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Chapter 17The Age of Pilgrimages:

Romanesque Art

Gardner’s Art Through the Ages, 12e

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Europe About 1100

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Goals• Understand the term “Romanesque” in

designating the artistic style of an historic period.

• Examine the need for large scale pilgrimage churches, the growth of architecture and urban centers. 

• Understand the ‘millenial’ and apocalyptic mood of the Romanesque era and their impact on artistic themes.   

• Understand the role of relics and the artistic objects designed to contain relics.

• Recognize differences and similarities in regional Romanesque architecture and artistic styles.

• Understand the narrative function of the human figure in Romanesque sculpture.

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From Dr. Bard: The Romanesque Church

• Protects from Pillage.• Accommodates Pilgrimage• Provides for Permanence

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St-Etienne/Durham Cathedral• Two Norman cathedrals, the later

conceived as a vaulted church from the beginning

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Figure 17-14 Plan of Saint-Étienne, Caen, France.

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Figure 17-16 Plan (top) and lateral section (right) of Durham Cathedral, England (after Kenneth John Conant).

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The Romanesque Portal

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The Romanesque Portal

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St. Trophime, Arles, mid-12th cen.

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St. Trophime, Arles, mid-12th cen.

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St. Trophime

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St. Trophime

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St. Trophime

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Discussion Questions

Identify key elements of Romanesque architecture.

What factors sparked the increase in building of churches in Western Europe?

Why do you think there was such a strong positive reception of the concept of relics in Romanesque society??