Chapter 11: Romanesque

Feudalism

a symbiotic connection between lords and peasants—dominated medieval life.

feminine handicrafts

Women were limited to "\___" including pottery, weaving, and manuscript decorating.

Cathedral

the principal church of a diocese, where a bishop sits

Rib vault

a vault in which diagonal arches form riblike patterns. These arches partially support a roof, in some cases forming a web-like design

Clerestory

the window story of a church

Triforium

A narrow passageway with arches opening onto a nave, usually directly below a clerestory

Bay

a vertical section of a church that is embraced by a set of columns and is usually composed of arches and aligned windows

Abbey

a monastery for monks, or a convent for nuns, and the church that is connected to it

Ambulatory

a passageway around the apse of a church

Apse

the end point of a church where the altar is

Campanile

a bell tower of an Italian building

Arcade

a series of arches supported by columns. When the arches face a wall and are not self-supporting, they are called a blind arcade

Baptistery

in medieval architecture, a separate chapel or building generally in front of a church used for baptisms

Compound pier

a gathering of engaged shafts around a pier

Gallery

a passageway inside or outside a church that generally is characterized by having a colonnade or arcade

Jamb

the side posts of a medieval portal

Narthex

the vestibule, or lobby, of a church

Portal

a doorway. In medieval art they can be significantly decorated

Radiating chapel

a chapel that extends out in a radial pattern from an apse or an ambulatory

Transept

an aisle in a church perpendicular to the nave

Transverse arch

an arch that spans an interior space connecting opposite walls by crossing from side to side

Reliquary

a vessel for holding a sacred relic. Often reliquaries took the shape of the objects they held. Precious metals and stones were the common material

Last Judgment

in Christianity, the judgment before God at the end of the world

Tympanum

a rounded sculpture placed over the portal of a medieval church

Mandorla

(Italian for “almond”) an almond-shaped circle of light around the figure of Christ or Buddha

Embroidery

a woven product in which the design is stitched into a premade fabric

Tapestry

a woven product in which the design and the backing are produced at the same time on a device called a loom

Church of Sainte-Foy

* Church built to handle the large number of pilgrims: wide transepts, large ambulatory with radiating chapels.
* Radiating chapels housed relics of the saints.

Last Judgment

* Largest Romanesque tympanum.
* 124 figures densely packed together; originally richly painted.
* cautions pilgrims that life is transitory and one should prepare for the next life.

Reliquary of Sainte-Foy

* Child saint’s skull is housed in the rather mannish-looking enlarged head.
* Jewels, gems, and crown added over the years by the faithful, as acts of devotion.
* Reliquary of a young girl martyred in the early fourth century

Sainte Foy (or Faith)

______ probably died as a martyr to the Christian faith during the persecutions in 303 under Emperor Diocletian; she was tortured over a brazier; she refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods in a pagan ritual.

The Bayeux Tapestry

* Tells the story (in Latin) of William the Conqueror’s conquest of England at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
* perhaps in a cathedral hung from the pillars in the nave or walls
* Probably designed by a man and executed by women.

First meal from the Bayeux Tapestry

* Norman’s first meal in England, at the center is **Bishop Odo**, who gazes out as he offers a blessing over the cup in his hand.

Cavalry attack from the Bayeux Tapestry

* The cavalry could advance quickly and easily retreat, which would scatter an opponent's defenses allowing the infantry to invade.
* It was a strong tactic that was flexible and intimidating.

Romanesque portal

a doorway. In medieval art they can be significantly decorated