The Lombard Renaissance
(6th century to 774 A.D.)

Metalwork

[Lombard fibula from Cividale di Friuli] 1. Lombard fibula from Cividale di Friuli, second half 6th c. A.D. Justinian's Ostrogothic wars to impose direct rule upon Italy led to the collapse of the top Roman aristocracy, the Ostrogothic government, and Italy's urban centers - all central to Italo-Roman civilization. The wars also encouraged the the self-interested intervention of Franks and Lombards. The Lombards had served in Pannonia as the Empire's army of foederati, but the chaos in Italy drew them and other military leaders, perhaps under Frankish direction, to intervene and displace the Ostrogoths. In 568 various war chiefs under the direction of the Lombard Alboin established the Kingdom of Pavia in Northern Italy. Alboin made his nephew Gisulf a Duke in Friuli and appointed other military leaders as dukes in other towns. Some Lombard chiefs continued on their own to lower Italy to establish there the Dutchies of Spoleto and Beneventum. Being a culturally Romanized section of the Roman army, the Lombards naturally adopted the Mediterranean cloak fastened with a fibula marking the owner's wealth and status.
[Gold round fibula] 2. Gold round fibula. The larger one, which has a filigré design, is Lombard, mid 6th to 7th c. A.D. The two smaller ones are Frankish, 7th c., and are gold on bronze with enamel inlays (New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art). The idea of a round fibula is probably late Roman, but the decoration is Germanic.
[Queen Theodelinda's votive polychrome crown] 3. Queen Theodelinda's votive polychrome crown, early 7th c. A.D. (Monza: Cathedral Treasure). King Authari (584-590) had lost all but Pavia and Milan to Frankish forces, and it was probably the fear of plague that caused the Franks to withdraw before entirely absorbing the Lombard monarchy. As part of his effort to win allies against the Franks, Authari married Theodelinda, daughter of Duke Garibald of Bavaria - a region that had immediate access to Italy. When Authari died unexpectedly in 590, Theodelinda negotiated with the dukes to select the Thuringian Duke Agilulf of Turin. Agilulf, who ruled 590-616 A.D., brought a period of stability to Lombardy and peaceful relations with the Franks.
[] 4. Detail of gilded copper repoussé helmet plaque with a representation of the Lombard King Agilulf, late 6th c. A.D. (Firenza: Mus. Naz. del Bargello). The Lombard dukes were fairly independent, which enabled the Franks to intervene and make the Lombards tributary. It was only with King Agilulf (590-616 A.D.) that a firm unified leadership was established in the North that gained independence from the Franks. This plaque is the first known attempt in Germanic art to represent a king enthroned, and it manifests the Lombard adoption of Roman figurative art and models, with Byzantine influences. The Lombard leadership had been nominally Christian even before entry into Italy, and so they were ideologically Roman.
[Lombard silver gilt and niello fibula] 5. Lombard silver gilt and niello fibula in Animal Style I. On verso is an incised face. First half of the 7th c. A.D. (New York: Metropolitan Museum).
[Lombard round fibula from a Castel Trosino grave] 6. Lombard round fibula from a Castel Trosino grave. 7th century. (Rome: Mus. dell'alto med.) Gold with glass paste inlays. 3.75" dia.
[Chased bronze griffin shield ornament from Ischlander Alz grave] 7. Chased bronze griffin shield ornament from Ischlander Alz grave. Lombard, 7th c. A.D. (München: Prähist. Mus.). 3.25 in. Northern in style and in its figurative conception.
[Gilt caste bronze shield ornament, Stabio] 8. Gilt caste bronze appliqué shield ornament, from a warrior's grave at Stabio. Lombard, 7th c. A.D. (Berne: Hist. Mus.). 4 in. Probably an Italian armorer drawing on a Roman model to supply the need of a Lombard aristocrat to ape the Roman life-style to legitimate his official power.
[Caste bronze shield ornament representing a lion. Lombard] 9. Caste bronze shield ornament representing a lion. Lombard, 7th c. A.D. (Berne: Hist. Mus.). Reflects influence of Late Roman figurative realism. These bronze plaques provide some access to the cultural world of the Lombard aristocracy.
[The Cividale Disk] 10. The Cividale Disk (bracteate). A Lombard gold stamped disk from an Udin grave showing a warrior and interlaced animals. Ca. 600 A.D. (Cividale: Mus. Arch.) 1.8 in. Derives from holy warrior slaying the dragon theme in both Christian and pagan antiquity.

Stone relief

[Lombard relief monastery of Sta. Maria della Pusterola, Pavia] 1. Lombard relief from sarcophagus of Abbese Theodata, from monastery of Sta. Maria della Pusterola, Pavia. Ca. 735 A.D. (Pavia: Museo civico Malaspina). 26 x 69 x 1.5" The stone is from val di Susa.
[Lombard marble altar closure slab of Magister Ursus] 2. Lombard marble altar closure slab of Magister Ursus, in honor of Duke Ilderic of Spoleto, 8th c. (Ferentillo: S. Pietro in Valle). 43 x 80.5 in. The two figures are probably the artist Ursus and Duke Ilderic.
[Lombard stone relief from the Altar of Duke Ratchis] 3. Lombard stone relief from the Altar of Duke Ratchis, Cividale. The side relief shows the Adoration of the Magi. Ca. 740 A.D. (S. Martine, Civ. Chapter room).
[Lombard Altar of Ratchis] 4. Lombard Altar of Ratchis relief of ca. 740 A.D. (Cividale: St. Martin church museum). Christ in majesty with two angels.
[Altar of Ratchis. Relief detail] 5. Altar of Ratchis. Relief detail. Visitation of Mary. Ca. 740 A.D. (Cividale: St. Martin church museum).
[Baptistry of Callisto. Lombard] 6. Baptistry of Callisto. Lombard, 8th c. (Cividale: Church Museum).