Charlemagne and his era

Charlemagne (748-814) was crowned king of the Franks in Noyon in 768 and emperor in Rome in 800. He ushered in a new cultural and artistic heyday. Scholars such as Alcuin of York and Theodulf of Orléans compiled new editions of Latin texts from the Bible, the church fathers and ancient authors as well as texts for divine services. In the monasteries of his empire, precious books were meticulously written and adorned with images and initial letters of great artistry. Ivory carving, bronze casting and architecture also experienced a renaissance under Charlemagne and his successors. Influences from an intensive study of the art of Ancient Rome were combined with traditions of Anglo-Saxon ornamentation and Christian spirituality to give rise to an independent new style of medieval art.

wo-part relief panel in ivory with 3 times 2 images: top left and right the 4 evangelists with their symbols writing; below left: Birth of Jesus with Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, 2 sheep and an angel; right: Annunciation: an angel (left) speaks to Mary (right); bottom left: Representation of the Resurrection: an angel speaks to 2 women with vessels of incense, at their feet are sleeping soldiers; below right: Jesus on the cross, left: Soldier with lance and right figure with sponge of vinegar, on the edge 2 other figures (saints).

So-called Harrach Diptych, Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle), Court School of Charlemagne, c. 800, ivory, 33.7 x 23 cm, on loan from the Peter und Irene Ludwig Stiftung, Aachen, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Comb with a carved image of the crucifixion of Jesus and 2 angels above it

So-called Comb of St. Heribert, Metz, ca 870, ivory, 19 x 12 cm, Inv. No. B 100, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Front and back of a book cover: Front (left) the evangelist John is seated in a chair, a parchment in his left hand and a quill in his right hand framed by a stylized Romanesque portal with knotted bands on the columns and acantus leaves on the chapters and round arch. Above John is a medallion with an eagle, the symbol of John, and an inscription. Right: the same portal without John and medallion, but with the inscription INCPT EVGL SCDM IOH

Carolingian Book of Gospels, Saint-Amand, c. 860-880, parchment, 26 x 19.2 cm (binding, Cologne, c. 1170-1180), Inv. No. G 531, fol. 151v-152r, picture of St. John the Evangelist and title page, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Ornate bronze egg-shaped vessel with perforations with chains and a hanger for carrying

Censer, Aachen (?), 9th cent., cast bronze, H. 10.2 cm, inv. no. H 46, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv