We are about to begin a unit on Gothic and Romanesque art

Look at the two churches and look for characteristics they have in common as well as differences

Romanesque Art

The term Romanesque applies to art from Western Europe in the eleventh and twelfth centuries.

The crusades during this time resulted in people moving about which causedmingling of cultures and exchanging of ideas There was a religious enthusiasm that

characterized Romanesque art Churches and sculptural decoration were

principal activities during this time Sculpture, like most art of the time, was used to

help people understand religious teachings A key location for a relief sculpture was above a

doorway in an arch called the tympanum

Sainte-Madeleine in Vezelay

Known as one of the most beautiful Romanesque

churches.

The church has several sculpted tympanums, one of which is The Mission of the Apostles.

Christ is depicted sending his disciples to preach to the

world.The Mission of the Apostles, Tympanum of center portal of narthex, Ste.-Madeleine, Vezelay, France. 1120-1132 A.D

The Mission of the Apostles, Tympanum of center portal of narthex, Ste.-Madeleine, Vezelay, France. 1120-1132 A.D

Romanesque Architecture…

Tons of Romanesque churches stand today with most in France, Germany, and Italy. The crossings, where the nave and transept intersect, are topped with

towers or domes with lanterns (windows around the base of the dome to let in light.)

Stone replaced wood used previously for roofs. This added a lot of weight to the ceiling. To counterbalance this weight, architects used buttresses. Buttress- a massive support built

against a wall to create support for a roof or arch.

Also due to the heavy stone, windows were used sparingly to prevent further weakening of the walls. Therefore, the churches were very dark.

Campanile-bell tower adjacent to a church or cathedral. Most famous campanile…

The Leaning Tower of Pisa!

Famous Romanesque Churches…

Worms Cathedral Worms, Germany Fortress-like Simple, geometric forms Very castle-like

Saint-Sernin

Toulouse, FranceExtremely large

Made of brick instead of stoneBell tower has Romanesque and Gothic style arches and is topped with a spire

Notre-Dame-la-Grande

Poitiers, FranceLow and wide churchSmall windows create a dark

interiorExterior has even more sculptures than most Romanesque churchesPine cone shaped towers

Marksburg Castle

Braubach, Germany

Last standing castle located on the Rhine River

Church like with small windows, thick stone walls, and towers.