ROMANESQUE EUROPE

Introduction: Objectives

  • This chapter provides an exploration of key aspects of Romanesque Europe by:

    • Exploring the expansion of the first unified culture in Europe.

    • Describing the origins of Romanesque art within the context of Medieval Europe.

    • Identifying significant examples of Romanesque art.

    • Understanding the didactic aim of Romanesque art.

Definition of Romanesque Art

  • The term "Romanesque" was invented to describe medieval art that appeared "Roman-like."

  • Architectural historians first used the term in the early 19th century for European architecture of the 11th and 12th centuries.

  • Key architectural elements noted from this period include barrel and groin vaults based on the round arch, resembling ancient Roman architecture.

Key Architectural Elements

  • Barrel Vault:

    • The barrel vault is an extension of a simple arch.

  • Groin Vault:

    • Formed by the intersection at right angles of two barrel vaults of equal size.

Significant Examples of Romanesque Art

Saint-Etienne, Vignory, France (1050-1057)

  • Features a timber-roofed abbey church that shows connections with the three-story naves of Ottonian churches.

  • Notably, the second story is not a true tribune (gallery) over the aisle, but rather a screen with alternating piers and columns extending onto tall flanking aisles.

Floor Plan of Saint-Étienne, Vignory

  • Plan includes:

    • (1) Nave

    • (A) Aisles

    • (B) Ambulatory

    • (C) Choir

  • The east end is innovative, with an ambulatory around the choir and three semicircular chapels opening onto it. These chapels likely housed relics, allowing pilgrims to view them without involving themselves in the choir activities around the main altar.

Social and Economic Context: Feudalism

  • Life centered around the manor or estate of a landholding noble lord.

  • Lords granted land rights to vassals, who in return swore allegiance and provided military service.

  • A notable increase in trade fostered the growth of towns and cities, gradually replacing feudal estates as the societal backbone.

  • Feudal lords provided charters to new towns, granting them rights and privileges beyond those owed to vassals.

  • During the 11th and 12th centuries, substantial numbers of Christian houses of worship were remodeled or constructed, driven by the prosperity in newly independent cities.

Example: Saint-Philibert, Tournus, France (1060)

  • Exhibits the southern French style, constructed with brick as opposed to large stone blocks.

Example: Nave Vaults, Saint Vincent, Cardona, Spain

  • Illustrates the typical design elements from the time.

Pilgrimages and Monasticism (1000-1100)

  • The period around 1000 marked a surge in monasticism and pilgrimages throughout Europe.

  • Influential figures included Pachomius the Great, who founded communities for monks, shaping the foundation of Christian monasticism.

  • The Abbey of Cluny's influence notably increased, leading to a grid of monasteries across Europe.

  • Pilgrimages were often linked to the veneration of relics, which significantly impacted both arts and architecture.

  • An important event was the discovery of the tomb of Apostle St. James, prompting the development of a Romanesque cathedral and a major pilgrimage route.

  • Churches along pilgrimage roads featured radiating chapels in ambulatories and transepts.

Major Romanesque Architecture

Example: Saint-Sernin, Toulouse, France (ca. 1070-1120)

  • A prime representation of the "pilgrimage church" type.

  • Modifications at Toulouse included:

    • Lengthened nave

    • Doubled side aisles

    • Added transept, ambulatory, and radiating chapels, vastly increasing space for pilgrims and clergy.

  • The plan adheres to geometric precision, with the crossing square serving as a modular reference for construction. Each nave bay aligns precisely as half the crossing square, and each aisle bay measures as one-fourth of it.

Example: Sainte-Foy, Conques, Auvergne, France (ca. 1050)

  • Represents typical Romanesque style in its design and ornamentation.

Artistic Developments

Important Examples

  • Example: Saint James, Santiago de Compostela (ca. 1075-1120, Spain)

  • Example: Christ in Majesty relief in ambulatory of Saint-Sernin, Toulouse (ca. 1096).

  • Example: Reliquary statue of Sainte Foy (late 10th to early 11th century), showcasing the elaborate craftsmanship combining gold, jewels, and wood.

  • Earliest dated Romanesque stone sculpture located at Saint-Genis-des-Fontaines (1019-1020), forming part of the portal on the facade of the abbey.

Pilgrims and Relics

  • The enlargement and construction of churches reflect significant increases in pilgrimage traffic.

  • Justification for construction expenses was often found in the Bible (e.g., Psalm 26:8).

  • Pilgrims contributed to town growth as well as the establishment of monasteries.

  • Major pilgrimage sites included:

    • Saint Peter's and Saint Paul's in Rome

    • Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem

  • For those unable to travel far, local shrines like:

    • The church at Vezelay (housing bones of Mary Magdalene)

    • Saint Lazarus's remains at Autum

    • Saint Saturninus's at Toulouse

    • Saint Faith's at Conques

    • Saint Martin's at Tours

    • Tomb of Saint James at Santiago de Compostela, seen as the most revered destination.

Cluny - A Centers of Influence

  • Founded in 909 by Duke William the Pious of Aquitaine, donated to reform-minded Benedictine monks.

  • Led by Berno of Baume, the monks achieved fame for their scholarship, music, and art while expanding influence and wealth.

  • Cluny III, completed in 1130, was the largest church in Europe for nearly 500 years, known for its bold design featuring a barrel-vaulted nave with multiple aisles and radiating chapels.

Example: Historiated Capital and Cloisters at Saint-Pierre, Moissac (ca. 1100-1115)

  • Notable for artistic carving and functionality.

The Cistercians

  • A faction separated from the Cluniac order in 1098 at Citeaux, emphasizing strict adherence to Saint Benedict's rules and practical manual labor.

  • The Cistercians (White Monks) significantly influenced agricultural practices throughout Europe.

Architectural Features

Romanesque Church Portals

  • Tympanum: The prominent semicircular area above a doorway, akin to the triangular pediment of Greco-Roman temples.

  • Voussoirs: Wedge-shaped blocks forming the archivolts of the tympanum.

  • Lintel: The horizontal beam above the doorway.

  • Trumeau: The central post supporting the lintel at the doorway.

  • Jambs: The side posts supporting the doorway.

  • Church doorways served as symbolic entry points to salvation through Christ and often included didactic figural reliefs around the entrances.

Artistic Themes

  • Common themes depicted in tympana include the Second Coming of Christ and the Maiestas Domini (Christ in Majesty) scenes.

  • Example from Moissac represents a vivid depiction of Revelation 4:2-7, illustrating the atmosphere surrounding the throne of God as detailed in scripture.

Additional Notable Works

  • Notre-Dame, Fontenay (1139-1147) exemplifies the continuance of Romanesque architectural characteristics into late innovations.

  • Unlike the Cluniacs, different perspectives towards ornamentation were taken by the Cistercians, leading to functional simplicity in their designs.

Summary of Architectural and Artistic Progress

  • Between 1100-1200, Romanesque sculptors revived large-scale stone relief carving, primarily enhancing church facades.

  • Manuscript illumination thrived in Cluniac monasteries amidst growing pilgrimage-induced economic dynamics.

  • Normandy and English architects innovated by incorporating groin vaulting and three-story elevation principles.