Mosan art is a regional style of art from the valley of the Meuse in present-day Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. Although in a broader sense the term applies to art from this region from all periods, it generally refers to

Romanesque art Romanesque art is the art of Europe from approximately 1000 AD to the rise of the Gothic Art, Gothic style in the 12th century, or later depending on region. The preceding period is known as the Pre-Romanesque period. The term was invented by 1 ...

, with Mosan Romanesque architecture,

stone carving Stone carving is an activity where pieces of rough natural stone are shaped by the controlled removal of stone. Owing to the permanence of the material, stone work has survived which was created during our prehistory or past time. Work carried ...

, metalwork, enamelling and

manuscript illumination An illuminated manuscript is a formally prepared document where the text is often supplemented with flourishes such as borders and miniature illustrations. Often used in the Roman Catholic Church for prayers, liturgical services and psalms, the ...

reaching a high level of development during the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries.

Development of Mosan art and geographical spread

The Meuse river valley lay in the heart of the Carolingian Empire and therefore the style draws largely from the heritage of the Carolingian art tradition. Thus, Mosan art contains strong classical elements, which separates it from the international Romanesque style seen elsewhere during the period, for example in France, Germanywww.musee-moyenage.fr
England and Italy. However, it shares with mainstream Romanesque art elements such as the treatment of space. Although the

iconography Iconography, as a branch of art history, studies the identification, description and interpretation of the content of images: the subjects depicted, the particular compositions and details used to do so, and other elements that are distinct fro ...

of 11th- and 12th-century Meuse valley art largely draws on

Biblical The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts of a ...

inspiration, some of the elaborately carved capitals in the two main churches in Maastricht depict scenes from many aspects of daily life, as well as images from an intriguing world of fantasy. The Mosan region was formed largely by the boundary of the

Bishopric of Liège In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associate ...

, which had strong political links to the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, as well as to the bishops of Cologne. The region's main artistic centres were the cities of

Liège Liège ( , , ; wa, Lîdje ; nl, Luik ; german: Lüttich ) is a major city and municipality of Wallonia and the capital of the Belgian province of Liège. The city is situated in the valley of the Meuse, in the east of Belgium, not far from b ...

, Huy,

Dinant Dinant () is a City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities in Belgium, municipality of Wallonia located in the Namur Province, province of Namur, Belgium. On the shores of river Meuse, in the Ardennes, it lies south-east of Brussels, south ...

Namur Namur (; ; nl, Namen ; wa, Nameur) is a city and municipality in Wallonia, Belgium. It is both the capital of the province of Namur and of Wallonia, hosting the Parliament of Wallonia, the Government of Wallonia and its administration. Namu ...

, Tongeren, Maastricht, Roermond and

Aachen Aachen ( ; ; Aachen dialect: ''Oche'' ; French and traditional English: Aix-la-Chapelle; or ''Aquisgranum''; nl, Aken ; Polish: Akwizgran) is, with around 249,000 inhabitants, the 13th-largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia, and the 28th- ...

, as well as a number of important monasteries: Sint-Truiden, Aldeneik, Herkenrode, Averbode, Munsterbilzen, Susteren, Sint Odiliënberg,

Rolduc Rolduc is the name of a medieval abbey located on the edge of the town of Kerkrade in the far south-east of the Netherlands. It is today a Roman Catholic seminary with an affiliated conference center. The abbey is a ''rijksmonument'' (Dutc ...

, Burtscheid,

Kornelimünster Kornelimünster ( ksh, Mönster) is a town in the rural ''Münsterländchen'' area of Kornelimünster/Walheim, a district of Aachen, Germany. History The Kornelimünster Abbey was founded in 814 on the Inde River by Benedict of Aniane (750– ...

Stavelot Stavelot (; german: Stablo ; wa, Ståvleu) is a town and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Liège, Belgium. The municipality consists of the following districts: Francorchamps and Stavelot. It is best known as the home of Sp ...

, Nivelles,

Aulne The Aulne ( br, Aon) is a long river of Brittany in north-western France, flowing down the hills and emptying into the roadstead of Brest, one of the many fjord-like bays just south of Brest. The river is part of the Canal de Nantes à Brest, th ...

, Floreffe, Flône, Celles, Gembloux and Lobbes. Mosan art at its peak had a strong influence on bordering regions, notably on Rhineland art ( Cologne, Bonn).

Highlights of Mosan art

Mosan Romanesque art has been described by art historians as the first golden age of Netherlandish art (before

early Netherlandish painting Early Netherlandish painting, traditionally known as the Flemish Primitives, refers to the work of artists active in the Burgundian and Habsburg Netherlands during the 15th- and 16th-century Northern Renaissance period. It flourished especiall ...

and Dutch Golden Age painting). Usually the term Mosan art does not include Medieval literature although Heinrich von Veldeke may be considered the first poet writing in Middle Dutch (as well as Middle High German).

Architecture

Mosan architecture can be seen as a distinctive branch in Romanesque architecture, a regional style that produced imposing churches in Aachen, Liège and Maastricht, as well as monasteries in rural areas. The fully developed Mosan style of the 12th century is a comprise between the older Meuse valley traditions and foreign influences, mainly coming from the Rhineland and Italy. An outstanding factor in Mosan architecture is the closed west front ( westwerk). Unfortunately, some of the largest churches, notably Liège cathedral, and the Stavelot and Sint-Truiden abbeys, were destroyed. * Former collegiate church St Bartholomew,

* Former collegiate church of St. Denis (Liège) * Former collegiate church St John, Liège * Former collegiate church of Our Lady, Huy * Former collegiate church Saint George and Saint Ode, Amay * Former collegiate church Saint Étienne, Waha * Former collegiate church of Fosses-la-Ville * Former abbey church of Saint Gertrude, Nivelles * Former abbey church of Saint Ursmer, Lobbes * Former abbey church of Celles *

Basilica of Saint Servatius The Basilica of Saint Servatius is a Roman Catholic church dedicated to Saint Servatius, in the city of Maastricht, the Netherlands. The architecturally hybrid but mainly Romanesque church is situated next to the Gothic church of Saint John, bac ...

, Maastricht *

Basilica of Our Lady In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica is a large public building with multiple functions, typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek East. The building gave its name ...

, Maastricht * Former abbey church, Aldeneik * Former abbey church,

* Former abbey church, Susteren * Former abbey church, Sint Odiliënberg * Munsterkerk, Roermond *

Aachen Cathedral Aachen Cathedral (german: Aachener Dom) is a Roman Catholic church in Aachen, Germany and the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Aachen. One of the oldest cathedrals in Europe, it was constructed by order of Emperor Charlemagne, who was buri ...

(westwork) File:Eglise-liege-stbarthelemy-janvier2006.jpg,

, St Bartholomew's File:Saint Denis Liège.jpg, Liège, St Denis, westwork File:00 Celles Houyet.JPG, Celles, Saint Hadelin's File:Belgium, Nijvel, Main Church.JPG, Nivelles. Westwork abbey church File:Kerk aldeneik2.jpg, Aldeneik, Westwork File:Maastricht Sint-Servaasbasiliek BW 2017-08-19 15-56-11 s.jpg, Maastricht,

St Servatius Saint Servatius ( nl, Sint Servaas; french: Saint Servais; li, Sintervaos; hy, Սուրբ Սերվատիոս ''Surb Servatios'') (born in Armenia, died in Maastricht, traditionally on 13 May 384) was bishop of Tongeren —Latin: ''Atuatuca ...

, westwork File:Apsis Onze Lieve Vrouwkerk Maastricht.jpg, Maastricht, Our Lady's, east front File:Susteren, Limburg, basiliek crop.JPG, Susteren, Westwork File:Rolduc04.jpg,

, Interior

Stone carving

Mosan stone carving reached a peak in the 12th century in Maastricht, Liège and Nivelles. Maastricht 'metsen' (stone carvers) worked on

capitals Capital may refer to: Common uses * Capital city, a municipality of primary status ** List of national capital cities * Capital letter, an upper-case letter Economics and social sciences * Capital (economics), the durable produced goods used f ...

and reliefs as far afield as Utrecht, Bonn and Eisenach. *Carved capitals in western galleries of

, Maastricht (12th century) *Carved capitals in East choir of

, Maastricht (12th century) *Carved capitals in crypt of abbey church of

(12th century) *''Vierge de Dom Rupert'' (12th century), Curtius Museum, Liège *''Pierre Boudon'' relief (12th century), Curtius Museum, Liège *Samson Portal, Collegiate Church of Saint Gertrude, Nivelles *Baptismal font, Furnaux (

) *''Oath on the Relics'' relief (12th century), Basilica of Our Lady, Maastricht *''Majestas Domini'' tympanum (12th century), Basilica of Saint Servatius, Maastricht *Double relief choir screen (12th century), Basilica of Saint Servatius, Maastricht *Four-part relief in Saint Peter's Church, Utrecht File:Interieur,_kapiteel_in_het_koor,_eerste_van_het_midden_-_Maastricht_-_20146493_-_RCE.jpg, Maastricht,

. Carved 4-fold capital File:Maastricht StServatius Fight monkey dog.jpg, Maastricht,

. Carved capital in westwork File:Curtius Romanesque capital.jpg,

, Curtius Museum. Carved capital from St Lambert's Cathedral File:PICT1346-Wartburg-Kapitell-Dragons.JPG, Eisenach. Dragon capital in the Wartburg File:Vierge Dom Rupert.jpg, Liège, Curtius Museum. 'Vierge de Dom Rupert' File:Maastricht OLV Oath.jpg, Maastricht, Church of Our Lady. 'Oath on the Relics' File:Maastricht StServatius Sculpture1.jpg, Maastricht, St Servatius. 2-part relief File:Pieterskerk - reliëf.JPG, Utrecht, St Peter's. 4-part relief. Pontius Pilate pointing at Christ

Metalwork

Metalwork has been considered the high art of the 12th and early 13th-century Meuse region, culminating in the work of Nicholas of Verdun, which is of exceptionally high quality. The Shrine of the Three Kings at Cologne Cathedral, the Anno Shrine in Siegburg and the Shrine of Our Lady in

Tournai Tournai or Tournay ( ; ; nl, Doornik ; pcd, Tornai; wa, Tornè ; la, Tornacum) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. It lies southwest of Brussels on the river Scheldt. Tournai is part of Euromet ...

are among his best work. Other important metalworkers were Renier de Huy and Hugo d'Oignies. *

Baptismal font at St Bartholomew's Church, Liège The baptismal font at St Bartholomew's Church, Liège is a Romanesque brass or bronze baptismal font made between 1107 and 1118 now in St Bartholomew's Church, Liège in Liège, Belgium. The font is a major masterpiece of Mosan art, remarkable ...

(early 12th century) by Renier de Huy *Shrine of Saint Servatius (±1165) in Maastricht *Shrine of Saint Hadelin (1170, partly 11th century) in Visé *Shrine of Saint Remacle in

*Shrines of Saint Domitian and Saint Mangold (by Godefroid de Huy, ±1172-1189) in Huy *Shrine of Our Lady (1205) at Tournai Cathedral by Nicholas of Verdun * Shrine of the Three Kings at Cologne Cathedral (1180) by Nicholas of Verdun * Shrine of Charlemagne (''Karlsschrein'', 1215) and Shrine of Mary (''Marienschrein'', 1238),

* Barbarossa Chandelier (1170), Aachen Cathedral *Retable of the Pentecost (1160–1170,

Cluny Museum Cluny () is a Communes of France, commune in the eastern French Departments of France, department of Saône-et-Loire, in the Regions of France, region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. It is northwest of Mâcon. The town grew up around the Benedictin ...

, Paris &ndash

*

Stavelot Triptych The Stavelot Triptych is a medieval reliquary and portable altar in gold and enamel intended to protect, honor and display pieces of the True Cross.

. Morgan Library, New York City *

Reliquary of St. Maurus St. Maurus reliquary is a Romanesque reliquary exhibited in the castle of Bečov nad Teplou in the west of the Czech Republic. It is considered to be the second most important historical artifact in the Czech territory after the Czech Crown Jewel ...

, now in Bečov nad Teplou *Stavelot altar base.

Royal Museums of Art and History The Royal Museums of Art and History (french: Musées royaux d'Art et d'Histoire, nl, Koninklijke Musea voor Kunst en Geschiedenis) or RMAH is a group of museums in Brussels, Belgium. It is part of the Belgian Federal government, federal insti ...

, Brussels *Reliquary with head of Pope Alexander I,

, Brussels *The foot of the so-called Cross of

Saint Bertin Bertin ( la, Bertinus; 615 – ''c''. 709 AD), also known as Saint Bertin the Great, was the Frankish abbot of a monastery in Saint-Omer later named the Abbey of Saint Bertin after him. He is venerated as a saint by the Catholic and Orthodox Ch ...

. Museum of Saint-Omer Renier de Huy JPG0.jpg,

Baptismal font A baptismal font is an article of church furniture used for baptism. Aspersion and affusion fonts The fonts of many Christian denominations are for baptisms using a non-immersive method, such as aspersion (sprinkling) or affusion (pouring). ...

. St Bartholomew's,

Stavelot.Triptych.jpg,

Stavelot Triptych The Stavelot Triptych is a medieval reliquary and portable altar in gold and enamel intended to protect, honor and display pieces of the True Cross.

, Morgan Library,

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

Louvre MosanReliquary.jpg, Mosan reliquary in the Louvre, Paris Hugo d'Oignies Evangeliary.jpg, Book-cover by Hugo d'Oignies Barbarossaleuchter.jpg, Barbarossa Chandelier, Aachen Cathedral Schrijn remaclus.jpg, Shrine of Saint Remacle,

Visé - Église Saint-Martin - Châsse de Saint-Hadelin 02.JPG, Shrine of Saint Hadelin, Visé MaastrichtNoodkist05.jpg, Maastricht. Shrine of Saint Servatius Karlsschrein front side left.jpg, Shrine of Charlemagne, Aachen Cathedral Cologne Cathedral Shrine of Magi.jpg, Shrine of the Three Kings, Cologne Cathedral

Painting, illumination and other works of art

Very little has come to us from what must have been an impressive body of Mosan murals. Wolfram von Eschenbach, in his Parzival expressed his high regard for Maastricht (and Cologne) painters
Parzival, 158, 13-16
. Book illumination, like the rest of the arts, was at its zenith in the second half of the 12th century. The principal centres were the abbey of Saint Laurent in Liège and the abbeys of Stavelot and Lobbes. Another highly developed art was vitreous enameling. *Mural of the choir vault (heavily restored). Basilica of Saint Servatius, Maastricht * Stavelot Bible (11th century). British Library * (12th century). British Library, London *

Evangeliary of Averbode The Evangeliary of Averbode (french: Évangéliaire d'Averbode) is an illuminated manuscript, an evangeliary created in the region of the Meuse river between 1150 and 1175. The manuscript is named after Averbode Abbey in Belgium where it was kept i ...

(12th century). University Library, Liège *Manuscripts from the abbey of Sint-Truiden * Evangeliary of Notger (10th-12th century) File:StServaasOostkoor1.jpg, Ceiling painting

, Maastricht File:Christ in Majesty - Stavelot Bible.png, Page from Stavelot Bible, British Library File:Floreffe Bible 01.jpg, Page from Floreffe Bible, British Library File:Ivoire de Notger.jpg, Evangeliary of Notger. Ivory and enamel File:Évangéliaire d'Averbode, f17.JPG,

, Liège University Library

Notes

References

*Chapman, Gretel (1987). "Mosan art". '' Dictionary of the Middle Ages''. Volume 8. pp. 495–6 *Hartog, Elizabeth den (2002). "Romanesque Sculpture in Maastricht" *Timmers, J.J.M. (1971). "De Kunst van het Maasland"
"Mosan school"
In '' Encyclopædia Britannica'' Online.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mosan Art Romanesque art Romanesque architecture Vitreous enamel Walloon culture Limburgian culture Buildings and structures in Liège Province History of Liège Province History of Belgian Limburg Culture of Limburg (Netherlands) History of Limburg (Netherlands) Netherlandish Medieval art