102Z Summer 2025 The Wiggly World of Early Medieval Art

The Early Medieval period falls roughly between the collapse of the Roman Empire about 476 and the beginning of Romanesque architecture around the year 1000.The intricately intertwining creatures and wiggling lines of Viking carvings and Celtic manuscripts created during the Migration Period have no connection with the reality of ancient Roman art as the artists lived outside Rome’s vast empire and lacked examples to guide them. Slowly the influence of Rome reappeared during Charlemagne’s reign, known as the Carolingian Renaissance, and in the Ottonian period that followed.In this class, we’ll examine examples of manuscript illumination, luxury items of gold and ivory, sculpture, and architecture made during this fascinating in-between time.

Roz Hoagland is a retired art historian.She taught at Northern Virginia Community College for 40 years.She has taught numerous OLLI classes and continues to lead group tours to Europe to study art and