Chapter 1 Page 2 Lamentation (The Mourning of Christ) – Giotto Di Bondone Spanning from the fall of the Roman Empire until the start of the 14th century, was deeply rooted in Christian iconography. It was a time when art served primarily as a vehicle for religious expression, with artists creating illuminated manuscripts, stained glass, and sculptures that adorned cathedrals and churches. This era saw the emergence of various styles such as Romanesque and Gothic, which were characterized by their use of religious motifs and an emphasis on the symbolic rather than the realistic depiction of figures.