ROMANESQUE ART

Churches, churches, and more churches: the people of Europe in the Middle Ages put huge amounts of energy and resources into building enormous cathedrals.

Remember!

Most of the ‘church’ activity, at this time, that is, activity categorized as religious, was connected with the Roman Catholic church since neither of the major reformations had as yet occurred. Therefore nearly all if not all of the churches in this lesson are Catholic.

What fueled this outburst of creativity? Thousands upon thousands of visitors who were called "pilgrims" traveled Europe as part of pilgrimages, or visits to holy places.

The period, the first named for an art style rather than a place or an emperor, is called Romanesque, which means "Romanlike." It lasted approximately 150 years, from 1050 to 1200, and was characterized by buildings that incorporated architectural elements that resembled ancient Roman architecture. In addition to architecture, there was also a resurgence of monumental stone sculpture.

Now check out this article and take a little pilgrimage yourself to Santiago de Compostela, where the tomb of Saint James drew pilgrims from around Europe in droves.

OBJECTIVES

• Describe the Romanesque period.

• Explain the role of pilgrimages in the Romanesque period.

• Identify the main characteristics of Romanesque architecture.

• List various sites and styles in Italy, France, and Britain.

VOCABULARY

THE PEOPLE OF THE MIDDLE AGES

The people of Europe during the Middle Ages were quite superstitious. They believed that the year 1000 would mark the end of the world. You can imagine they were quite relieved when it didn't end.

Remember?

(Of course, our era has superstitions of its own. When it was time for the clocks of the world to turn from December 31, 1999, to January 1, 2000, people the world over were braced for a phenomenon called Y2K, a meltdown of all the world's computers. That didn't happen either.)

During the next few centuries, cities and trade thrived. Europe began to settle into the boundaries we would now find much more familiar. The Pope was the supreme authority, and while feudalism was still at its peak, a middle and merchant class began to develop.

The Pilgrims of the Middle Ages believed that relics of dead saints, now in heaven, possessed miraculous properties and could help them with their problems. A cult of relics developed that had an enormous influence on architecture. The monasteries and churches that housed these relics needed to be large enough to accommodate the hordes that came to see them. The pilgrimage roads actually became routes of trade and commerce.

Presenting Christian Beliefs Visually 

Faced with the illiteracy of the vast majority of its members, the church undertook a program to present Christian beliefs visually. To this end, the places of worship were decorated with sculpture and painting not only intended to beautify, but also to instruct. This tympanum at the Cathedral of Autun, France, presented the image of Jesus as judge at the last judgment. During the Middle Ages, the term "tympanum" referred to the decorative semicircular panel over a doorway. 

ARCHITECTURE – CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES

ARCHITECTURE THROUGHOUT ITALY

Of course, Romanesque architecture originated from the examples in Rome, but many new churches were built in Italy in the Middle Ages that followed the patterns of their classical ancestors but were more suited to medieval times.

For example, in the area known as Tuscany, the medieval churches can be characterized by classical motifs such as:

• Corinthian capitals

• Acanthus: borders

• egg-and-dart molding

• alternating black and white bands

Look at the example of San Miniato al Monte (begun in 1013) at Florence with its black, green, and white marble.

Other important features include

• open arcades

• colonnades

• galleries

• sculpted relief facades

Several beautiful examples of these features can be found in Pisa, where the famous leaning tower is. Did you know that the leaning tower of Pisa is Romanesque?

For example, here is the cathedral begun in 1063.

And here is the baptistery, begun in 1153. 

Finally, here is the famous leaning tower, — a freestanding campanile, or bell tower — begun in 1173. 

These images show the influences of classical and Roman styles through the use of capitals in the architectural design. 

ARCHITECTURE THROUGHOUT FRANCE

This image is the floor plan of the Saint-Sernin cathedral. — FYI Online

We are going to examine a well-known Romanesque cathedral called the Saint-Sernin at Toulouse. It was built between 1080 and 1120 and is located in the southern region of France. Saint-Sernin’s design contained a long choir with side aisles. The sanctuary and aisles were semicircular. This design plan is known as a chevet.

Sometimes these churches were packed with people. Saint-Sernin's architects built tribunes over the inner aisle, opening onto the nave, to handle the overflow. The tribunes also helped support the stone barrel vault covering Saint-Sernin's nave. The chapels on the side were built so that pilgrims could view relics.

It is also important to note the relief sculptures housed in the cathedrals.

Notes

Review this website Cathedrals in France

ARCHITECTURE THROUGHOUT ENGLAND

In the year 1066, the English had more to think about than building churches. They were under siege and eventually defeated by William the Conqueror of Normandy.

The Normans brought with them many French influences, and when peace and order were restored, the English architects adopted many of the Romanesque characteristics for their churches and cathedrals.

A Manorial Church in Iffly, England

This view bears witness to the prevalence of the Norman (Romanesque) style at all levels of early medieval architecture. Like the great cathedrals and large monasteries, the churches on many manors embraced the style's complex designs and ornamentation.

This church in Iffly (near Oxford) is the best-preserved small Norman church in England, and it demonstrates the extent of the building arts at that time.

Notes

Look up the Romanesque architecture in England during 800-1100 AD on the Internet. Take notes on the characteristics of the churches during this time.

You will be responsible for the information in your assessment at the end of the lesson.

ROMANESQUE SCULPTURE

The Romanesque period also saw a resurgence of stone sculpture. The remains of Roman sculptures no doubt influenced the medieval artists, who were also influenced by the metal, wood, and ivory carvings of early medieval artists.

The Burgundy region of France boasted some of the most magnificent Romanesque churches. With the help of Abbey of Cluny, Burgundian Romanesque grew in popularity from 1075 to 1125. Bergundian Romanesque art is characterized by long, angular, flat figures. These figures are typically covered in swirling drapery created with exaggerated lines.

In the Middle Ages, saints were held up as role models. The sculpture above shows Saints Peter and Paul praying on either side of Jesus. This is typical of the quaint, primitive work in the Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene, Vézelay, France.

The largest Romanesque church in France, the Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene, claimed to guard the relics of Saint Mary Magdalene. It was an important medieval pilgrimage destination. This image of the basilica presents the grotesqueness of Lust and Despair to show parishioners the results of these sins.

Notes

Watch this video about the Abbey of Saint-Pierre de Moissacs.

Note the carvings and sculptures you see.

LET'S REVIEW!

In this lesson, you have covered the following topics:

• the influence of the classical Roman period on Romanesque art and architecture

• the incorporation of relief carvings, vaults, arches and domes in the churches and monasteries of Medieval Europe

• the introduction of Romanesque architecture in England by the Normans

• the resurgence of stone sculpture

Complete quiz before moving on.