romanesque
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Romanesque Art
Romanesque Art
• 11th and 12th Centuries CE in Western Europe
• Romanesque refers to “in the Roman style”
• Term Romanesque Art first used in 19th Century
• Architectural style includes Roman style details, including Roman columns and round arches in the windows
Major Events during Romanesque Period
Pilgrimages - religious travel to important sacred sites
Crusades - series of military campaigns waged by Roman Catholics to gain control over the Holy Land in the Middle East
First Crusade: 1095 – 1099 CESecond Crusade: 1147 – 1149 CEThird Crusade: 1188 – 1192 CE
Pisa
Cathedral Complex of Pisa (Tuscany, Italy), Romanesque Architecture, begun 1173 CE
Pisa• “Leaning Tower of Pisa”
part of Cathedral complex of buildings
• Tower is a Campanile (type of bell tower)
• Campanile built on top of the ruins of an old building
• Campanile started to lean right away
• Today, the Campanile leans 13 feet off of the perpendicular
• The tower continues to move, but much less since they’ve added lead to the foundation of the building
Cathedral Complex of Pisa (Tuscany, Italy), Romanesque Architecture
Campanile
(Bell Tower)
Romanesque Churches
Plans were designed in the shape of a Crucifix
nave apse
transept
Church of Sainte-Foy (France)
Abbey Church of Sainte-Foy (Conques, France), Romanesque Architecture, 1120 CE
Church of Sainte-Foy (France)
• Pilgrimage Church (Religious Travel)
• People travel here to be healed
• Sainte-Foy was a child Saint in 4th Century
• Contains the bones of Sainte-Foy (reliquary) that were stolen by monks
• Additive Architecture (added extra towers, and rebuilt some parts later) - Original Dome Collapsed
Abbey Church of Sainte-Foy (Conques, France), Romanesque Architecture, 1120 CE
The nave of St. Sernin, Toulouse, France, 1080 – 1120 CE
Nave – “body of the church”
Romanesque round arches
Masonry (stone) arches
Arched Vaulted Ceiling and Columns on walls support the ceiling
Design leaves little space for windows (lack of natural light)
St. Sernin – pilgrimage church – very large building for a Romanesque style church – needed large space for visitors
Romanesque Portals
• A Portal is the decoration around the entrance to a building, usually Churches
• Round Arches
• Relief Sculpture
Romanesque Portals
• A Portal is the decoration around the entrance to a building, usually Churches
• Round Arches
• Relief Sculpture
Portal Cathedral of Saint-Lazare
Portal Cathedral of Saint-Lazare
• Judgment of Christ (Christ deciding who goes to heaven or hell). Sinners on one side and saints on the other side of Christ in center on Tympanum
• Warning to those entering the church, including text (written in Latin)
• Relief Sculpture
Portal, Cathedral of Saint-Lazare (Burgundy, France), Romanesque Architecture, 1130 CE
Creation and Fall of Adam and Eve
Creation and Fall of Adam and Eve
Wiligelmus, Creation and Fall of Adam and Eve, Modena Cathedral (Italy), height 92cm, 1099 CE
Artist - Wiligelmus
Narrative Portal - (narrative is a story) Tells the Story of Adam and Eve
Relief Sculpture - modeling of figures gives relief strong 3-D feeling. Originally Painted with Bright Colors
Three Scenes Scene 1 - God with angels and God Creating Adam
Scene 2 - Eve Born from Adam
Scene 3 - Adam and Eve eat forbidden fruit in shame
Romanesque
Capitals
The Magi Asleep
The Magi Asleep
The Magi Asleep, capital from interior of Catedral of Saint-Lazare, 1125 CE
Capital - Decorative top of Architectural Columns
Creation of Narrative Scenes on Capitals is a Romanesque innovation
Also called “Historiated Capitals”
Scene from childhood of Jesus - story of Angel Waking the 3 Wise Men
View from Above
Christ in Majesty
Christ in Majesty
Christ in Majesty, detail of apse wall painting from Church of San Climent (Barcelona, Spain), 1123 CE
Christ figure in center of wall painting
Christ as ruler and judge of the world
Alpha and Omega - first and last letters of Greek alphabet on either side of Christ (“Beginning and End”)
Christ holds a book with Latin “ego sum lux mundi” (“I am the light of the world”)
Decorative patterns and stylized forms
Colorful palette - Romanesque artists liked bright colors
Bayeux Embroidery
Detail from the Bayeux Embroidery
Bishop Odo Blessing the Feast
(from Bayeux Embroidery)
Bishop Odo Blessing the Feast,
detail from Bayeux Embroidery,
Linen with Wool Thread, 1066 - 1082 CE
Strip of Embroidered Linen known as Bayeux Embroidery created by women in France
Embroidery - handcrafted stitches using thread on already-woven fabric creating images and text
50 Scenes with 600 human figures, 700 horses, dogs, and other creatures, 2000 letters
This Scene is a feast before a battle - Bishop and Knights eating at curved table
Translation of text: “…and here the servants perform their duty. Here they prepare the meal. Here the bishop blesses the food and drink.”
Reliquary Statue of
Sainte Foy
Reliquary Statue of
Sainte Foy
Reliquary Statue of Sainte Foy, Wood with Gold and Gems, Height 85 cm, 980 CE
Relics of Sainte Foy stored inside the sculpture - body is hollow (relics are sacred objects from a religious figures - can include bones, hair, teeth, personal objects, etc.)
Gems and Cameos added by those making a pilgrimage to Reliquary Church of Sainte-Foy in Conques, France
Head may be from an older sculpture from Roman Empire (head of a Roman emperor?)
Sculpture survived several wars through history, including French Revolution in late 18th Century
Virgin and Child
Virgin and Child
Virgin and Child from Auvergne, France, late 12th Century, height 78.7cm, Oak Wood
Only wealthy churches could afford art works in precious metals and gems - wood was more common medium
Statue of Virgin Mary and Christ Child
Serious and Stiff
Stylized drapery of clothing
Mary seated on a throne (represents wisdom)
Christ Child once held a book in his left hand representing wisdom, his right hand raised in blessing