Romanesque Art I
Art from 11-12th centuries.
Ex: Interior of Durham Cathedral. Dates back a thousand years.
Quote: "Each people of Christendom rivaled with each other to see which should worship In the finest buildings. The world shook herself, clothed everywhere, in a garment of churches." - Radalphus Glaber.
* Europe has war increasing domestically, but nevertheless the economy is prosperous.
* Countries not really around yet; city states, serdoms.
* Warfare heightens sense of identity--competition arises.
* Cathlolic church is most dominant force in Europe. Form of new stone churches across continent in competition, province vs. province.
* Most churches made from limestone, sedimentary rock created from fossilized calcium deposits. Initially is white color, but dulls over time.
Romanesque Art
* Ex: Detail of the apse (end of church, dome--walls come down and curve) - Church of San Clement | Shows Christ in Majesty. Black outline, almost cartoon. Not 3D.
* Word means "in the Roman manner" to both art and architecture.
* characterized by something simpler, more spiritual in nature.
* interiors of churches are being detailed with similar images. Not much time to manufacture art in high detail--thus making art more simplified, less ornate or detail. Too much demand, so artistic approaches are simplified.
* illustrated biblical stories, religious themes to educate individuals seeing them, since they were illiterate, plus books weren't mass produced.
Romanesque Architecture
* Castles and churches during this time were built primarily in this style
* Large towers, rounded arches, interior ceiling vaults
* Thick, heavy grounded walls--don't feel light or moving. Solid. Have to be to support heavy stone roof, preventing collapse. Windows have rounded arch, enabling forces above them to be displaced.
* Large, simplistic geometric features
* Windows are very little--making churches dark and cold.
Vaulting in Romanesque Cathedral
* Ribbed vaults (Ex: St. Etienne, Durham Cathedral)
* Way of opening of church through arches
* Barrel vault is a long continious arch. When intersecting two of these barrel vaults, you have the groin or ribbed vault. Allows for greater open space underneath, much more airy.
Pilgrimage churches
Ex: Floor plan of Durham Cathedral
* Pilgrim is a devout christian who would undergo massive journey to leave their homeland far away to a church, housing the relic of a particular saint--often pieces of clothing or bone fragments.. Believed to have magical powers. Venerate the relics.
* Churches before romanesque period were not prepared for large mass services. People came and venerated in small churches, making it chaotic. Thus, an new church design was needed, incorporating both mass and pilgramide--pilgrimage church.
Ex: Portals, doorways open all times, preventing distraction for parishners. They can walk down side isles, all the way around church, allowing them to walk through without being distracted or being the distraction. All throughout walkway are statues of saints.
Ex: Church (separate from upper example) of St. James. Side portals are present, open day and night. Has heavy, earthbound set up, very round.
Extra definitions
Romanesque - Artistic style containing Roman and Byzantine elements.
Towers - A very tall, slender structure usually found on cathedrals.
Rounded arches - An arch formed in a curved shape.
vaults -An arched structure that forms a ceiling or roof.
Ribbed vaults - The intersection of multiple barrel vaults.
pilgrimage - A journey to a sacred or religious place.
Pilgrimage church - A place of worship which people made journeys to.
Cathedral of Saint James - A famous Romanesque cathedral located in Spain.