From 1050-1300 BC: The Western Medieval Period
The western medieval period saw the emergence and appreciation of art as an important medium for expressing different artistic, religious, social, and economic facets of society. The "Head of a Bearded Man," which had portions of it eroded due to unfavorable environmental circumstances, was one of the most influential expressions of art that had been saved from total ruin. The head sculptor, like other types of sculpture, had intricate physical features that reflected the cultural complexities of the period and its importance to the people of Western Europe (Winter 307). The piece of art similarly originated from limestone which was considered ideal for the creation and preservation of medieval art.
Cultural Significance of the Art
Imperatively, the medieval period was characteristically marked by a growing spirit of discovery and sophistication as various cultures interacted and explored the uniqueness of each other. Most sculptors during the medieval times were also known to express their cultural feelings in the art as depicted by the head of the bearded man. Though the art had missing portions, what stood out was the startling precision by which the creator incorporated details in the facial features. The piece of art gets depicted as staring into the oblivion, an inference to bewilderment, stupefaction or deep meditation. The art could have also implied a great scholar lost in thoughts as was the norm with several scholars and intellectuals of the time (Nees 2002).
Importantly, the cultural identity of growing a beard
Importantly, the cultural identity of growing a beard was a reserve of the intellectually superior as epitomized by the great philosophers of the time that grew long curly facial hair. It was considered as culturally appropriate for men of means to identify with their peers and the society at large through the growing of beards and included leaders and other high-ranking personalities (Winter 308). It has also emerged that the sculpture in its true nature and form got created to canonize King Philip IV. It, therefore, becomes more apparent that the society at the time immortalized its essential leaders in the form of priceless art.
The Head of a Bearded Man as a Religious Artefact
Upon its discovery as a remnant relic from a medieval French church, it becomes imperative to explore the religious aspects of the art. The piece of art must have grown in stature during the medieval time or rather served a critical component in the society’s religious history to have it erected in a church. It has emerged that the sculpture was once an iconic symbol of the French religion as it was alleged to commemorate the canonization of King Louis IX. As with medieval churches, art was commonplace. The beautification of the church with expensive and sophisticated pieces of art serves to underscore the importance of art in Christian faith and beliefs (Tricomi 1999). Invariably, the places of worship were exalted and revered in equal measure and hence the befitting gesture to add the sculptor gilded in gold as part of the church artifacts.
Another significant role of the sculptor of the head of a bearded man to religion
Another significant role of the sculptor of the head of a bearded man to religion emanates from the fact that the medieval age had high illiteracy levels hence relied on paintings and sculptors to convey important messages to the faithful Christians. The medieval church provided the necessary assistance to the local people coupled with spiritual guidance and protection from hardships. The canonization of King Louis IX associated with the sculptor, therefore, symbolized that he was perceived highly in the spiritual realm as a saint who could intervene through intercession during religious worship.
Political Implications of the Art
Medieval art and politics point to the wide-ranging efforts to associate several artistic depictions commissioned by the ruling elite to commemorate previous leaders or make outright political statements. The creation and subsequent deployment of the head of the bearded man by a superior leader speculated to be King Philip IV reflects the significant role of arts in advancing political agenda. In furtherance, most sophisticated artistic depictions were often installed in the King's court and other government premises. In exceptional instances, the ruling elite commissioned the making of personalized motifs for their political meaning.
Hence, the creation and subsequent deployment of visual arts
Hence, the creation and subsequent deployment of visual arts served to embody political ideals, help in promoting political agendas, and also serve the specific interests of the ruling government. The bearded sculptor could have served as a civic identity and highlighted the role of politics in church activities (Tricomi 1999). Therefore, it becomes plausible to deduce that the sculptor played a significantly important role as part of the power politics as opposed to political structure. The ultimate destruction of the church and the consequent damage of the relic sculptor during the French revolution also highlight the political tensions of the time.
Social Significance of the Art
The beginning of the medieval period marked the rise of valuable artistic works that were rare and very costly. Ordinary people lacked the money to commission a sculptor or a motif designed for them. On the contrary, the wealthy and well-endowed individuals had the financial capacity to order pieces of art. Although various successive regimes used different tactics to get their commissioning done, some chose to use coercion and intimidation of ancient sculptors to have their desired art done as later seen with Michelangelo. Sculptors, therefore became synonymous with the secular elite and medieval churches. Additionally, significant investment was made to bring the desired social impression in every piece of art commissioned. The use of gold gilding in the making of the head of the man with the beard reflects the true intentions of the commissioner befitting the status of a ruler.
Despite the perceived excesses that went into molding various artwork
Despite the perceived excesses that went into molding various artwork, it becomes necessary to appreciate the fact that most of the sculptures were designed to capture and embody beauty, sophistication, and elegance (Barnet and Nancy 2012). Indeed, the sculpture of the head of the man with a beard is imagined to have been sculptured in splendor and gilded in gold to reflect class, wealth intellectual superiority. Consequently, "Head of the Bearded Man" epitomized beauty accentuated in golden finishing and positioned strategically in a church for the community to appreciate and associate with it. Several years later, the same relic had been found though in a less glorious state. For the artwork to endure thousands of years indicates the deliberate effort of the sculptor to capture an essential part of history with great techniques on limestone.
Connection with Historical Events
The French Kingdom struggled with independent principalities in their quest to annex them. The territorial expansion occurred between 997-1328, the same period that sculptor of the Head of the Man with A Beard was made. During the same time, King Phillip II, Augustus and Louis IX endure several political tribulations and administrative issues with the control of their kingdoms. The resulting political stalemate led to protracted dynasty crisis which lasted several years with its neighboring principalities, noticeably the Kingdom of England. It is at the same time that the church where the sculptor, the head of the man with a beard was supposedly destroyed when the church was invaded. Similarly, the period saw the emergence of France as the epicenter of a vibrant cultural production and witnessed the transitioning from Romanesque art to Gothic architecture.
Conclusion
With relevance to the head of a bearded man found in a church in France, it becomes crucial to appreciate other centers of architectural excellence in Western Europe such as Greece also known for its old art expression. Art played a vital role in the medieval times as a useful tool of expression that seeks to explore and experience the diversity that existed in the society. Art equally served to further political ideas, enhance social integration, and promote societal conscience given its infinite power to provoke thinking. The sculptor of the bearded man served as an epitome of beauty and splendor. Therefore, the artifact managed to help beyond its aesthetic beauty by prominently emerging as a tool for cultural, religious, and political expression.
Work Cited
Barnet, Peter, and Nancy Y. Wu. The cloisters: medieval art and architecture. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2012.
Nees, Lawrence. Early medieval art. Oxford History of Art, 2002.
Tricomi, Albert H., ed. Contextualizing the Renaissance: Returns to History: Selected Proceedings from the 28th Annual CEMERS Conference. Brepols, 1999.
Winter, William L. “The Influence of Rome and of the Frontier Upon Medieval West European Institutions: The Expanding Frontier.” American Journal of Economics and Sociology 25.3 (1966): 307-320.
