Carolingian art comes from the
Frankish Empire in the period of roughly 120 years from about 780 to 900 — during the reign of
Charlemagne and his immediate heirs — popularly known as the
Carolingian Renaissance. The art was produced by and for the court circle and a group of important
monasteries under Imperial patronage; survivals from outside this charmed circle show a considerable drop in quality of workmanship and sophistication of design. The art was produced in several centres in what are now France, Germany, Austria, northern Italy and the
Low Countries, and received considerable influence, via continental mission centres, from the
Insular art of the British Isles, as well as a number of Byzantine artists who appear to have been resident in Carolingian centres.