“Visigothic Art: The Visigoths were the most Romanized of the Germanic invaders, and thus their cultural legacy (mostly south of the Pyrenees) includes the continuation of late Roman-Christian architectural styles (5th century-711), with one notable addition: the horseshoe-shaped arch, adopted by the Arabs after the invasions of 711. The Visigoths excelled in metalwork and jewelry using gold, crystal, and precious stones.”
Excerpted from: Diamond, David G. The Bulfinch Pocket Dictionary of Art Terms. Boston: Little Brown, 1992.