Post on 06-May-2015
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CHAPTER 15: ROMANESQUE ARTMagister Ricard
Art History
What is Romanesque?
Roman Catholic Church is firmly established in Europe
Refers to period between 1050-1200 AD Architectural elements are heavily
borrowed from Rome Pilgrimages (tourism!) were big business,
influenced architecture Sculpture taught religious ideas (due to
illiteracy)
What Should You Know?
What is the main reason or cause for the rise of churches during the 11th and 12th centuries?
What are the architectural elements of this period? How are they different than the following
Gothic period?
Age of Pilgrimages
Artist: n/a Title: Christ and Disciples
on the Road to Emmaus Medium: Pier relief Size: figures nearly life-
size Date: c. 1100 Source/ Museum:
Cloister of the Abbey of Santo Domingo, Silos, Castile, Spain
Apocalypse NOW!
Many believed the apocalypse was coming in the year 1000 This created more devout Christians
In 711, the Muslims invaded western Europe (Spain)
With the Viking threat also being a thing of the past, more unemployed soldiers Crusades were devised to take back Holy Land
from Muslims Pilgrimages were undertaken to show piety
Here come them pilgrims!
Romanesque Architecture
Traits of Romanesque Architecture Used the basilica-plan as the model
Following Carolingian and Ottonian architects Did not use concrete, instead used cut stone and mortar Buildings before 11th century used timber roofs,
Romanesque use stone vaulting Barrel and groin vaults resting on piers to create large
openings Arcades in side aisles allowed for pilgrims to walk
around without disturbing ceremonies Cruciform layout (long nave traversed by short transept) Round arches!
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Artist: n/a Title: Transept, Cathedral
of Saint James, Santiago de Compostela. View toward the crossing
Medium: n/a Size: n/a Date: 1078–1122 Source/ Museum:
Galicia, Spain Held body of St. James,
apostle to Iberian peninsula
Relics and Reliquaries
One of the main attractions for pilgrims were the relics Eastern Orthodox (Byzantine) used icons Western Christians (Roman Catholic)
venerated relics Every altar was to have a relic, these
items become subdivided – even stolen Relics generated tourism, income for
these churches and towns
Reliquary Statue of Sainte Foy
Remains of a child martyr Stolen from original shrine
in Agent, France Head made from Roman
statue Medium: Silver gilt over
a wood core, with added gems and cameos of various dates
Size: Height 33" (85 cm) Date: Late 9th or 10th
century with later additions
Religious Orders: Cistercian Monks
Advocated strict mental and physical discipline
Life devoted to prayer Intellectual pursuits combined with
manual labor Founded in 1098 with the Abbey of
Citeaux
Baptistery
Cathedral Campanile
Sant’Ambrogio, Milan
Dedicated to Saint Ambrose
Uses compound piers with 3 huge ribbed groin vaults
No clerestory Begun 1080;
vaulted after an earthquake in 1117
Nave, Durham Cathedral
Experiments With Groin Vaults!
Sant’Ambrogio Durham Cathedral
Three Tiers to Churches• Clerestory• Gallery• Nave/Arcade
Saint-Etienne, Caen
Vertical element follows Carolingian architects, precedes Gothic designs Spires built in 13th
century Was converted from
timber roof to stone masonry vault after 1120
William the Conqueror was buried there in 1087
Messages for the Masses
Romanesque sculpture
Sculptural Features
Architecture dominated the arts due to its demand of manpower
Facades usually were didactic and symbolic
Most important images were located in tympanum – semicircle above the door
Archivolts frame the tympanum Trumeau – sculpted supports of door and
central pier
Sculptural Features
Tympanum
Archivolts
Trumeau
The Last Judgment, Saint-Lazare, Autun
Artist: Gislebertus Title: Last Judgment,
Tympanum on West Portal, Cathedral (Originally Abbey Church) of Saint-Lazare, Autun
Medium: n/a Size: n/a Date: c. 1120–30 or
1130–45 Source/ Museum:
Burgundy, France
Christ in Majesty
Combines Byzantine style and Mozarabic
Fills apse in San Clement of Taull, Spain
Consecrated in 1123
“Ego sum lux mundi”
Used glazing
The Bayeux Tapestry
Not really a tapestry, but an embroidery Tapestry is woven Embroidery is applied to woven ground
Harold, Anglo-Saxon nobleman, betrays his oath to William, Duke of Normandy
With the Normans victory in 1066, William the Conqueror emerges as king of England