6.5- Romanesque Art and Architecture

Romanesque

the term “Roman-Like” applied 19th century to designate medieval art of the 10th century

• Europe-wide revival of monumental architecture,sculpture, and painting

tympanum

a vertical recessed triangular or semi-circular space forming the center of a pediment or decorative wall surface over an entrance, door, or Windsor, which is bounded by a lintel and an arch

• where the most important imagery is located

portals

wood or metal doors; entrance to the church. They are surrounded by stone sculpture arranged to fit the architectural elements

archivolts

curved moldings formed by the voussoirs; arches of decorative and narrative motifs that frame the tympanum

Voussoirs

wedge shaped blocks that together form the archivolts of the arch framing the tympanum

trumeau

center post supporting the lintel; middle of doorway

jambs

side posts of the door

lintel

horizontal beam above doorway

pilgrimage routes affect on church design

affected church design

• exchange of ideas, income for towns on way to Santiago de Compostela influence on church design-especially ambulatory and extended nave

monasteries

centers of learning/religious learning- production of illuminated manuscripts

growth of cities affect on art

this continued trade and craftsmen flourished- rekindling of sculpture traditions

11th century Europe

• Lief Erickson reaches America

• Pilgrimages begin to go to Santiago de Compostela in Spain to St. Peters in Rome

Christian church split

1054 CE

christian church splits between western (Rome)and Eastern (Orthodox) branches Pope of Rome consolidates political and religious power in western Europe

• during 10 the century, Europe revived economically, socially, and culturally

• no more attacked of migrating people which was a source of conflict for centuries

Battle of Hastings

William the conqueror invades England- crowned king of England after defeating Harold uniting England with much of France. Normans also conquered Sicily (freed from Byzantine control)

Feudalism

King ruled a whole country dividing land to important men and nobles

• feudal way of life was hard

  • floods, years of bad crops

Crusades

were knights whose sole mission was to protect pilgrim visiting the churches in Europe. they stemmed from the church as they increased in power and energy. they began in 1090’s as an attempt to control/capture the “Holy lands” from the Muslims

• pilgrimage and ______ contributed significantly to the growth of trade and rise of cities in the Romanesque period.

Pilgrimages significance

the pilgrimages became a regular feature of Christian life during the Romanesque period

• pilgrimage churches were built to accommodate demand for space

• pilgrims traveled over defined routes, known as pilgrim roads → contributed to the growth of trade

  • pilgrims visited churches and monasteries along their route to pray before relics of saints

considerations and influences on the “Romanesque”Sculptural Style

1. revival of stone scultpue carving techniques is slow after centuries o neglect and disinterest- no local tradition of large scale stone sculpture

2. sculptural decoration is first in high relief (rather that sculpture in the round)

3. sculptors and stone masons look to non-Greco Roman models for inspiration

   1. influenced by; illuminated manuscripts, Anglo-Saxon metal work and other decorative arts, early frescoes, and mosaics

significant innovations and features of Romanesque art

1000-1150 CE

most significant feature of Romanesque art is the revival of monumental sculpture. Carved portals were the most significant innovation of Romanesque art

Subject matters

• biblical narrative

• legends, folklore, history, and Christian symbolism

• Christ majesty (the second coming)

• Last Judgement

• Final triumph of good over evil at the apocolypse

silver and gold reliquaries

where were relics of Saints housed?

• also in chapels and radiating chapels