of

the New Testament and the Old Testament side by side.
Gothic architecture is above all church architecture (of
the period c. 1180-1450 or slightly later).

It is characterized by large

windows - often with colored glass, and by strong loadbearing pointed arches. In order to allow for large
windows, much of the load was transferred to flying
buttresses, in the centre of the facade there is a rosone.
Later, some features were adopted in royal palaces and in
some castles. The style underwent several changes, and
in the late medieval period, it became very ornate and
flamboyant.