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Andrew Graham-Dixon

David Briggs

Janet Lee

The Culture Show: Viking Art

31/05/2014 GMT

Viking Art

BBC World News - The Culture Show, Viking Art

Andrew Graham-Dixon explores the intricate artistic splendour of Viking art.

Andrew Graham-Dixon explores Viking art, which is defined by intricate artistic styles - distinctly Scandinavian, yet influenced by interaction with other cultures.

The Vikings are famous for their violent raids on Anglo-Saxon monasteries, incredible shipbuilding skills and general brutality. They are less famous, perhaps, for their artistic talents. Yet the precious fragments of art that survive from the Viking Age portray a far more mysterious side to Viking culture. From the so-called 'gripping beast' motif of the Oseberg wood carvings to the abstract animal ornamentation that adorns Viking jewellery, Viking art is defined by beautiful and intricate artistic styles that are distinctly Scandinavian, yet also show the Vikings' interaction with other cultures, culminating in their conversion from paganism to Christianity. To coincide with the first major exhibition on Vikings at the British Museum for over 30 years, Andrew Graham-Dixon invites viewers to explore and admire the splendours of Viking art.

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