MEDIEVAL ART-

ROMANESQUE AND

GOTHIC

ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE

• This developed once Christian society was stable– from the 8th century to the 11th (reaching its high point at the 11th).

• It’s called Romanesque because of its similarities to Roman architecture (especially the arch and the barrel vault).

Layout~In the past churches were designed differently; the Romanesque introduced the cross design (transept and nave intersect at the “crossing”).------~The ambulatory allowed pilgrims to walk around viewing the relics at the high altar.------~The high altar was where mass was performed; it stored relics of saints.-------~The choir was where the priests sat, in special chairs called choir stalls.

Vaults

• A vault is a word used in architecture for an arched ceiling.

• Romanesque vaults were old-fashioned: barrel vaults and groin vaults.

Barrel vault, Lisbon Cathedral

Arches• In the picture before,

we saw rounded arches–in the Roman style.

• These arches help support the heavy ceiling and walls by thick piers or columns.

General Impression

• Thick walls and piers and columns in order to support heavy ceilings

• Small windows to give space to support

• Simple ornamentation

St. Sernin, Toulouse, France

Capitals

Man and animals, Cahors Cathedral

Satan and demons catching human sinners.St. Pierre, Chauvigny, France

GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE• Gothic architecture first developed in the 12th

century, lasting in some places until the 16th century.• It mostly retained the structure of the Romanesque

church, but made it more open.

Vaults

• Consistently used ribbed vaults• These were thin and used to mark

the vaults clearly.• This emphasizes the structure.

Cologne Cathedral

Arches• Pointed arches were

the new invention of the Gothic period.

• These are stronger than Romanesque arches.

Reims Cathedral

LightLight~Because the ceilings were not as heavy, walls were not as thick.~There were bigger windows than in the Romanesque period.~These were often made of stained glass.

Sainte-Chapelle, Paris

The Exterior

• Elaborate, large windows

• Much ornamentation

• Flying buttresses to support the building.

General Impression

• Thinner walls and clustered columns because of thinner ceilings

• Large windows because of new space

• Much ornamentation

Gloucester Cathedral cloisters, England.

Comparison: Romanesque and Gothic

Romanesque Gothic

~ribbed vaults~ribbed vaults~pointed arches~pointed arches~more delicate, clustered ~more delicate, clustered

columnscolumns~flying buttresses~flying buttresses~large stained-glass windows~large stained-glass windows~ornate and delicate sculpture~ornate and delicate sculpture~more full of light, more ~more full of light, more

spaciousspacious

~barrel vaults~barrel vaults~rounded arches~rounded arches~thick piers or columns~thick piers or columns

~thick walls, small buttresses~thick walls, small buttresses~small windows~small windows~more plain sculpture~more plain sculpture~darker, more narrow~darker, more narrow

And now you must….

…Guess the Architectural Style!!

IMAGE 1

Westminster Abbey, London

IMAGE 2

The abbey Church of Sainte-Foy, Conques

IMAGE 3

Mourners at the Tomb of Phillip II, Duke of

Burgundy

IMAGE 4

The Duomo and Leaning Tower, Pisa

The Seville Cathedral • There are elements of both Romanesque and

Gothic architecture here. Can you find both?