Romanesque Art

Slides # 20-23

Romanesque Characteristics

• Plain on the outside and decorated with sculptures.• Inside is often dark and solemn• Use of the rounded arch• The walls are supported with piers and large thick walls.• They began using stone to construct the roofs (Roman

Churches often used wood)• Buttresses are used to build higher churches.

Nave Apse Crossing AmbulatoryTransept Buttresses Tympanum

Side AisleFaçade

TerminologyNave – the central aisle of the churchApse – where the altar is located at the head of the church –

often faced the east.Crossing – where the transept arms and nave cross in the middle

(sometimes the base of a tower) Ambulatory – a route of outer aisles that could be used for

piligrims to walk around the church without distrubing a mass.Transept – the arms of the cross shaped church planButtresses – external structures used to help support the walls.Tympanum – the arched space above a door or window, where

decorative carvings can be made.

Saint Faith or "Saint Faith of Conques is a saint who is said to have been a young woman of Agen in Aquitaine.

Her legend recounts how she was arrested during persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire and refused to make pagan sacrifices even under torture. Saint Faith was tortured to death with a red-hot brazier.

20. St Foy & Reliquary of St. Foy (1050-1120). Conques, France.

History:-dedicated to St. Faith-the center of her veneration was transferred to the Abbey of Sainte-Foy, Conques, where her relics arrived in the ninth century, stolen from Agen by a monk from the Abbey nearby at Conques.-known as a pilgrimage church

Architectural Features:-cross floor plan-radiating chapels

21. Sainte Madeleine. (1104-1132) Vezelay, France

History:-Claims to guard the relics of -St. Mary Magdeleine.-where the Crusaders set off-The 2nd and 3rd crusades launched from this church

Architectural Features:-Latin cross floor plan -Largest Romanesque church in France-use of Buttresses*-barrel / cross vaulting*-thick stone walls and few windows-use of the Roman arch

.

Side Note:Crusader – purpose was to convert or destroy non-believers

The Crusades began to recapture the Holy Land from the Muslims.

*used to build higher and wider

Q. What Romanesque features to you see?

• Roman arches• Think walls• Long nave • Stone roofs

Q. What is the purpose of this piece?

Q. How would you describe the figures?

Example of a Tympanum

About the Art:-shows Christ sending his apostles to preach the word of the Lord

Forms of Decoration / Style:-stone sculptures usually in the Tympanum-stylized figures/not natural

Purpose:-to tell a story-to educate the illiterate

22. The Mission of the Apostles. Tympanum of Sainte-Madeleine (1104-1132) Vezelay, France

History:-Recounts the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

-It is a story of loyalty, friendship and betrayal.

Purpose:Tapestries were used as decorative wall hangings and helped to warm the stone wall of castles.

Details:230 feet long75 different scenes623 figures

23. The Battle of Hastings. (1073-1083) Detail from the Bayeux Tapestry wool embroidery on linen.