ROMANESQUE

Roman Architecture

  • Romanesque architecture is based on Roman architectural elements

  • Columns, arches, and simplified decoration.

Carolingian Architecture

  • A style of Pre-Romanesque architecture that flourished in the late 8th and 9th centuries.

Ottonian Architecture

  • Was a precursor to Romanesque architecture, which emerged in the mid-11th century.

Byzantine Architecture

  • Influenced Romanesque Architecture's use of religious imagery.

  • Round Arches, Column Capitals, and Domes.

Monasticism

  • a religious lifestyle that involves giving up worldly possessions and devoting oneself to spiritual activities

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• Romanesque architecture is characterized by towering round arches, massive stone and brickwork, small windows, thick walls, and a propensity for housing art and sculpture depicting biblical scenes. • architectural style current in Europe from about the mid-11th century to the advent of Gothic architecture. A fusion of Roman, Carolingian and Ottonian, Byzantine, and local Germanic traditions • Although austere and dominating, Romanesque buildings were meant to inspire as much as intimidate.

The Influences of the Two Kings

  1. Charlamagne • Holy Roman Emperor during the eight and ninth centuries. • Carolingian Architecture

  2. Otto The Great • Second ruler and one of Charlamagne Saxon successors. • Ottonian Architecture • Both styles borrowed heavily from Greek and Roman architecture as well as that of the Byzantine Empire.

Rise of Romanesque Monasticism

Monastic Orders • These religious groups of monks and nuns were wealthy and powerful and used their wealth to build churches and other religious structures. • The increasing prevalence of Cistercian, Benedictine, Franciscan, and other Catholic brotherhoods led Western Europe's landscape to be populated with monasteries and cathedrals.

Evolution Over the Centuries

  • Beginning in the twelfth century, Romanesque design began to evolve into the Gothic style

  • Gothic Style: Gothic buildings borrowed many of the earlier movement's attributes but with more ornate, aesthetically soaring, and complicated motifs, laying the groundwork for the Renaissance.

ARCHITECTURAL INFLUENCES AND CHARACTER

PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES, & CARVINGS

  • These carvings paintings, sculptures, seen in and Romanesque Churches will often depict stories from the Bible

  • A lot of people from Europe are illiterate or are not able to write, so these help relay different religious messages

THICK WALLS

  • It is very common to see Churches during the Romanesque era to be built with thick walls, since these were mainly built with stone, which is heavy and particulary in abig vaulted room

ROUND ARCHES

  • Arches in Romanesque Architecture are commonly seen in a lot of Churches. More often seen as Round Arches, this gives emphasis to a pathway to the central nave with eisles on the sides. And this feature was mainly derived or drew inspiration from the old Roman antique buildings.

BARREL VAULT AND GROIN VAULT

  • When an Arch is deep enough to cover an entire buidling, the roof of that round arches called a Barrel Vault or a Tunnel Vault. Since these are reinforced with the Round Arches, these arches called transverse arches

  • When you have two Barrel Vaults cross at a right angle, that is what you call a Groin Vault.

NOTABLE ARCHITECTS OR PERSONS

Gislebertus

  • Was a French sculptor who made significant contributions to several Burgundian churches from 1125 - 1135.

  • Tympanum Sculpture of the Western doorway of the Cathedral of Saint-Lazare, depicting The Last Judgement.

  • Expressionistic Carving and Technical Proficiency.

Nicholas of Verdun

  • Was the greatest enamellist and goldsmith of his day and an important figure in the transition from late Romanesque to early Gothic style.

  • the altar piece (1181) of the Abbey Church of Klosterneuberg

  • Reveals his absolute mastery of metalworking and the technique of champlevé enamelling

Abbot Oliva

  • Abbot Oliba of the Monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll served as a particularly influential impeller, diffuser, and sponsor of the First Romanesque style.

Josep Puig i Cadafalch

  • studied Romanesque architecture in Catalonia.

  • He was one of the first to recognize the importance of Romanesque architecture in Catalonia and to propose a division of the style Into two periods.

NOTABLE BUILDINGS/STRUCTURES

Pisa Cathedral Pisa, Tuscany, Italy

  • Also known for its leaning tower. The cathedral, baptistery, and bell tower are mainly built with white marble

  • The original construction date of the of the Pisa Cathedral took place on 1063-1092. But the placement of the gold detailing was done during the 17th Century.

Cathedral of Monreale -Monreale, Sicily, Italy

  • Built right outside the Sicilian Capital Paleromo.

  • Regarded as one of the greatest Churches on the island.

  • Construcion began on 1772 and most of its architecture are Noman's

San Miniato al Monte Florence, Tuscany, Italy

  • Located in the Italian region of Tuscany, and construction of the Church started during 1013.

  • The exterior is decorated with white and green marble.

  • Interior features more complicated stonework plus colored marble to match its exterior.

  • Wood was commonly used for roof's at the time so that was used for the roof of the Church.

Speyer Cathedral Speyer, Rhinlenad-Palatinate, Germany

  • Located in southwestern Germany, construction of the Churches started in 1030.

  • The exterior of the Church was built with red sandstone to give it that iconic color.

  • During the 19th century, most of the Church came from later parts of Romanesque age which includes the Narthex and the front facade.

Basilica of Saint-Sernin Toulouse, Occitanie, France

  • Taking the title of the largest Romanesque Church in the world. constructed in 1080-1120, the Church was originally meant to be part of a much larger abbey.

  • The interior featured a vaulted roof made of stone which was revolution since wood was what was commonly used at the time.

Trier Cathedral – Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

  • The Cathedral stands on the foundation of several Roman buildings which date back when it was built in the 4th century.

  • But the majority of what you see from the Church today was built during the 11th century from 1016-1041.