Romanesque Art Notes

Romanesque Art: Metalwork, Tapestry, and Illustrated Books

Introduction

  • Romanesque art tells stories through individual scenes.

Lesson Objectives

  • Recognize Romanesque metalwork.

  • Recognize the Bayeux Tapestry and recount its story.

  • Recognize artistic styles used in illustrated books.

Key Terms

  • Tomb Effigy

  • Niello Technique

  • Bayeux Tapestry

  • Nun Gouda

  • Parchment

  • Winchester Psalter

Romanesque Metalwork

Tomb Effigy of Rudolf of Swabia

  • Oldest known bronze tomb effigy.

  • Depicts Rudolf of Swabia.

  • Created by Saxon metalworkers in the late eleventh century.

  • Effigy: A life-size sculpted portrait.

  • Rudolf's effigy measures 6 feet 5.5 inches (larger than life-size).

  • Spurs: Symbolize Rudolf's bravery and allegiance to the Pope.

  • Scepter and mounted orb: Emblems of Christian kingship.

  • Head: In high relief.

  • Body: In low relief.

  • High relief: Image is sculpted and projects out more.

  • Low relief: Image is sculpted and projects out less.

  • Niello Technique: Fine linear detailing filled with a black alloy to make the image clearer.

Bronze Baptismal Font

  • Dates between 1100 and 1118.

  • Created by Renier.

  • Classical style.

  • Depicts religious leaders being baptized.

  • Saint John the Baptist baptizing Christ.

  • Saint Peter baptizing Cornelius.

  • Saint John baptizing the philosopher Crato.

  • 12 oxen at the bottom: Represent Christ's 12 apostles.

  • Classical style in clothing: Shows understanding of human anatomy.

  • Attempt at perspective: Triangular structure suggests depth, similar to railroad tracks converging in the distance.

Romanesque Tapestry

Bayeux Tapestry

  • Tells the history of the Norman conquest of England.

  • Divided into scenes like a movie.

  • Technically an embroidery (stitch work), not a woven tapestry.

  • 70 meters long (length of three full-size swimming pools).

  • 623 people, 202 horses, 41 ships, 55 dogs, 500 mythical creatures, and over 2,000 words.

Nobles Feasting Scene

  • Cooks preparing a meal (sheep, oxen, pig, or cow) over a spit.

  • Cauldron boiling over a fire.

  • Servants dining on makeshift tables made of shields.

  • Nobility dining on a table with silverware.

  • Hierarchical status depicted in dining arrangements.

Illustrated Books

Nun Gouda's Book of Homilies

  • Includes Gouda's self-portrait, the earliest signed self-portrait of a female.

  • Inscription: "Gouda, the sinful woman, wrote and illuminated the book."

  • Created in Germany in the early twelfth century.

  • Made of ink on parchment.

  • Demonstrates that women were not anonymous in German scriptoria.

The Mouth of Hell (Winchester Psalter)

  • Depicts the mouth of hell being locked by an angel.

  • Made in England in November using ink and tempera on vellum (animal skin).

  • Inscription: "Here is hell and the angels who are locking the doors."

  • Hell is characterized as a grotesque beast.

  • Facial expressions of those inside the mouth of hell show anguish and fury.

  • Contrasts with the calm and peaceful angel.