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Never mind the Bayeux! Here’s some other great medieval art
Want to see some old wonders but don’t fancy forking out £33 for 40 minutes with a tapestry? Our critic celebrates the British treasures you can see all year round – from monstrous crypt carvings to the vaulting glory of our cathedrals
TL;DR
- Medieval British art is characterized by its diversity, including grotesque carvings, impressive architecture, and detailed embroidery.
- The Bayeux Tapestry, though famous, is just one example of the rich artistic output from this period.
- Norman influence after 1066 brought continental European artistic styles, including Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
- Key examples of medieval art and architecture in Britain include Canterbury Cathedral's crypt, Glastonbury Tor, Conwy Castle, Durham Cathedral, and Salisbury Cathedral.
- Medieval art reflects a deep connection to nature, evolving fashions, and a worldview shaped by Christianity and feudalism.
- The art often juxtaposes order (cathedrals, castles) with disorder (grotesque carvings, marginalia).
- Later medieval art embraced more sensual and romantic themes, moving away from earlier austerity.
- The dissolution of monasteries under Henry VIII marked the end of this cultural era, but much art remains.