The picture and prayer encouraged readers to share in Christ's agony. This image is accompanied by a prayer addressed directly to Jesus. His serene white face contrasts with the goblin-like features of his four torturers. In this flagellation scene, rivulets of blood flow down Christ's body as he is mercilessly whipped by four men. Vivid images of pain reminded the faithful that Christ's suffering was essential to the possibility of salvation. The martyrdom of saints, the torments of hell, and the suffering of Christ were all popular subjects in medieval art. The artist emphasized the contemporary relevance of Alexander's exploits by making the armor, weapons, and architecture characteristic of the 1400s. It shows Greek emperor Alexander the Great (356–323 B.C.) facing an armed mob in a landscape littered with fallen soldiers.Īlexander had built a vast empire through war and was a model for Charles, who also wanted to extend his lands. This page comes from a book dedicated to Charles the Bold (1433–1477), duke of Burgundy in central France. Medieval politicians often pointed to warlike behavior in biblical and ancient history to justify their violent schemes. Nations clashed over land, vassals revolted against lords, and crusaders waged holy wars in the name of religion. War shaped much of the history of the Middle Ages. They look on coolly as their relatives are brutally killed.Īlexander Fights in the Town of the SudracaeĪttributed to the Master of the Jardin de vertueuse consolation, about 1468–1475 The men in the window above the executioner are the ones who ordered the assassinations. Through the doorway, another man is about to be drowned. This often caused deadly family rivalries, such as the one shown here.Ī kneeling man is blindfolded and about to be executed.
In the late Middle Ages, a father's money and power passed to his eldest son upon his death. Violence played a major role in family disputes, in the justice system, and even in education and entertainment. Marcus's high-handed treatment of his enemies led to his capture and torture in 255 B.C.īrute force was accepted and even respected in the Middle Ages. This is the message of the gruesome execution scene above, in which two men brutally crush Roman consul Marcus Atilius Regulus. No one, not even the mighty, can avoid the harsh blows of fate. This exhibition explores the presence of violence in the Middle Ages and examines how images of violence were used to teach viewers moral lessons and appeal to their emotions. Graphic depictions of violent religious events, such as Christ's Crucifixion, were also common.
People were surrounded by violence in many forms, including wars, brutal tournaments, and deadly rivalries for power and land. Violence was considered a necessary part of life in the Middle Ages (about 500–1500 A.D.). Video: Curator Elizabeth Morrison discusses the exhibition. The Death of the Roman Consul Marcus Atilius Regulusīoucicaut Master and Workshop, about 1415
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