Lesson video

Hi, I'm Miss Mia.

Thank you so much for joining me in this lesson.

Let's get started.

In today's lesson, you'll be able to identify and explain the sacred and symbolic patterns used in medieval paintings and design your own pattern to express a personal idea, story, or memory.

Your keywords are on the screen now.

Let's go through them.

Pattern, geometric shape, symbolism.

Now, you may already know some of these keywords, but let's find out what these mean.

Pattern.

A pattern is a design made by repeating shapes, lines, colors, or images.

Geometric shape.

A geometric shape is a regular shape with clear edges, often made using maths or tools.

Symbolism.

Symbolism is when an object, shape, or image stands for an idea or meaning.

Super.

Let's move on.

So this lesson is all about patterns in medieval art.

We have two lesson cycles today.

Our first lesson cycle is to do with medieval, sacred and symbolic patterns.

We're then going to be designing personal symbolic patterns.

I'm super excited.

I hope you are as well.

Let's begin.

Oh.

So on the screen we've got an image of detail from a medieval altarpiece.

Where do you see patterns in the artwork? Have a think.

If you didn't know anything about this person, what clues in the image could help you understand their importance? And lastly, how is the use of pattern and gold different from art you see today? The use of pattern and gold in historical art is often different from much of the art we see today in a few key ways.

For example, let's have a look at symbolism and meaning.

In the past, gold was used to show importance, power, or the sacred.

For example, in religious icons or manuscripts, patterns often had strong symbolic meanings and followed strict rules.

Pattern and gold was also timeless and presented on flat surfaces.

Gold created glowing flat backgrounds that were not meant to look realistic.

The focus was on meaning rather than showing real space or depth.

In much contemporary art, gold may be used more experimentally or ironically, not always to show holiness or power.

Patterns are often freer and less formal or broken and layered.

Artists may focus on personal expression, everyday materials, or questioning ideas rather than following set traditions.

Let's have a look at this example now.

Well, the background is covered with repeating patterns and gold or colored shapes.

The halo could mean a saint or holy figures.

They were decorated with delicate patterns to show importance.

Clothing and fabric is patterned to show status, beauty or holiness.

During the medieval period, many artists created paintings and decorations for churches, books, and religious objects.

These artworks often included patterns and symbols that had special spiritual meanings.

Here we can see borders of illuminated manuscripts.

Hand painted books were filled with tiny patterns, plants and geometric shapes.

Geometric patterns use repeating geometric shapes like circles, stars, diamonds, and crosses.

Can you think of any more geometric shapes? These showed the idea of order, harmony or the infinite.

Over to you.

What do repeating geometric patterns like stars, crosses, circles and diamonds, in medieval paintings often represent? Is it A, random decoration, B, order, harmony and the infinite, or C, nature and growth? What do you think? You can pause the video here and click play when you've got the answer.

So, what did you get? If you got B, you are correct.

Geometric patterns can represent order, harmony and the infinite.

Super.

Let's move on.

Floral and vine patterns use plants twisting and curling around borders, symbolizing growth, life or the connection between heaven and earth.

Gold leaf and gilded patterns use gold to show something precious, divine or eternal.

The shining surface makes the artwork look holy and otherworldly.

Over to you.

Which of these patterns use geometric shapes? Is it A, B, or C? You can pause the video here and click play when you've got the answer.

So what did you get? If you got A, you are correct.

Over to you again.

Which of these patterns use gilded decoration? You can pause the video here and click play when you've got the answer.

So what did you get? If you got C, you are correct.

And the last one, which of these patterns uses floral and vine designs? What do you think? Is it A, B or C? You can pause the video here and click play when you've got the answer.

So what did you get? If you got B, you are correct.

Well done.

Let's move on.

In medieval times, most people couldn't read.

Artists used symbols and patterns to communicate, meaning a halo with a patterned border showed someone was holy.

A repeating star or cross pattern could remind people of heaven or faith.

A flower pattern might link to a specific saint or place.

These patterns were not just decoration, they were a language of shapes and textures that told stories and expressed belief.

True or false? Medieval artists used patterns only to make their paintings look pretty.

Is this true or is this false, and can you give a reason why? You can pause the video here and click play when you've got the answer.

So what did you get? If you got false, that is correct.

Why do you think this is? You can pause the video again.

So what did you get? Well, medieval artists used patterns to share religious ideas and symbolic meanings, not just for decoration.

Onto the main task for this lesson cycle.

So, you will choose a symbol or shape inspired by medieval designs.

You will repeat your chosen symbol or shape across a small area.

I'd like you to consider symmetry or regular spacing.

Add gold or metallic details with pens or crayons.

I'd like you to keep the design clear and bold for later use in clay or textured surfaces.

Off we go.

Have fun.

You can pause the video here and click play when you've created your design.

So I hope you enjoyed that task.

How did you do? Here's an example that Izzy came up with.

Izzy says, "I used stars and fleur-de-lis shapes in a regular pattern to make it look balanced and ordered.

I tried to keep the spacing even so it would look like a proper medieval design.

I used gold crayon to make the symbols stand out like the gold leaf backgrounds in medieval paintings.

I wanted it to shine and look precious." Fabulous work.

Let's move on.

Now, you'll be designing your personal symbolic patterns.

In medieval art, artists didn't just decorate for fun.

They used patterns and symbols to tell stories and share ideas.

Patterns often showed spiritual beliefs, important values or memories.

Where might you have seen patterns? Over to you.

Why did medieval builders and artists use symmetry and pattern in church ceilings and windows? Have a think.

Is it A, to make them look simple and plain, B, to save time when building, or C, to represent balance, beauty, and divine order? What do you think? You can pause the video here and click play when you've got the answer.

So what did you get? If you got C, you are correct.

Medieval builders and artists used symmetry and pattern to represent balance, beauty and divine order in church ceilings and windows.

Fabulous.

Let's move on.

Over to you.

What material was often used in illuminated manuscripts to show something holy or precious? Is it A, silver paint, B, watercolor paint, or C, gold leaf? What do you think? You can pause the video here and click play when you've got the answer.

So what did you get? If you got C, you are correct.

Gold leaf was often used in illuminated manuscripts to show something holy or precious.

The children are talking about symbols that are meaningful to them.

Sophia says, "I chose a wave pattern because the sea is an important place for me.

I go there with my family every summer and it's where I feel most relaxed.

The curved lines remind me of the sound of the waves and the feeling of calmness when I watch them move." Jacob says, "I chose a star as my symbol because it makes me think about hope and finding direction.

When things feel difficult, I like to look at the night sky and remember that there's always light, even in the dark.

The gold I used for the stars reminds me of light and strength." Engraving or incising into soft clay was and still is a common way to create symbols, patterns, and decorative designs.

In medieval art and craft, symbols were often carved, pressed, or engraved into materials like clay, metal, stone, or wood.

Applying gold through paint, gilding or metallic clays is a great way to mimic the look of medieval religious objects, manuscripts, or illuminated decorations, which often featured gold leaf or gold paint.

Andeep says, "I used a flower shape because it reminds me of my grandma, who loved gardening.

She always grew bright pink and yellow flowers, and the smell and color make me think of her kindness.

I repeated the lines in the background to show how her love and care are still part of my life.

The soft shapes make the pattern feel gentle, just like her personality.

To make your clay piece, you'll squash a small ball of white clay and then smooth the top.

You will then trip the edge with scissors.

Next, you will engrave your symbol straight onto the clay.

You might choose something personal, cultural, or imagined.

You'll do this by pushing the pencil in, to make a pattern.

Careful not to push the pencil with too much pressure because this will leave a hole.

Then, you're gonna carefully lay a square of gold leaf over the clay design and gently press on the gold leaf with a soft brush, or paint your clay with gold paint.

Over to you.

True or false? You can make your clay look gold by using gold leaf or gold paint.

What do you think? Is this true or is this false? You can pause the video here and click play when you've got the answer.

So what did you get? If you got true, that is correct.

Both methods give a gold effect.

Onto the last task for this lesson.

I'd like you to design a symbol that is meaningful to you, and then I'd like you to engrave it onto clay and decorate it.

Now, you could use the design you had created from the first part of the lesson for this as well.

And then I'd like you to discuss or write about how do your chosen shapes, colors, or materials show something personal about you? What would you hope someone feels or thinks when they look at your artwork? How does the surface add to the meaning? Does it feel rough, calm, rich, or energetic? And lastly, if someone found your artwork in a hundred years, what might they learn about you? You can pause the video here and click play when you've completed this task.

Off you go, have fun.

So, how did you find that? Well, you should've designed a symbolic pattern, engraved it onto clay and decorated it.

Sophia says, "I chose curve shapes and wavy lines because they remind me of the sea where I grew up.

The blue and green colors feel calm and peaceful, like being near water." Andeep says, "I'd like people to feel calm, like they're looking at something peaceful and safe." Jacob says, "If someone found my artwork, they might learn that I loved nature and used it to express myself." Well done if you managed to create your clay piece.

Let's summarize our learning.

So this lesson was all about patterns in medieval art.

Medieval artists used geometric, floral, and gilded patterns to express spiritual ideas, not just decoration.

Patterns were used to communicate meaning such as harmony, holiness, and the connection between heaven and earth.

Lastly, artists used patterns as a visual language to communicate ideas, beliefs and stories to people who could not read.

Thank you so much for joining me in this lesson.

Bye.