Gothic and Romanesque Identification

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Abbey Church of Saint Denis, Interior of the ambulatory

Gothic

Paris, France

Considered the first Gothic building because it introduces the structural system that defines Gothic architeture. The building creates a light-filled interior that feels open and vertical, very different from the dark heaviness of the Romanesque churches

Introduction of Gothic architectural elements

• pointed arches

• large stained glass windows

• walls filled with light

• ribbed vaults

• compound piers/thin columns replacing thick Romanesque piers

Abbot Suger believed divine light could bring the viewer closer to God, so the church was designed to maximize colored light from stained glass.

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Chartres Cathedral, West Facade

Gothic

Chartres, France

important sculpture features:

• elongated jamb statues

• figures attached to columns

• calm facial expressions

• stylized drapery

The figures represent:

• Old Testament kings and queens

• ancestors of christ

• meaning: they connect biblical authority to medieval monarchy

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Chartres Cathedral, plan

Gothic

Chartres, France

Key gothic features supported by the plan:

• flying buttresses

• ribbed vaults

• pointed arches

important relic: chartres housed the Sancta Camisia (Virgin Mary’s tunic), making it a major pilgrimage sit

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

The Virgin of Jeanne d’Evreux

Gothic

France

Material: silver gilt with enamel

It was a private devotional sculpture owned by the queen.

important style features

• S-curve pose

• elegant proportions

• very delicate drapery

• intimate interaction between Mary and Christ

This reflects late Gothic court style

Commissioned by Queen Jeanne d’Evreux, wife of King Charles IV.

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Hours of Jeanne d’Evreux

Gothic

France

Purpose: used for private devotion and daily prayers

• used by wealthy individuals

Key artistic feature: grisaille painting (painted mostly in gray tones)

• why? it makes images look like small sculptures

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Exterior of Sainte Chapelle

Rayonnant Gothic

France

Patron: King Louis IX (aka Saint Louis)

Purpose: to house relics of the Passion of Christ, especially Crown of Thorns

Key architectural idea:

• walls are almost entirely glass

• the structure acts like a giant reliquary for relics

Louis IX wanted to show that France was the center of Christianity.

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Sainte Chapelle, Interior

Gothic

France

iconography: windows show biblical history from gensis to the passion

• they visually connect biblical kings → French monarchy

• reinforces the idea that French kinds rule with divine authority

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Annunciation and Visitation

Sculpture at Reims Cathedral in Reims, France

High Gothic sculpture
Biblical Scenes depicted:

• Annunciation: angel gabriel tells mary she will give birth to Christ

• Visitation: mary visits her cousin Elizabeth

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Reims Cathedral in Reims, France

West Facade specifically

Gothic

French kings were crowned here. This made Reims the political center of the French monarchy.

architectural features:

• large rose window

• sculptural portals (3)

• sculptural decor covering the facade

• tall towers

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Virtues and Vices — sculptures on the west facade portals

Amiens Cathedral in Amiens, France

Gothic

Purpose: they teach moral lessons

each sculpture shows: a virture vs a vice

• humility vs pride

• charity vs greed

• patience vs anger

the sculptures were meant to teach moral behavior before entering the church, appearing in quatrefoil panels on the facade. people entering would understand that good behavior leads to salvation while sin leads to punishment

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Amiens Cathedral in Amiens, France

Gothic

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Furriers at Work

(lower panel window in the Life of Charlemagne window)

Chartres Cathedral in Chartres, France

Gothic

This scene shows members of the furriers’ guild.

important concepts:

• medieval guilds helped pay for cathedral windows

• in return, they were repsented in the artwork

• this show how urban professions influenced cathedral decoration

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Chartres Cathedral, North Transept, Rose and Lancet Windows

Chartres, France

Gothic

This window is associated with the Virgin Mary

typical imagery:

• mary ethroned

• old testament kings

• prophets

rose windows symbolize heaven and divine order

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Chartres Cathedral (Chartres, France)

Specifically the North transept portals

Gothic

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Chartres Cathedral, West Portals

Chartres, France

Gothic

This is called the Royal Portal

Main themes include:

• Christ in Majesty

• Second Coming

• Old Testament kings and queens

These figures create a visual genealogy of Christ

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Chartres Cathedral, Jamb Statues

Chartres, France

Gothic

Key stylistic features:

• talle elongate bodies

• attached to columns

• stylized drapery

These represent Early Gothic sculpture. Later Gothic sculpture becomes more naturalistic

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Saint Martin-du-Canigou, Upper Church

Romanesque

Located: French Pyrenees

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Saint Sernin, Toulouse

Romanesque

Toulouse, France

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Plan of Santiago de Compostela, modern-day Spain

Romanesque

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Saint Sernin, Toulouse

Romanesque

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Tympanum depicting the Last Judgment
Romanesque

St. Lazara, Autun

important imagery:

• Christ in the center

• Archangel Michael weighing souls

• demons dragging sinners to hell

warns viewers about sin and salvation

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Santo Domingo de Silos, Spain

Road to Emmaus

Romanesque

Biblical story after the Resurrection of Christ. Christ appears to two disciples walking to Emmaus.

important romanesque features:

• simplified figures

• strong outlines

• symbolic gestures

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Bayeux Embroidery

Romanesque

This embroidery depicts Halley’s Comet.

• Subjects are pointing at the comet, scared

• Comet portrayed as a divine omen signalling doom for King Harold II following his breaking of an oath to William

• Political propaganda → serving the Norman narrative by portraying Harold’s reign as illegitimate and destined for ruin by the heavens

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

St. Savin-dur-Gartempe, Interior

Romanesque

The frescoes, wall paintings that depict scenes from the Old Testament

Paintings run across the barrel vault

example scenes:

• noah’s ark

• tower of babel

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Reliquary of Saint Foye

Romanesque

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Cluny Lectionary

Cluniac

Romanesque

A lectionary contains biblical readings used during church services. Cluniac manuscripts were richly decorated because the Cluniac order supported luxury and elaborate worship

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Moralia in Job

Cistercian

Romanesque

Illustrates writings by Pope Gregory the Great

Citercians rejected decoration, so manuscripts were simple, minimal, often only red and black ink

This reflects their belief in austere spirituality

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Abbey Church, Fontenay

Romanesque

Perfect example of Cistercian architecture

features:

• plain stone

• no sculpture

• minimal decor

reflects Cistercian ideals: humility, simplicity, manual labor

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Plan of the ideal Cistercian Monastery

Romanesque

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

First tone of Plansong capital, Cluny III

Romanesque

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Plan of Cluny III

Romanesque

Abbey Church, Cluny

12th century

Cluny III was once the largest church in Europe.

characteristics:

• enormous size

• multiple towers

• double transepts

It reflects the wealth and power of the Cluniac order.

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Berze la Villa, Pentecost/Mission of the Apostles

Upper chapel of priory

Romanesque

Shows Christ sending out the apostles

important themes: authority of Christ, missionary work, spread of Christianity

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

St. Lazare, Autun

Flight into Egypt

Autun capital

Romanesque

Depicts a scene where mary, joseph, and baby jesus flee to Egypt to escape King Herod

Romanesque capitals often show biblical narratives to teach viewers

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

St Madeleine, Vezeley

Mission of the Apostles

Romanesque

Central Tympanum showing Christ sending out the Apostles

Key Imagery:

• Christ at the center, dominating the sculpture

• Sat in mandorla?

• Apostles surrounding him, holding books - maybe preparing to spread the word of Christ

• Christ’s hand extended outward, radiating rays of light to symbolize Pentecost and the authorization of the missionary journey

Message: This sculpture emphasizes the spread of Christianity throughout the world. It is also connected to the Crusades, encouraging believers to spread and defend faith

What is this? Romanesque or Gothic? Where is it located?

Saint Pierre, Moissac

Christ in Majesty

Romanesque

Surrounded by the four Evangelists

Symbols:

• Angel = matthew

• lion = mark

• ox = luke

• eagle = john

Represents Christ as ruler of the universe

Identify the parts of the portal

Identify the parts of the church. What church is it?

Nave: the main central space where the congregation stands

Side aisles: passageways running along both sides of the nave

Transept: the cross arm of the church that creates the cruciform plan

Crossing: the area where the nave and transept intersect

Apse: the semicircular space at the east end of the church

Ambulatory: the passage that circles around the apse

West facade: the main entrance of the church, often with towers

Plan of Santiago de Compostela (Romanesque)