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