Romanesque Art

FeudalismAgricultural economy

-Barons (Nobles)-Vassals (Knights)

-Peasants/serfs (slaves)

Urbanization and Christianity

Pilgrimages and Crusades-travel and trade-new middle class-growth of cities

-influences of Muslims and Byzantines

THEME: Romanesque

• Build it (block by block) and they will come

Church building Stone masonry, new vaulting techniques, “blocky” appearance

pilgrimages

interior of Saint Etienne

Vignory, France

ca. 1050-1057

plan of Saint Etienne

Vignory, France

ca. 1050-1057

Radiating chapels

Saint-Sernin

Toulouse, France

ca. 1070-1120

Saint-Sernin

Toulouse, France

ca. 1070-1120

Plan of Saint-Sernin

Toulouse, France

ca. 1070-1120

Interior of Saint-Sernin

Toulouse, France

ca. 1070-1120

Interior of Santa Sabina, 422, Rome

*compartments of space replaced long flat walls

Nave of Saint-Sernin

Toulouse, France

ca. 1070-1120

Barrel Vaulted ceiling

Tribune (second story gallery)

Compound piers (engaged columns

attached)

Bernardus Gelduinus

Christ in Majestyrelief in the ambulatory of Saint-Sernin

Toulouse, France

ca. 1096marble4 ft. 2 in. high

St. Catherine’s, Egypt, 565

Cluny, France

Restored cutaway view of the third abbey church (Cluny III)

Cluny, France

ca. 1088-1130

Moissac, France – important stop along pilgrimage to St. James’s tomb at Santiago de Compostela

Tympanum of the south portal of Saint-Pierre

Moissac, France

marbleca. 1115-1135

Cloister of Saint-Pierre

Moissac, France

ca. 1100-1115marblepiers approximately 6 ft. high

Historiated capitals

Cloister of Saint-Pierre

Moissac, France

ca. 1100-1115marblepiers approximately 6 ft. high

Christ in Majesty with angels and the Twenty-Four EldersTympanum of the south portal of Saint-Pierre

Moissac, France

marbleca. 1115-1135 approximately 16 ft. 6 in. wide at base

Christ in Majesty with angels and the Twenty-Four EldersTympanum of the s. portal of Saint-Pierre

Moissac, France

marbleca. 1115-1135 approximately 16 ft. 6 in. wide at base

Lions and Old Testament prophet (Jeremiah or Isaiah?)

From the trumeau of the south portal of Saint-Pierre

Moissac, France

ca. 1115-1130marbleapproximately life-size

Gislebertus

Last Judgment of West tympanum of Saint-Lazare

Autun, France

ca. 1120-1135marbleapproximately 21’ wide at base

Gislebertus

Last Judgment (plaster cast)West tympanum of Saint-Lazare

Autun, France

ca. 1120-1135marbleapproximately 21’ wide at base

THE BLESSED

THE DAMNED“may this terror terrify those whom earthly error binds, for the horror of

these images here in this manner truly depicts what will be”

Ascension of Christ and Mission of the ApostlesTympanum of the center portal of the narthex of La Madeleine

Vézelay, France

1120-1132

Abbey of Notre-Dame

Fontenay, Burgundy, France

1139-47

Initial R with knight fighting dragonfrom the Moralia in Job

from Cîteaux, France

ca. 1115-1125ink and tempera on vellum13 3/4 x 9 1/4 in.

Christ in Majestyapse fresco from Santa María de Muir

near Lérida, Spain

mid-twelfth centuryfresco22 x 24 ft.

Virgin and Child ( Morgan Madonna)

from Auvergne, France

second half of twelfth centurypainted wood2 ft. 7 in. high

Romanesque

HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE

Church as center of Medieval Life •Towns outdoing each other building churches civic pride•Record keeping, birth, wedding, death, worship•Medieval masons: master builders, architects and artists that learn through experience and apprenticeship vs. formal study

Speyer Cathedral

Speyer,Germany

begun 1030nave vaults ca.1082-1106

Interior of Speyer Cathedral

Speyer,Germany

begun 1030nave vaults ca.1082-1106

Groin vaults

1st Romanesque church in Germany•Stone roof•Typical arches and bays•1st building constructed entirely of stone in Europe

Plan of Speyer Cathedral

Speyer, Germany

begun 1030

Aerial view of Sant’ Ambrogio

Milan, Italy

late eleventh to early twelfth century

Dedicated to St. Ambrose- Begun in 1080, vaulted after an earthquake in 1117

Plan of Sant’ Ambrogio

Milan, Italy

late eleventh to early twelfth century

Interior of Sant’ Ambrogio

Milan, Italy

late eleventh to early twelfth century

-NO CLERESTORY-Compound piers with 3 huge ribbed groin vaults

The Vision of Hildegard of BingenDetail of facsimile of a lost folio in the Scivias by Hildegard of Bingen

from Trier or Bingen, Germany

ca. 1050-1079

*Role of women in Romanesque Europe

Rainer of Huy

Baptism of ChristBaptismal font from Notre-Dame-des-Fonts

Liege, Belgium

1107-1118bronze2 ft. 1 in. high

Head Reliquary of Saint Alexander

from Stavelot Abbey, Belgium

1145silver repoussé, gilt bronze, gems, enamel17 1/2 in. high

Romanesque in ITALY

Pisa Cathedral complex

Pisa, Italy

cathedral begun 1063baptistery begun 1153campanile begun 1174

baptistery

cathedral campanile

Pisa Cathedral campanile

Pisa, Italy

begun 1174

Interior of Pisa Cathedral

Pisa, Italy

cathedral begun 1063

Baptistery of San Giovanni

Florence, Italy

Ca. 1059

West façadeSan Miniato al Monte

Florence, Italy

1062 and twelfth century

West façadeSan Miniato al Monte

Florence, Italy

1062 and twelfth century

Interior of San Miniato al Monte

Florence, Italy

1062 and twelfth century

Diaphragm arches

Wiligelmo

Creation of Adam and Eve, frieze on the west façade, Modena Cathedral

Modena, Italy

ca. 1110marbleapproximately 3 ft. high

Benedetto Antelami,

King Davidon the west façade of Fidenza Cathedral

Fidenza, Italy

ca. 1180-1190marbleapproximately life-size

RomanesqueNORMANDY AND ENGLAND

West façade of Saint-Etienne

Caen, France

begun 1067, ca. 1115-1120

* William the Conqueror buried here in 1087

Interior of Saint-Etienne (nave)

Caen, France

ca. 1115-1120

- Converted from timber roof to stone masonry vault after 1120

- Follows vertical element of Carolingian architects

Interior of Saint-Etienne (elevation)

Caen, France

ca. 1115-1120

The THREE TIERS OF CHURCH BAYS

Clerestory

Gallery

Nave/Arcade

Exterior of Durham Cathedral

Durham, England

begun ca. 1093

Legacy of William the Conqueror (Norman Conquest of England in 1066)

Interior of Durham Cathedral

Durham, England

begun ca. 1093

ENGLISH INNOVATION: Rib vaults•Long narrow nave•Huge composite piers alternate with carved columns•Stone ribs strengthened groin vaults carry more weight•Strong VERTICAL emphasis Gothic predecessor

Interior of Durham Cathedral

Durham, England

begun ca. 1093

Plan & transverse section of Durham Cathedral

Durham, England

begun ca. 1093

Cruciform layout, quadrant arches

Funeral of Edward the Confessorprocession to Westminster Abbeydetail of the Bayeux Tapestry

From Bayeux Cathedral, Bayeux, France

ca. 1070-1080embroidered wool on linen229 ft. 8 in. overall

Misnomer – actually an embroidery

Battle of Hastingsdetail of the Bayeux Tapestry

From Bayeux Cathedral, Bayeux, France

ca. 1070-1080embroidered wool on linen229 ft. 8 in. overall Compare: Column of Trajan

Master Hugo

Moses Expounding the Lawfolio 94 recto of the Bury Bible

from Bury Saint Edmunds, England

ca. 1135ink and tempera on vellum20 x 14 in.

Eadwine the Scribe(?)

Eadwine the Scribe at workfolio 283 verso of the Eadwine Psalter

ca. 1160-1170ink and tempera on vellum

Signing work vs. anonymity: The role of the individual artist